Putting Wales First

This authoritative book traces the development of Plaid Cymru’s political thought from its birth in 1924–5 to the establishment of the National Assembly for Wales in 1999. Through a penetrating study of the political beliefs of its most important leaders – Saunders Lewis, Gwynfor Evans, Dafydd Elis-Thomas and Dafydd Wigley – we follow the party’s emergence from the political fringe to the threshold of a devolved Wales. The development of Plaid Cymru’s constitutional and economic policies are examined in detail, as well as its attitude towards the Welsh language. A vibrant discussion on the nature of nationalism and nationalist ideas locates the party’s intellectual development in a broader international context. This is a book that reveals Plaid Cymru in a new and sometimes controversial light.