Wild Wales
George Borrow
Read by Steve Gough
Wild Wales: Its People, Language and Scenery is a travel book by the English Victorian gentleman writer George Borrow (1803–1881), first published in 1862 and now a classic travel text on Wales and the Welsh. The book recounts Borrow's experiences, insights and personal encounters whilst touring Wales alone on foot after a family holiday in Llangollen in 1854. Although contemporary critics dismissed its whimsical tone, it quickly became popular with readers as a travel book and more importantly as a very lively account of the literary, social and geographical history of Wales. Borrow’s engaging character comes across especially in his meetings with various itinerants – mostly native and peasant – along the muddy Welsh path. Borrow’s keen ear for dialogue may remind us of a Dickens or Trollope, and like the latter his wit and wisdom are rarely absent. Indeed the author has been described as an "eccentric, larger-than-life, jovial man whose laughter rings all through the book". Borrow makes much of his self-taught Welsh and how surprised the natives are by his linguistic abilities – and also by his idiosyncratic pronunciation of their language. He loves to air his knowledge of Welsh culture, especially the Bardic tradition. And like his contemporary, William Wordsworth, he has a habit of quoting verses to the heavens as he walks. As the author finally reaches South Wales towards the end of his account, we meet for the first time evidences of modern industrialism, introduced to the reader in the form of a Dante’s Inferno of coal mines and iron foundries. Today, most will remember and value the book for these and other vivid nineteenth-century landscapes – along with Borrow’s gallery of fascinating, human characters. (SUMMARY BY STEVE GOUGH BASED ON WIKIPEDIA) (22 hr 55 min)
Chapters
Reviews
Wild Wales by George Borrow
KenBrad
This recording is a 'tour de force' and a prime example of where Librivox comes into its own. Wild Wales is a classic of its genre, both as enjoyment and as a cultural and historical record of mid-nineteenth century Britain. But with 109 chapters, replete with Welsh place names, dialog and poetry, an excellent oral rendering such as this, makes Borrow's account more accessible than the book itself. George Borrow was a consummate scholar; historian, linguist and poet. His observation of Wales and the Welsh in the 1850s, meticulous in its detail, illustrates the immense differences (and also some remarkable similarities) between modern day Britain and the remoter parts of our island only one hundred and sixty years ago (a time when my own great-grandfather was alive). Religious observance, occupations, social cohesion and literacy were dramatically different prior to the introduction of universal education and modern road transport and Borrow's narratives are both entertaining and enlightening. In many cases, such a lengthy and detailed journal could become indigestible, but Gough's rendering avoids all the pitfalls. His voice allows for gentle modulations between English gentleman and native Welsh speakers. His handling of Borrow's conversations with Irish tinkers, Spaniards and Romany gypsies omits any hint of 'acting' or 'technique' whilst making the dialogues colourful. I listened to these recordings, in my car, on journeys throughout England and through France, with great enjoyment and no awareness of anything other than the great Scholar's trek and adventures through an ancient Celtic land.
Wild Wales
TheBookworm
A tour de force indeed! What a chatty, opinionated, and erudite companion George Borrow would have made. His chauvinistic attachment to the Church of England vis a vis the Welsh Baptists gets a little old... but considering when he was writing we should be able to overlook that. I'm always amazed at the friendliness of the population as portrayed in 19th century travelogs. Smeaton Chase's ride up the California coast is another example (https://archive.org/details/californiacoasttrails_1504_librivox ). What kind of a reception would a disheveled traveler get if he were to knock on your door (or mine)? Steve Gough does a truly excellent job of narration. Presumably Steve's a Welsh speaker himself. I'm no judge. "Bore da" is as far I get. TheBookworm, Manchester, UK
2 stars
Timothy Ferguson
This is a Librivox recording of a travelogue made by an English admirer of the Welsh culture and language in 1854. I enjoyed the work most when it discussed places where I’d been, or knew some other, associated story. The work is admired by some as a snapshot of Welsh society at the time, but I found the author a bit too overbearing in his conversations with the Welsh.
Highly informative and well narrated
Lampshire Jones
More than anything this account transports the listener to a Wales full of charm and character. Although Mr Borrow recounts his adventures in a serious fashion there is (dry) humour in abundance.
A LibriVox Listener
Interesting author and time/setting. The reader is remarkably skilled in using his voice in dialogues between mr. borrow and the people he meets. Clearly familiar with Welsh language too. A favorite librivox.
Good show all around!
Davey Jones
Engaging account of Mr. Borrow's travels and excellent reading by Mr. Gough. Highly recommended.
ww South Wales rather rushed through. excellent reading and an
A LibriVox Listener
Catherine Allen
I love this book and the narration is excellent.