The Journey Through Wales and the Description of Wales

Gerald of Wales was born c.1145 in Pembrokeshire. He died in obscurity, possibly in Lincoln in 1223. He wrote seventeen books, all of them in Latin, and was well-connected to the Royal Family of his day. Lewis Thorpe was Professor of French at Nottingham University from 1958 to 1977. He was President of the British Branch of the International Arthurian Society. He died in 1977.

Translated by Lewis ThorpeIntroduction:


I. The Life of Gerald of Wales
Geneaological table: the family of Gerald of Wales


II. The Journey Through Wales
1. The purpose of the journey and its achievements
2. Gerald's role
3. The route followed
4. The three versions
5. "...cum notabilibus suis"
6. The editions
7. The earlier translation
8. This translation


III. The Description of Wales
1. The shape and subject-matter
2. The three versions
3. The changes made in the second and third versions
4. The editions
5. The earlier translation
6. This translation


IV. Gerald the Historian


V. Gerald the Artist


VI. Short Bibliography


VII. Acknowledgments


VIII. List of Gerald's Extant Writings


Maps:
1. Gerald's Journey Through Wales
2. Wales in 1188


THE JOURNEY THROUGH WALES
First Preface
Second Preface
List of Chapter-Headings: Book I; Book II


THE DESCRIPTION OF WALES
First Preface
Second Preface
List of Chapter-Headings: Book I; Book II


Appendix I: The additions made in Versions II and III of The Journey Through Wales
Appendix II: The additions made in Versions II and III of The Description of Wales
Appendix III: Gerald of Wales and King Arthur
Index