Wild Wales: Its People, Language, and Scenery

A unique travelogue and social history of a country at a specific time. Borrow was blessed with clarity of expression and a true eye for noting the natural and geographic wonders he observed on his long walks through Wales. 1854 is the year of his walking tour; ominous news from the Crimean War sometimes breaks into his commentaries, much as it does in the Twenty Twenties.
Borrow presents a confident man, fit and prepared to put in a good twenty miles or more walking each day. He prides himself on his knowledge of the Welsh language and he was on quoting terms with Welsh bards and poets. He was direct with his interviews with the people he met along the way and ever ready to question deeper when he thought others were not being frank in show more conversation; and he was avidly anti-Catholic, so much so that I found his loathing of papistry sometimes comical.
A great connoisseur of ale, he notes where and where not he could obtain a jug of the best amber fluid.
There are many fine and strange tales recorded from among the wayfarers, inn keepers, gypsies and householders he encounters on his way.
This is a classic story of being on the road. Keep a road map of Wales beside you as you read, and be prepared for entertainment chapter by chapter as you accompany a true gentleman traveller. show less

This account of a lengthy walking tour in 1854 is an absolute gem- and I have no massive fascination with Wales! In 109 short chapters (I read a couple a day- any more would be too much) the author describes the miles he covers, the sundry folk he meets en route- locals, Irish, gypsies, English...even an Italiian barometer-seller. They have conversations on all manner of things, and Borrow interjects with thoughts on religion and linguistic trivia (he was a philologist and fluent in Welsh). He opines on Welsh poets; he recounts interesting stories; he visits places of interest, describes the scenery, the hostelries...
I was impressed by the miles he covered, and found myself googling places mentioned.
Ansolutely brilliant read and show more utterly recommended! show less

A wonderfully odd trawl through 19th century Cymru by leggy eccentric George Borrow, who describes everything he sees and talks to almost everyone - albeit in a kind of condescending manner. Definitely worth a read if you're interested in Cymru and its history. Be warned, at one point he is massively racist towards a black man and expresses pro-slavery opinions.

I bought this in Betws Y Coed in the tourist office before I started learning Welsh, must have been 1999. George Borrow must have been a remarkable man. I enjoyed it thorougly, and I found his attitude to the Welsh and their language endearing.