CRIME NOVEL AND WELSH NATIONALISM

Book Review

The Heirs of Owain Glyndwr
A Ben Schroeder Novel

By Peter Murphy

No Exit Press

A quote to start the history going!

Glendower: Three times hath Henry Bolingbroke made head Against my power; thrice from the banks of Wye And sandy-bottom’d Severn have I sent him Bootless home and weather-beaten back. Henry IV, Part One Act 3, Scene 1"


This book is based on events of 1969 around the investiture of Prince Charles to his exalted status of ‘Prince of Wales’. A title enveloped in history and controversy. Wales being the first colony of England suffered for centuries by whoever sat on the English Throne. Welsh nationalist was fueled by more recent injustices with the flooding of the Tryweryn valley and the village of Capel Celyn. That's enough history because this novel deals with two Welsh nationalists, both potential bombers, and what they intended.

The books location is split between Caernarfon, the seat of the investiture, and the Central Criminal Court (The Old Bailey) in London. You can say that prejudice was working hard here in that a bombing crime that was perpetrated in Wales could be fairly heard in the English Capital! Legally, it was correct but what would the verdict have been with a Welsh jury? The English enforcers were not to take that chance.

The story is based on facts of both nationalist activities of explosions and the perpetrators although Peter Murphy has created his own characters with Caradog Prys-Jones, his sister Arianwen and Dafydd Prosser. These were the three that appeared in the dock at The Bailey. There was one person missing and that was Arianwen’s husband Trevor Hughes. He disappeared.

I loved the way Peter Murphy wrote this tale of Welshness, of a love affair, and the way the plotters went cautiously about their business. In the way it is written it speaks of the love that the plotters had for their town and how the plot involved around the bookshop ran by Trevor Hughes and how he became incolculated into the plot.

The drama of the court proceedings is told skillfully by Peter Murphy and with his legal and courtroom experience it should be the case. Gripping, totally encompassing as the evidence is given and the cross examinations occur. It is great to see the contest between the prosecution and defense councils and the behaviour of each. Some to like and some to dislike. This part makes a damn good read.

The single judge is a star too and being a jury trial he has to be careful.

The result and whatever happens is all there for you to read. and for you to feel that the result fitted the evidence.

I was recommended this book by a friend and I am grateful for it. Having investigated the writer, Peter Murphy, I have come across another new writer I would read more of. Also his recommendation to read the first three chapters of ‘a small town in Germany’ by John Le Carré. It being so well written and atmospheric without anything actually happening. That's another author to revisit.

These events took place prior to The Police & Criminal Evidence Act of 1984 and Judges Rules were the guide of how to conduct interviews of suspects. I was a student of both and a lecturer on the latter. This one was one reason that I enjoyed the court room scenes so much. I have not said anything about the outcome of the trial for that is for you to read about.