Xenophobe's Guide to the Welsh

By John Winterson Richards

Welsh willfulness

The Welsh are stubbornvery, very stubborn. The Welsh themselves would probably rather say tenacious,” but to anyone on the receiving end a better description might well be bloody-minded.”

 

Proud and proud of it

Welsh pride is real pridethe sort of mindless, instinctive, animal pride that requires no justification or excuse. It is simply pride for the sake of pride. Such pride is the only thing one has left when one has been stripped of everything else.

 

It's not unusual to be . . . an actor

Given the propensity of Welsh people of all types to overact at every given opportunity, it is not surprising that those who manage to tone it down a bit have gone on to world fame as actors (or politicians, who are, after all, only an inferior species of actors).

 

Warriors at heart

The Welsh are extremely proficient at rugby. They enjoy it and they take it seriously. This is because rugbywith its physical aggression, tactics, disciplined use of brute force, and organized violenceis the closest thing modern day life can offer to Wales' traditional national sport: war.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Oval Books
• Release date: Jun 1, 2008
• ISBN: 9781908120939

Book preview

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