2026 Reading Challenge
On the Black Hill

Questions About On the Black Hill

by Bruce Chatwin

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Answered Questions (3)

Could you explain what exactly these names mean here? Morgan the Bailey, Williams the Vron, Griffiths Cwm Cringlyn what the father died of drink....... Old Miss Fifield the Tump, Meg the Rock, Theo the Tent
RdWd To expand upon Metaphorosis' answer on its traditionality. The reason the occupation or trait was added after their surname was because the stock of W…moreTo expand upon Metaphorosis' answer on its traditionality. The reason the occupation or trait was added after their surname was because the stock of Welsh surnames was, and still is, quite low, and therefore noun phrases were added to distinguish between which Morgan, Williams, Griffiths etc. somebody was talking about. This is a later practice, quite popular in the 1800s and early 1900s. But the reason the surname stock is low goes back to Welshman adopting the concept of fixed surnames largely in the 1400s.

Prior to this, Welshmen used a patronymic system and would take the name of your father: such as Ben ap John (Ben of John). At some point, this became antiquated, so many Welsh 'fixed' their family name as their father's first name. So, Ben ap John would become Ben Johns (with added 's' to mark possessiveness). Because the pool of first names were so low, so were the new family names, which also means that in Wales, sharing a surname does not guarantee any familial relation. (less)
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Has anyone come across book club discussion questions about this book?
Matt I haven't checked the link, but the Great Books Foundation have a free downloadable discussion guide in pdf or epub for On The Black Hill. See the ins…moreI haven't checked the link, but the Great Books Foundation have a free downloadable discussion guide in pdf or epub for On The Black Hill. See the instructions on the store page as to how to acquire.

https://store.greatbooks.org/colleges...(less)
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Where exactly is the story set?
Joyce The Vision Farm, Brecon Beacons, South Wales. Bruce Chatwin lived here.

https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/...…moreThe Vision Farm, Brecon Beacons, South Wales. Bruce Chatwin lived here.

https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/...(less)
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Unanswered Questions (3)

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