Aberystwyth Books

This evocative and often humorous compilation of reminiscences records life as it used to be in Aberystwyth from the middle decades of the twentieth century. A comprehensive and fascinating view of the life is depicted. The excitement of going to the silent films, dances with Evered Davies' band, the influx of evacuees during the war and drinking in the Glue Pot, are just a few of the many memories included.

For those who remember the people and places portrayed here, this record will awaken strong nostalgic memories; for people of a younger generation it will provide a valuable insight into the lives of their parents and grandparents.

As k,ids we used to queue outside Teviotdales or Wards with a basket for 'stalers' - yesterdays cakes that they sold off at a nominal price. These stalers we used to regard as real luxuries...

Washing day was always on a Monday...We used to have a big boiler, an old Pyre, and we used to boil the clothes in there. You had to put a bit of coal and...

Aberystwyth: two languages, a university, a farming community, a port turned marina, the National Library of Wales, home of writers and spies, was made recently famous, or infamous, by Malcolm Pryce's novels. It's any number of conflicting and complimentary things from its medieval beginnings through its Victorian heyday to the fluid mix of longstanding natives, large student population and colony of those who came and never left. Scouse Niall Griffiths may yet be one of the latter, and Aber and its environs have provided a rich source of material for his four novels. What does he make of the place outside of fiction? In the characteristic style of the "Real" series, this book mixes autobiography with topography, alligns the oblique approach with historical report, and contrasts the prosaic with the downright odd. Niall Griffiths has stepped outside his usual genre to produce an enthralling picture of a world famous town.