The Dragon Has Two Tongues: A History of the Welsh 1/3 with Wynford Vaughan-Thomas

[bramleybull]

As an Englishman I love learning about Welsh history and culture as I visit often and is my favourite country.

[3tangle3]

@bramleybull good one, most english have the same pre celtic/celtic ancestry but became anglo norman in culture due to the rule of the influx of elite rulers and their followers e.g. saxon/norman....even the celts had their red/blonde haired elites come in 600bc onwards

[jeannegirl1]

great video. this guy is awesome

[MatlockJack]

Can anyone confirm whether this was first broadcast in 1982?

[skatenotwar]

I saw this TV show for the first time in a history lecture today. Fantastic - thank you for uploading this!

[DeductiveReason]

My great-great grandfather was SIr Thomas West. I don't know a lot about him. Does anybody know about him? My grandmothers name was Davis and she married one of the West brothers. She was also from Whales. Is there anyone out there from Whales that knows either one of these families in the United Kingdom?

[JamesoMorgan]

Is that Thomas West father of John West who does the tuna? That would explain the whale connection, to use a bit of DeductiveReason. As I understand it all of these animals and historical figures are Welsh, or at least were before the English came along and spoiled everything with their racism, female paedophiles and fake cockney accents, so you're probably on to something. The important thing is that we all stick together and try to stop all these tidal waves and stuff (whales please take note)

[JamesoMorgan]

Is that Thomas West father of John West who does the tuna? That would explain the whale connection, to use a bit of DeductiveReason. As I understand it all of these animals and historical figures are Welsh, or at least were before the English came along and spoiled everything with their racism, female paedophiles and fake cockney accents, so you're probably on to something. The important thing is that we all stick together and try to stop all these tidal waves and stuff (whales please take note)

[JamesoMorgan]

@DeductiveReason Is that Thomas West father of John West who does the tuna? That would explain the whale connection, to use a bit of DeductiveReason. As I understand it all of these animals and historical figures are Welsh, or at least were before the English came along and spoiled everything with their racism, female paedophiles and fake cockney accents, so you're probably on to something. The important thing is that we all stick together and try to stop all these tidal waves and stuff

[JamesoMorgan]

@DeductiveReason Is that Thomas West father of John West who does the tuna? That would explain the whale connection, to use a bit of DeductiveReason. As I understand it all of these animals and historical figures are Welsh, or at least were before the English came along and spoiled everything with their racism, female paedophiles and fake cockney accents, so you're probably on to something. The important thing is that we all stick together and try to stop all these tidal waves.

[teliesin77]

This was seen as a hopeless mis-match. Gwyn Alf was a brilliant historian and an even better lecturer, as comfortable writing about Goya or Gramsci as he was about Welsh history. Vaughan-Thomas, meanwhile, was a journalist with more than a hint of romantic foolery. That said, Gwyn was notoriously cavalier with his sources and flew by the seat of his pants as an academic. Given that this series was made at the height of Thatcherism, his historical materialist schtick is especially passionate.

[ralphcraddock]

was this series not longer when first broadcast ?

gwyn williams was ok just not part of the cardiff castle set. polotic should not get in the way when considering

his brilliance as a writer and welsh historean.

he did try his best for wales. some prefer to ignore

the hardship endured by many in the not so distant past

in wales .he knew it first hand.cymru am byth. diolch.

[rmcode]

Thanks for posting. I wonder why there has never been a DVD release of this tremendous series.

[ludocrat]

Well, I've been to the Big Pit a few times and know that it wasn't shut for political reasons (although politics no doubt played a part given the timing and haste with which it, and others, suffered closure) but practical ones: it was more or less worked out.

Funny thing is, people like this working class hero-type, Gwyn Williams - and you still meet a fair few others just like him, even today - are still stuck firmly down the pit - and stuck stubbornly in the past. I'm with Wynford!

[suzycreamecheeses]

Helo Toddysfins bach,

I've got programmes 7-13 on VHS....if your interested...I don't have the kit to up load.

[endora60]

OK, the mono is nerve jangling, but the programme is so good--especially the transposition of the intellectual and the working man--that in a couple of minutes the weirdness of the mono disappeared. My concentration was on the programme, not on the sound quality.

[metalblev]

@endora60 I see what you mean about Gwyn A. Williams representing the working class but Gwyn A. Williams is arguably more the intellectual than Wynford Vaughan Thomas - Gwyn is possibly the finest historian Wales has every produced.

[hairbear403]

I'm really grateful to the guy who posted this programme on to YouTube - I remember watching this in my teenage years and ended up correspondeing with Prof Williams - a top guy. Who sadly is right - Wales is doomed in a capitalist system as capitalism has abandoned it, so its no wonder the Welsh abandon capitalism. Very nostalgic and diolch yn fawr Toddysfins!

[suevso]

Awesome, diolch yn fawr. The quality is actually quite good considering the source.

[EducatedRebellion101]

This is great, it is along the lines of what Michael Tsarion teaches about ancient Ireland, as it seems that ancient Europe in general was a far cry indeed from the systematic, darwinian timeline based lunacy being pawned off as "history" today. Wales, Ireland, Scotland, etc.... have a much covered up REAL history.

[TheWelshtube]

thanks for posting this

[emROARS]

I think the reason why this isn't on DVD is because it's basically having a go at the English ans such. XD

[emROARS]

Diolch yn fawr iawn for posting this.

Watching from Gwent. =]

[jannyrcobs]

I'm divided on this one: I think the Welsh landscape and antiquities have provided a sense of continuity, but the actual history...? I'm inclined to agree that there's been very little continuity--and this, by the way, is from a Welsh-blooded Canadian perspective.

[hiraieth]

well stick to the Red Maple then

[jrnesbit]

could the sound quality be any worse? mono?

[Toddysfins]

The sound is in mono because it was transferred from an old VHS tape in mono several years before youtube existed and with no thought of it ever being broadcast publicly. Anyone who objects to mono can avoid watching it (and nearly all my other uploads) but I've put it here because I thought some people might enjoy it, mono or not.

[TheJosephPrice]

Mono or not, thanks for the upload :)

[ludocrat]

@Toddysfins

Well said!

[Austrianharp]

Thank you!!!

[csmurphyx500]

the music at the start is AMAZING

[zahken]

it is by Robin Williamsion (of Incredible String band "fame"), as far as I know

[MatlockJack]

@csmurphyx500

The music brings tears to your eyes, it has so much dignity and endurance....

[stanzemanek]

Interesting to note SBS Australia is where you pulled this video from...

No Welsh background myself, but I'm very fascinated with their history, with the rest of the UK.

Thanks for sharing!

[monkeyapplenerd]

thanks for posting this it is very interesting.

[Pusllab1]

I remember this series. It was brilliant. Why, I wonder, is it not on D.V.D.? Thanks for posting the episode!