Cylchgronau Cymru

Christopher Houlder, Wales: an Archaeological Guide (Faber and Faber, 1974. Pp. 207, 29 plates, 40 figs. £ 4.50) provides a superbly- illustrated list of 240 selected prehistoric, Roman and early-medieval field monuments, divided into forty-five areas convenient for the tourist. Priority has been given to accessibility, and there are full references to the National Grid. The author provides a brief outline of the archaeology of Wales and a helpful classified bibliography. Mr. Houlder, an official investigator of Welsh ancient monuments, based at Aberystwyth, is admirably equipped to encourage the archaeological enthusiast, profes- sional or lay, to put on his gum boots. In Marxism and History (University of Hull, 1974. Pp. 19. 50p.), originally his inaugural lecture, Professor John Saville discusses Marx's theory of historical change, and rejects the more mechanical or deterministic interpretation of it. He emphasizes the value of Marxist theory in persuading historians to develop fruitful relationships with economists and sociologists in pursuing their craft. In Professor Saville's view, however, this more flexible attitude towards Marxism still leaves the concept of history as the story of class struggle and the vision of the classless society basically undisturbed. No doubt it is a Whiggish illusion to believe that historians are better than they used to be. Even so, British politics in the twentieth century are surely being examined by historians now with far greater rigour and thoroughness than in the past. Their labours will be immensely assisted by A Guide to the Papers of British Cabinet Ministers, 1900-1951 (Royal Historical Society, London, Guides and Handbooks Series No. 1, 1974. Pp. xv, 174), prepared by Cameron Hazlehurst and Christine Woodland. Financed by the Social Science Research Council, it provides a unique and indispensable guide to the location, contents and accessibility of the private papers of every British Cabinet minister who held office between 1900 and 1951. In addition to giving excellent digests of the contents of the papers, the authors also provide, on occasion, extracts of particularly significant documents. The result of the authors' researches showed that the 323 Cabinet ministers during the period left 379 'collections', of which no less than 272 are mercifully preserved and available for research in institutions or in private hands. It must be hoped that the remainder will subsequently be released for scholars (for instance, the remaining Lloyd George MSS. at Criccieth). The Political Records Project, now based at the London School of Economics, will shortly be publishing additional guides to the papers of members of parliament and other public figures. In the meantime, historians (already appreciative of Dr. Hazlehurst's excellent monograph Politicians at War, July 1914 to May 1915) will be