REVIEWS AND COMMENTS ON 'THE WELSH ALMANAC'
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DEAN POWELL,
WESTERN MAIL BOOKS REVIEW, JULY 27TH, 2002-09-21
Terry
Breverton's ongoing series of Welsh history books continue to enthuse as my library
steadily increases with his work. And the latest, The Welsh Almanac (Glyndwr Publishing,
£16.99) is one of the most enjoyable to date. In fact, I'll go so far as to say it's a must for anyone with a drop of Welsh blood
in them. Continuing his solo mission to make Wales' proud history more accessible or
for that matter readable, in comparison to the huge dusty tomes hidden in darkened
libraries, The Welsh Almanac is yet another success.
Filled with
fascinating facts and figures, Breverton explains that the rationale behind the
publication is two-fold. On the surface it is for welsh people to remember their loved
ones' birthdays, anniversaries, important dates and events.
There is also
an A-Z section annexed, so that addresses and telephone numbers can be entered. But on the
other hand it is to record information about famous Welsh people and events upon each of
these days. For each day there is also a quotation, usually from a Welsh source, tying in
with people and events of the day.
Hoping that
readers will be enthused to find out more about Wales from these entries, the genesis of
the book was the author's The Book of Welsh Saints, when Breverton revealed the 900 saints
from the Dark Ages that are universally neglected.
As Breverton
explained, "We have records of our saints' days, only because their feasts were kept
until the 19th century in the places still named after them. Their llannau were
sparks of Christianity and learning in a pagan world, but the Welsh contribution to the
survival of Christianity has never been properly addressed."
But the saints
are just a fraction of his latest publication, with references to colliery explosions and
Petula Clark, Freddie Welsh and Kitchener Davies, the Battle of Crecy and rugby triumphs. A tremendous undertaking and a very worthwhile and
absolutely fascinating addition to the library of Welsh history.
The Welsh Almanac - Review by Meic Stephens, The
Western Mail magazine 28th September 2002
'Although most
of the books I read are works of fiction or of the creative imagination, I also enjoy ones
that deal with facts and the more ordinary world in which we all live. Terry Breverton's
'The Welsh Almanac' (Wales Books, £16.99) takes the form of a hefty desk diary in which
for each day he gives the events that took place on it. Some days are pretty much without
incident, but on September 28th, for example, quite a bit happened that merits a note.
On this day in
1400, Henry IV led his army of 13,000 into Wales, slaughtering and pillaging as he went.
On this day in 1842 was born W. J. Parry, leader of the North Wales Quarrymen's Union
during the Penrhyn Strike and, as it happens, the great-great-great-grandfather of one of
my grand-daughters. On the same day in 1898 Thomas Gee, publisher, died ... and so on.
Every day has
space for the reader's own notes and a few apt quotations to add interest to the page. So
this is a Book of Days in which people can
record important dates in their personal histories and see them in the context of Welsh
history. It's useful for jotting down birthdays and anniversaries, especially those one
tends to forget, and will take its place on the
shelf with other works of reference.
REVIEW BY Peter
Willams Ninnau December 2002
According to
the American heritage Dictionary of the English Language, one of the definitions of an
almanac is that it is composed of useful information in various unrelated fields. A new
Welsh Almanac by prolific Cardiff-based author Terry Breverton contains a host of useful
information. It is not only an ideal book in which to record family birthdays,
anniversaries, important dates for each day of the year, but it also contains an
alphabetical section in which to write addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses and
other records. What makes this almanac so very special to people proud of their heritage,
is that not only each day's entry commemorates the Welsh saint feasted on that day, but
also let's us know about famous Welsh people and events connected with the same day. All
in all, it is a prodigious work, chock full of facts and figures from every age of Welsh
history.
One example
will hint at the wealth of information contained within this fascinating book. On the 1st
of January, Welsh people can celebrate not only Dydd Calan (New Year's Day), no fewer than
six saints, the birth of the first welsh language newspaper, a welsh defeat of a Norman
army, and Welsh team victories in rugby football and so on. The entries for each day are
accompanied by a quotation that ties in with the people and events of the day. This
wonderful book, attractively priced at £16.99, was be ordered directly from Wales at
website walesbooks.com or www.gwales .com.
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