The canon of novels, short stories, plays and television appearances left to the world by the late, great Gwyn Thomas are unique in that they perfectly define a country and its people. If you thought that the only literary genius to come out of Wales was Dylan Thomas, then you have an absolute treat in store for you.

Gwyn Thomas is the ultimate literary craftsman. Words came easily to him and with just a few well chosen sentences he can evoke a mood, a time and a location. His books are like roller coasters. He takes you to the places he writes about. His characters become real people and, through him, you share their passions. I have absolutely no hesitation at all in recommending this book to people who love books. It is an absolute classic and when you read it you will understand why Sir Anthony Hopkins was willing to take a massive pay cut to appear as Gwyn Thomas in the BBC film of the book.

The man was a genius. Buy this book. Read it and tell your friends about it.

Follow the life of this little-known Welsh playwrite from his roots in the coalfields of the Rhonda Valley through a brilliant scholastic career in England.

Also, make a special effort to see the excellent television program from the BBC based on this book. Anthony Hopkins is at his best as Thomas.

This book, and the television production noted above, is a must for lovers of literature and humor. These works should have a much wider audience.

Gwyn Thomas' autobiography "A Few Selected Exits" is unlike any other autobiography you have read. A bold statement, but one which is easy proved. A reader need only delve into the first few pages, and they will be hooked on the genius of a man unappreciated in his own time. Thomas' autobiography is the only one I have read which is not self serving. He recounts escapades from his life yes, but in such a non-linear way, one gets the impression of sharing a drink with him in a pub. I have never read a book before which will make the reader laugh out loud in a room alone. Thomas skewers pretension at his alma mater Oxford, and takes a honest but affectionate view of the youth he spent in poverty in Wales with equal enthusiasm. .

Tom Rentschler's Cosmopolitan And Gwyn & Campbell Carbines In The Civil War is the definitive, illustrated history of two rare and unusual Civil War cavalry carbines and their use in the field. An informative, exhaustively researched, seminal work, the 128-pages of superbly crafted text is enhanced with 84 black-and-white illustrations (including three never-before-published photos), footnotes, and general index. No serious Civil War studies collection can be considered complete or comprehensive without the inclusion of Cosmopolitan And Gwyn & Campbell Carbines In The Civil War.

It is indeed tragic that so little of Lewis' work is currently in print. Lewis was a gifted playwright, poet, Catholic apologist and Welsh Nationalist who wrote in Welsh. Pritchard-Jones' selection captures this multi-faceted writer brilliantly. The book really conveys a sense of the full vision and scope of Lewis' artistry and social conscience. The poetry is brilliant and deeply evocative. The theatre pieces are poetry in themselves. Unfortunately, this makes it all the more lamentable that Lewis' genius is not more readily available to a wider audience. Lewis' influences range from Pascal to Beckett to Medieval Welsh Poetry. This is a truly fantastic and rewarding book. I highly recommend it. IF YOU ONLY READ ONE BOOK THIS SUMMER... (sorry, couldn't resist that)... This is a truly wonderful effort. Thank you Harri Pritchard-Jones for your work in compiling it.

This book is a collection of some of the best-preserved, non-Irish Celtic stories, which makes it a valuable resource for anyone studying Celtic literature and culture. Not only that, but the stories are wonderful! The Guide to Welsh Pronounciation was excellent, making it easier to read names like Blodeuwedd or Yspaddaden.

To be honest, this reviewer who studied classic literature in several college classes never heard of this Welsh anthology collected during the fourteenth century. The book contains eleven tales translated into English short stories that link Welsh myths and medieval life in Wales with a world of fantasy. Fans of King Arthur (who appears in several tales) or Beowulf will fully enjoy the tales that divide into three sections with each one very colorful while providing the life of a bygone era by bards of a later but also bygone period. Different, but quite good for readers who enjoy Celtic legends. THE MABINOGION will definitely entertain this select audience.

Harriet Klausner

This book is absolutely necessary if you want to learn more about the Welsh through literature. Writers like J.R.R. Tolkien and Lloyd Alexander have drawn inspiration from this ancient classic. With this translation and edition, you also get some of the oldest Arthurian Romances. Order it now!