Llyfryddiaethcylchgronau Cymreig 1851-1900: A Bibliography of Welsh Periodicals 1851-1900 (review)

This work is a sequel to A Bibliography of Welsh Periodicals, 1735–1850 (1993), which listed 154 titles, by the same editor. It lists and describes a further 577 Welsh periodicals established between 1851 and 1900. They are published in Wales, or are of Welsh association but published in England, the USA, Australia, Patagonia and India. They include religious, temperance, literary and learned publications, as well as periodicals for children and women, parish, church, chapel, school, and college.

This bilingual volume presents Welsh and English language periodicals, with a translation of each Welsh title (and a brief English description), ordered according to the Welsh alphabet. Dr. Walters' opening 47–page bi–lingual survey of the Welsh periodical press, 1735–1900, is a scholarly, balanced and pointed study, basic reading for nineteenth-century Welsh history. He describes the Welsh periodical press as mainly religious and denominational, not only in Wales but also in 'America' (which in 1890 had more than 100,000 Welsh-born citizens), Patagonia and Australia. The denominationalism popularized doctrinal debate, and the serial fiction prevalent in the periodicals was an effective moralizing force.

Indexes are provided for Authors and Editors, Printers, Places of Publication, and Places of Printing. There is also a convenient Chronological List by first year of publication across both volumes, from 1735–1900. Victorian scholars ought to be cognizant of the 900–entry secondary bibliography of English and Welsh sources. The volume has a sprinkling of eye-catching title pages which provide a unique entré to Welsh print culture.

Dr. Walters, Senior Library Assistant in the Department of Printed Books in the National Library of Wales and winner of several scholarly prizes, points to the influence of The Waterloo Directory of Irish [& Scottish & English] Periodicals and Newspapers, 1800–1900 on this volume, which is both much more and much less than the Waterloo Directory series. More, because for some of the descriptive fields (modeled after Waterloo), it is comprehensive, recording every subtitle, numbering change, proprietor, editor, author, printer. Less, because it is not subject-comprehensive, has fewer descriptive fields, few references to scholarly studies of the titles it lists, no subject, issuing body or county index, and is not available online. Not a catalogue, finding list or union catalogue, this bibliography usually lists one location for each title not held in the National Library of Wales. Dr. Walters limits his work by frequency (nothing less than weekly) and subject (excluding almanacs, directories, most newspapers and, it seems, scientific, legal and other subjects areas).

The designers of this Welsh bibliography are to be commended for the type face, clarity of the facsimile title pages, the page layout of Welsh/ English on the left/right of each opening for the Preface and the Survey of the Welsh Press, and for the fullness of the index references. Readers will wish the volume provided running heads to demarcate the various sections of the Contents and the Indexes.

Huw Walters's admirable piece of scholarship is reminiscent of the late Joseph Altholz's studies of the English religious periodicals' press. Walters sees the growth and development of periodicals as a response to the social revolution resulting from the combination of the powerful religious revivals which swept early nineteenth-century Wales, unprecedented population growth, and a surge in economic activity arising from the new industrialism. It was the golden age of Welsh Nonconformity, producing for instance a wealth of children's periodicals. The Methodist movement alone became "one of the most dynamic and influential movements in the history of modern Wales." This was also the most productive period in the history of Welsh literature. One hopes that some day both volumes of Welsh periodicals bibliography will be available online.