Wales: The First Place

On the western fringe of Europe lies Wales -- surrounded by water on three sides, mountainous, and dramatically beautifully. Geologically, it is one of the oldest parts of the world. Of all the territories of the western Roman empire, only Wales was never conquered by the barbarians, and this distinction instilled in its people a particular sense of trusteeship and unshakable pride in their heritage. It was from the Celtic legends of Wales that the figure of King Arthur emerged as a symbol of a vanished golden age, and this yearning for something old and magical and irrevocably lost has inspired the Welsh people ever since. This same yearning is embodied in a mystical way in the very landscape of Wales, whose bare rocky highlands and brooding moors have inspired poets and storytellers since the beginning of history. "Wales: The First Place" is a personal celebration of fiercely individual and ancient land, brilliantly described by Jan Morris, illustrated with Paul Wakefield's magnificent photographs, and enriched with a selection of Welsh poetry. This book is a glorious evocation of the mystery, the enchantment, and the lyricism of a unique corner of the earth.