Book Review:A Royal Welsh tale?-A bard for Highgrove

 Opinion, Welsh Politics  2 Responses »
Nov 232010
 

A bard for HighgroveA BARD FOR HIGHGROVE by Meic Stephens

Some comments by readers…

“ Devoid of literary merit …”

” I had great fun spotting all the cringe-making characters …”

” Welsh Republicans will either love or loathe this amusing saga …”

” A worthy addition to the satirical genre – will cause uproar! “

” How can a Professor of Literature write something like this – outrageous!

” Seditious nonsense by someone who should be locked up in the Tower of London.”

A book review.

Normally, we don’t get involved in the literary side of things on Cambria Politico, but since this novel(la) by Meic Stephens is about imagined events involving England’s Royal Family it has a ‘political’ dimension and is therefore fair game. It has already caused a stir judging by the pre-publication reviews already received.

This novella, at once provocative and percipient, but never bland, is partly a critique of the institution of monarchy and partly a satire on the culture and politics of contemporary Wales … it will make some readers grin and get up the noses of others, in about equal measure. (from the blurb)

With the recent announcement of the impending marriage of helicopter pilot Prince William and ‘commoner’ Kate Middleton, the (English) Royal Family are back in the news headlines again so this little book has arrived with perfect timing. It will provoke argument and discussion about the role of the monarchy in modern contemporary Wales.

The premise of the book, apart from its scathing attack on thinly disguised members of the current Welsh literary ‘establishment’ ,  is that current heir to the English throne Prince Charles wants to appear more Welsh to his subjects. To achieve this aim, he hires a Welsh speaking (lady)bard (hence the title) who proceeds to make the Prince of Wales become more Welsh than the Welsh with startling and often hilarious consequences.

Whether you are Welsh or not, most people will enjoy and be entertained by reading this little book. Some will be taking it apart word by word and consulting their legal teams.

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Publication Date: December 2010. Publisher: Cambria-Cyhoeddwyr Cymrica Cyfyngedig

ISBN: 9781844269341 |  Price : £7.95 plus £1.50 p&p

Ordering:  BUY NOW or call 01267 290188

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 Posted by BellWhether at 1:37 pm  Tagged with: , ,

Has Leighton Andrews fawned enough?

 Blood Boilers, Opinion  7 Responses »
Jul 112008
 

Rhondda AM Leighton Andrews is reported as demanding that Cambria’s ‘editor’ apologise for claiming that Rhondda schoolchildren were forced to turn out “North Korean-style” during a visit to the area by Prince William in May. Henry Jones Davies (Cambria’s publisher, not its editor as Andrews stated) made the remarks on BBC Wales’s Dragon’s Eye programme in June.

Andrews is quoted as saying: “This magazine is running a campaign to prevent Prince William being invested as Prince of Wales.” Not true. Certainly a report on the icambria weblog revealed a new PR offensive in Wales by the Royal Family’s spin-doctors, but the magazine has never covered the story. Out of this report grew a petition aimed at sending a ‘shot across the bows’ of the British establishment in the event that it was contemplating another investiture similar to the event staged in 1969 at the behest of the then Secretary of State for Wales, the egregious George Thomas. The ceremony was widely seen as part of a strategy to counter the rising tide of nationalism at the time.

Cambria’s publisher said today: “This is the typical sort of impudent response from a breed of London-centric politicians who fall over themselves in sycophantic frenzy to kow-tow to the British establishment whenever and wherever possible. Presumably they do so in the hope of being tossed some meaningless bauble of an honour when they have fawned enough.

They have little understanding of Welsh history and even less respect for it. Devolution is, as Ron Davies so rightly said, a process – not an event. The inexorable development of that process – now forging ahead – will lead, inevitably, to full self-government – independence – for Wales, and the attainment of a sovereignty which will belong to the Welsh nation and to it alone. Young people in Wales, and this will include, when they are old enough to speak for themselves, the young people of the Rhondda, are not remotely concerned with the trappings of monarchy and all the paraphernalia of patronage and condescension that goes with it. Their loyalty is to their country and they are becoming aware of a new reality: the bright future and the dignity that independence will bring.”

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 Posted by Editor at 6:44 pm  Tagged with: , ,

BBC Wales scoops the biscuit

 Blood Boilers, News Scoops, Press and Media, Welsh Politics  1 Response »
Jun 132008
 

Glad to see BBC Wales has got its top news stories right on the day of the Irish referendum and 42 day detention vote aftermath. Yes, the top story is … wait for it … Sir Norman Lloyd-Edwards is retiring from his post as Lord Lieutenant on his 75th birthday. My God what a scoop! Deserves a Pulitzer at least!

It hasn’t all been plain sailing though – and the former Lord Lieutenant remembers one time when he made a slight mistake.
He said he met the Queen at the airport and when the group were then embarked on a journey, he and another took their caps off.Sir Norman said it was pointed out to him that, even when you are in the Queen’s presence, you must keep to the uniform.
As for meeting the great and the good, the Lord Lieutenant said he particularly likes Prince Charles.
“Well, I have got favourites – of course I have – but I am not allowed to say,” he laughed.”I must say I get on with them all extremely well.”
I think Prince Charles is an absolutely super man. Some you are very pally with and others you are friendly but not quite so pally.

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 Posted by Syncretist at 9:26 pm  Tagged with: ,

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