Few entertainers epitomise the term ‘national treasure’ like Max Boyce. From his humble early years touring the clubs of his native south Wales, to his sell-out performances before thousands at some of the world’s most iconic venues, to British prime-time stardom, Max has firmly cemented himself as one of these shores’ most endearing comedians and singers. A multitalented, charismatic artist, his words, infused with Welsh lifeblood—mining, Valleys community life, rugby union—have lost none of their potency, and continue to echo around pubs and stadium terraces to this day. Compiling—in some instances for the first time in print—the very best songs, poems, and stories from across his celebrated career, Max: Hymns & Arias – The Selected Stories, Songs and Poems of Max Boyce is the definitive selected work of a major cultural figure, who through his inimitable humour, uniquely Welsh pathos, and masterful wordcraft has defined a nation and its people for more than half a century. “Uproariously and happily unique.” —The Listener Maxwell Boyce , MBE (born 27 September 1943) is a Welsh comedian, singer, and entertainer. He rose to fame during the mid-1970s with an act that combined musical comedy with his passion for rugby union and his origins in the mining communities of south Wales.