Programme 3

Twenty thousand books were sold at the National Eisteddfod in 2006, proving that the Welsh appetite for reading is alive and well. This programme takes a look at reading in Wales since 920 A.D. Over the years, attempts were made to actively stop the Welsh population from learning to read, since this might give them too much information.

Thanks to some doughty campaigners, the tide turned eventually, and as well as reading extensively, Wales saw some of the earliest developments in satirical cartoons.