Fast-paced and fact-packed, this compendium revels in Carmarthenshire's rich heritage and what makes it special in areas such as culture, landscape, wildlife, food and sport.This whistle-stop tour through the 'Garden of Wales' covers both celebrated characters and murky pasts, taking in the county's breathtaking castles, nature reserves and famous landmarks along the way. From the county gaol and asylum to school strikes and industrial riots, this is a book you won't want to put down.

Russell Grigg has taught history at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, based at Carmarthen, for more than twenty years. He has a strong knowledge of the county, having published popular and academic articles and books for local magazines such as Carmarthenshire Life and the University of Wales Press. He is well acquainted with source material, as he has co-directed the University's MA course in local history. He gives talks to local history societies and contributes to media programmes based on Carmarthen and the area, such as Who Do You Think You Are with Griff Rhys Jones, ITV's Our Town series (Carmarthen), the BBC Radio 4 Long View series on the Llanelli School Strikes.