The childhood memoirs of Mervyn Matthews brought up in Swansea during World War II, comprising humorous and sad stories of family hardship following his parents' separation, evacuation to the Gwendraeth Valley and a period spent at an isolation hospital. 23 black-and-white photographs.

Atgofion plentyndod Mervyn Matthews, a fagwyd yn Abertawe yn ystod yr Ail Ryfel Byd, yn cynnwys straeon doniol a thrist am galedi teuluol yn dilyn tor-priodas ei rieni, cael ei anfon yn ifaciwî i Gwm Gwendraeth a threulio amser mewn ysbyty neilltuedig. 23 llun du-a-gwyn.

Although a spate of biographical works have appeared in both Welsh and English in recent years, this fascinating volume is worthy of special commendation. It begins in 1941 at the height of the blitz in the back streets of Swansea and ends in July 1955 at a graduation ceremony at Manchester University campus where the author, against all the odds, has achieved an honours degree in Russian, a spectacular achievement.

In between we read a notably well-crafted account of an extraordinary childhood and youth. The text is based on detailed diaries which the author kept between the ages of nine and fourteen (we are regularly treated to copious quotations), supplemented by a family archive, a vivid memory and the recollections of his contemporaries. The family papers, we are told, were carefully preserved by the author's father.

In his brief introduction, Mervyn Matthews tells us that his life has been 'a great adventure' full of 'thrills and dangers'. Certainly, even by the standards of the age, his experiences are more exciting and extraordinary than 'the familiar activities in ordinary situations' which constitute the lives of most individuals. Forced by the exigencies of the bombing to abandon his boyhood home at Swansea, the author went to live with his maternal grandmother at Hafod in the beautiful Gwendraeth valley. He was later evacuated to west Wales and compelled by illness to spend lengthy periods at Hill House isolation hospital after the war.

These problems were compounded by family difficulties: the sadness and bitterness of his parents' tempestuous relationship and eventual estrangement and a whole host of other family problems. We are given vivid pen pictures of an array of characters, including Mervyn's schoolteachers (some of whom still clearly evoke strong emotions), his friends and neighbours and many, many members of his extended, sprawling family. His mother, 'devoted, caring and protective' is probably the strongest character in the book. At times we laugh with the author, at other times we could well weep at the poignancy of his situation. Humour and intense sadness intermingle freely. Also of particular interest are the graphic descriptions of industrial practices, especially in the inter-war coalmining industry.

The text is carefully crafted in a lively, personal style, with every word chosen with precision. The appeal of the volume is further enhanced by the inclusion of twenty-three attractive photographs taken mainly from the family album. Many of the characters thus spring to life in a book sure to tug the reader's heart strings.

This is a volume which will certainly entertain and enthral the discerning reader.

J. Graham Jones

It is possible to use this review for promotional purposes, but the following acknowledgement should be included: A review from www.gwales.com, with the permission of the Welsh Books Council.

Gellir defnyddio’r adolygiad hwn at bwrpas hybu, ond gofynnir i chi gynnwys y gydnabyddiaeth ganlynol: Adolygiad oddi ar www.gwales.com, trwy ganiatâd Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru.