Charles Wilkins (1831-1913) was a Welsh postmaster and librarian who had a deep interest in local and regional history, especially of the town of Merthyr Tydfil where he lived. He wrote prolifically for many of the local newspapers, and produced histories of the town, Welsh literature, and the region's coal trade before tackling this work, published in 1903, which examines the rise of the iron and steel industries across the region, and gives a lively account of the notable families who were behind this industrial expansion from the eighteenth century onwards. Wales was a hub of steel, iron and tin production, which became much in demand during the Industrial Revolution. Wilkins also considers the workers' lives, devoting space to the riots of 1831, and paints a broad social and economic portrait of Wales at a time of great transition.
- ISBN10 1116659468
- ISBN13 9781116659467
- Publish Date 10 November 2009 (first published 29 October 2009)
- Publish Status Unknown
- Publish Country US
- Imprint BiblioLife
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 486
- Language English