Wales and the Britons, 350-1064 (History of Wales)

This tome is a gem for scholars, rendering a coherent narrative from the disparate and sometimes conflicting sources of British history for the period examined. Exhaustively researched and annotated, the volume is of primary importance in understanding the Dark Ages of Wales's and Britain's past. Some of the genealogies given seem mistaken (no particular sources are cited), and the extensive maps would be better in color, if only to relieve the flood of unrelentingly earnest information. A treasure for the expert; not recommended for the layperson or casual reader.

Even better than the title: "Wales," apparently, is best translated as "non-Roman, pre-Saxon Britain. Extraordinarily detailed. Extremely useful. Very technical. Impressive.

A learned tome.

The common perception that following the withdrawal of the Roman army, and equally importantly , their tax-gatherers, from Britain in the late 4th century, there followed an extended period of invasions and economic, social and political chaos that we term The Dark Ages receives scholarly illumination in this ambitious, widely-researched book that will satisfy not only the rigorous demands of the serious academic but also inform the casual inquirer in language and style that is wholly accessible and satisfying; a remarkable achievement that whets my appetite for historical research. Bravo !

Wales and the Britons is a meticulously researched study of what happened, to whom it happened, and, more significantly, the cultural context in which it happened in post-Roman Britain. It fills in an important gap between the well documented Roman period and the beginnings of extensive written records. T.M. Charles-Edwards uses his sources judiciously: important considering that they are frequently contradictory, and brings in helpful supporting material from Ireland and from English records.As far as scholarly books go, this is eminently readable.

If rating on scholarship this easily merits five stars. However, it is a very difficult read with interminable side tracks into forensic details of language, inscriptions, kinship amongst others. I found it almost impossible to follow any kind of "story" or "history". This is definitely for academics who will dip into it selectively. A shame really because I believe there is a much more readable book in there that needs pulling together.

Huge book which seems to gather together the research and knowledge of an entire career. Invaluable for a student of Britain pre Norman Conquest, especially from the under-explored Welsh and north British perspective. Astonishing scholarship but intelligible on some very complicated subjects.