Russell Davies is a broadcaster and writer; he is the author of Secret Sins: Sex, Violence and Society in Carmarthenshire 1870–1920; Hope and Heartbreak: a Social History of Wales and the Welsh, 1776–1870, and People, Places and Passions: Pain and Pleasure, a Social History of Wales and the Welsh, 1870–1945.

• ‘To begin at the beginning’: an introduction1: ‘Dygŵyl y Meirwon’ (Festival of the Dead): death, transcendence and transience2: The Citadel: pain, anxiety and wellbeing3: Going Gently into that Good Night: desolation, dispiritedness and melancholy4: Where, When, What Was Wales and who were the Welsh? contentment, disappointment and embarrassment5: ‘The Way of all Flesh’: prudery, passion and perversion6: Love in a Cold Climate: fidelity, friendship and fellowship7: Religion and superstition: fear, foreboding and faith8: The pursuit of pleasure: enthrallment, happiness and imaginationConclusion: A few selected exits.

Russell Davies is a broadcaster and writer; he is the author of Secret Sins: Sex, Violence and Society in Carmarthenshire 1870–1920; Hope and Heartbreak: a Social History of Wales and the Welsh, 1776–1870, and People, Places and Passions: Pain and Pleasure, a Social History of Wales and the Welsh, 1870–1945.

• ‘To begin at the beginning’: an introduction1: ‘Dygŵyl y Meirwon’ (Festival of the Dead): death, transcendence and transience2: The Citadel: pain, anxiety and wellbeing3: Going Gently into that Good Night: desolation, dispiritedness and melancholy4: Where, When, What Was Wales and who were the Welsh? contentment, disappointment and embarrassment5: ‘The Way of all Flesh’: prudery, passion and perversion6: Love in a Cold Climate: fidelity, friendship and fellowship7: Religion and superstition: fear, foreboding and faith8: The pursuit of pleasure: enthrallment, happiness and imaginationConclusion: A few selected exits.