Free digital classic
The Description of Wales
by Giraldus, Cambrensis
About this book
Creators: Cambrensis Giraldus (1146?-1223?) "The Description of Wales" by Giraldus Cambrensis is a geographical and ethnographic treatise written in 1193 or 1194. This two-part work examines the Welsh people through contrasting lenses: their virtues and their faults. Gerald, a churchman of mixed Norman-Welsh ancestry, chronicles Wales's geography, military tactics, cultural practices, and social customs. He offers strategic advice for conquering Wales while simultaneously counseling the Welsh on resistance. The treatise captures a medieval perspective on Welsh identity, blending observation, historical analysis, and pointed cultural commentary about a nation's character and future. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Reading Level: Reading ease score: 50.3 (10th to 12th grade). Somewhat difficult to read. Rights: Public domain in the USA. Downloads: 665