Swansea-born Bernard Lewis is a leading local historian who has trawled through the archives to throw some light on some very dark places in the history of the city.

Lewis begins at the beginning which is exactly what one would expect in a book set in and around Swansea. In the opening chapter, he gives an overview that runs from medieval times to the reign of Queen Victoria. They were tough times made tougher by rough and brutal men where life was cheap and there was a perpetual state of war between the native Welsh and Norman overlords. Much of this was centred on Swansea and Oystermouth castles both at one time in the hands of ""a licentious clan of freebooters, the de Breoses."

Moving through the years and chapter headings Lewis examines the career of the snake oil salesman Baron Spolasco and his so-called miraculous cures; the fighting Welsh and the killing of John Bowling; the fighting Irish and two dead Welshmen; and the Rebecca Rioters at Pontarddulai.

Although dealing with dark days and human misdeeds the stories are never less than fascinating.

Swansea Life, July 2010