Gerald of Wales

Gerald’s account covers a seven week journey in March and April 1188. From Hereford, Gerald covered over 500 miles. His route ranged from southern Wales, an area he knew, to the wilder north. Along the way he tackled some of Wales’ steepest mountains and most treacherous rivers. His trip bequeathed not only the first book ever to be wholly devoted to Wales, but also the most vivid portrait of a British medieval journey ever written. Gerald made this journey because he and Baldwin, the Archbishop of Canterbury, were under orders from the King to enlist men for the Third Crusade. Nick sets out to uncover how successful their appeal was. Did their journey work out as planned? And what was it like to travel around Wales 800 years ago, compared to now? Who was Gerald of Wales? Gerald de Barri was the son of a Norman knight, and actually only a quarter Welsh. In 1188, Gerald was in his 40s, archdeacon of Brecon and a royal official. Despite the historical gap, we know plenty about him. He was tall, energetic and an excellent horseman. Apparently he even had shaggy eyebrows! Arguably Gerald is Britain’s first travel writer. Although he wrote by hand in Latin, he shows qualities we appreciate today. An excellent storyteller, historian and naturalist, he writes with style and flair, keeping his readers interested. He also creates a mental map of Wales, vital in an age before cartography was commonplace. Gerald never made it to the Holy Land, instead he dedicated his life to writing. By his death in 1223 he’d produced 17 books, a staggering achievement for his era. In fact, because of those books we know more about him than almost any other person living at the time.