A Manual of Welsh Literature. By the Rev. J. C.
Morice, (Jarvis and Foster, Bangor. 2s. 6d. net.)—By "Welsh Literature" is meant, not books written by Welshmen, but the literature of the Welsh language. The volume covers a period of between twelve and thirteen centuries, from 550 A.D. (circa) to the early years of the nineteenth century (Thomas Edwards, 1739-1810). The early remains are mixed with some spurious matter ; thus, of the seventy-seven poems attributed to Taliesin, not more than twenty at the outside are genuine. After the sixth century there comes a strange gap of some five centuries. There were bards, for they were recognised by law, but they produced nothing, at least nothing that lived. After the eleventh century Mr. Niorioe has plenty of matter to occupy his pen. We do not doubt that his book will be found a useful introduction to the advanced study of Welsh literature.
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