Hope and Heartbreak : A Social History of Wales and the Welsh, 1776-1871

A radically unorthodox portrait of the lives of the Welsh is offered in this social history of Wales from 1789–1870. A large range of social subjects—rich landlords in the south, poor peasants in the north, and such unspeakable persons as bastard children and wizards—are discussed along with engrossing analyses of such unusual institutions as the insane asylum and the rural festival. By interpreting the life experiences and emotions of individual people within Welsh society, this inquiry opens up the fascinating and heretofore hidden world of Wales during the rise of industrial Europe. Contents 8 Acknowledgements 10 Introduction: Portrait of an Age, 1776–1871 – The Welsh in their History 14 1 The Reshaping of Everyday Life 42 Travellers' Tales 42 People and Places 47 Agricultural Advance 51 Traditional Trades 58 Industry and Industriousness 61 The Character of Capitalism 70 Transport and Transformation 79 Commerce and Consumption 84 2 Ambition, Adventure and Anxiety 96 Hierarchy and Hegemony 96 High Society 105 Life and Labour 115 Wales and the World 127 Emigrants and Empire 129 Missionaries and Missions 137 Slavery and Slavers 139 Wales at War 143 The Jewel in the Crown 152 Anxiety, Stress and Suicide 155 3 Life and Death 164 Glyn Cysgod Angau: Life in the Shadow of Death 164 Death's Dark Warriors 1: Nature and Nurture 175 Death's Dark Warriors 2: Disasters and Misadventure 187 Death's Dark Warriors 3: Disease and Devastation 198 Defences against Death 205 4 Fear and Anger 221 'Ofn sydd arnaf yn fy nghalon': My Heart is Fearful 221 Crime, Criminals and Criminality 227 'Vicious Words' and Violence 238 'The Massacre of the Innocents' 242 Love and Death 245 Neighbours from Hell 246 Drink and Death 248 Violent People and Places 249 Animal Maiming, Arson and Aliens 251 Smuggling and Wrecking 254 Disobedience towards Authority 257 Riot, Rising and Revolt 260 The Curious Absence of a Welsh Revolution 268 5 Love, Lust and Loneliness 276 Love in a Cold Climate 276 The Power of Love 282 Love in the Time of Cholera 286 Marriage and Family 299 Sex and Sexuality 306 Diversity and Perversity 320 6 Worship and Wizards 337 'Joy Unspeakable and Full of Glory': Religion and Welsh Society 337 Devotion and Denominations 351 The Word and the World 354 Religion and the Individual 362 Angels, Heaven and Hell 365 Magic and the Pursuit of Happiness 370 Wisemen, Witches and Wizards 372 'Y Tylwyth Teg': Fairies and Fables 384 Blithe Spirits and Fantasies 386 7 Happiness and Humour 389 The Pursuit of Happiness 389 'Gwlad y Gân': The Land of Song 396 The Lords of the Dance 399 Plays and Players 400 Drugs, Drink and Dissolution 408 Sport and Society 417 Indoor Indulgences 423 Welsh Wit and Wisdom 427 'Collapse of Stout Party': Puns, Jokes and Witticisms 434 Conclusion 447 Notes 452 Index 541 A 541 B 542 C 544 D 547 E 549 F 550 G 551 H 552 I 554 J 554 K 556 L 557 M 559 N 561 O 562 P 562 Q 564 R 564 S 566 T 567 U 569 V 569 W 569 Y 572 Hope And Heartbreak Looks In An Entirely New Way At The Social History Of Wales Between The Years 1776 And 1871. This Innovative Book Challenges A Large Number Of Generally Held Views About Wales, And Tries To Offer An Alternative History Of The Country's Idiosyncrasies And Contradictions. To Do This A Wide Range Of Evidence Is Considered To Present The Ambitions And Anxieties Which Drove And Destroyed Welsh People. Russell Davies's Study Ranges Far And Wide, From Landlords To Peasants, Rich And Poor, In The North And The South. Diet And Housing, Disease And Death, Rural Festivals, Prisons And Mental Hospitals, Work And Worries, Fear And Anger, Love And Lust, Wizards And Wonders, Bastards And Ballads And Happiness And Humour Are Only A Few Of The Topics Covered In This All-encompassing Social History. The Tensions Beneath The Facade Of Family Life, The Vigour Of Prostitution And Pornography And The Private World Of The Individual Are Investigated. Using The Life Experiences Of Individuals, Hope And Heartbreak Opens Up The Hidden World Of The People Of Wales. The Book Asks A Range Of Questions Which Are New To Welsh History. Was Wales A Land Of Passionless Women And Pure Men, Or Were There Passionate Sensualists Amongst The Pious Saints? What Made The Welsh Fearful, Tearful, Happy, Lonely, Self-conscious, Anxious, Bored, Hysterical And Violent? How Did They Behave As Capitalists, Colonists And Conquerors? How Can One Make Sense Of Their Religious Doubts And Disputes? Did Religion Lead To A Decline In Magic? There Is Also A Detailed Examination Of The Joie De Vivre, The Forgotten Humour And The Unique Flavour Of Welsh Laughter.--jacket. Russell Davies. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.