From the Act of Union to Anne Robinson, 'Neighbours from Hell?' looks at English attitudes to the Welsh. Drawing on the author’s experience of the comedy circuit, cartoons; the popular press and postcards; from Tours of the Picturesque to the novels of Niall Griffiths, the range of reference is as broad as the writing style is witty. Stereotypes explored include the Welsh character (shifty, oversexed or verbose); the Welsh language (dead, ugly or secret code for extremists), and the landscape. Mike Parker examines treacherous policy decisions sacrificing communities to reservoirs, forestry and military ranges. And he warns of future loss through blinkered tourist and property marketing. This is fine and funny polemic with a purpose, by the author of The Rough Guide to Wales. "When I finally decided to move to rural Wales from the English West Midlands, acquaintances of the most right-on variety trotted out every in-breeding, sheep-shagging, language-switching, house-burning cliché in the book. These are people who’ve signed petitions for downtrodden folk in… whichever part of our petulant little planet was kicking off at the time… But somehow one people escapes their gimlet gaze of well-meaning solidarity… the Welsh are fair game."
