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The Welsh Fairy Book
As a schoolmaster in South Wales, folklorist W. Jenkyn Thomas was dismayed to find that his students — who took such delight in the fairy stories of other nations — knew nothing at all of their own country's rich heritage of fairy tales. To fill the need for a collection of Welsh fairy tales for young readers, he compiled this definitive treasury.
Abounding in phantoms, fairies, witches, magical spells, and other time-honored fairy-tale ingredients, the 83 fascinating stories include "Lady of the Lake," in which a young country boy falls in love with a beautiful girl who agrees to marry him under very strange conditions; "The Adventures of Three Farmers," and "The Fairy Wife," in which fairies outsmart mortals; and a wealth of other fanciful, imaginative tales. Among these are such favorites as "Elidyr’s Sojourn in Fairy-Land," "Pergrin and the Mermaiden," "The Cave of the Young Men of Snowdonia," "Goronwy Tudor and the Witches of Llanddona," "A Strange Otter," "Nansi Llwyd and the Dog of Darkness," "The Bride from the Red Lake," "Lowri Dafydd Earns a Purse of Gold," and many more. Overflowing with charm, whimsy, and authentic Welsh flavor, this stimulating collection is sure to delight not only children but also fairy- and folk-tale lovers of all ages.
Abounding in phantoms, fairies, witches, magical spells, and other time-honored fairy-tale ingredients, the 83 fascinating stories include "Lady of the Lake," in which a young country boy falls in love with a beautiful girl who agrees to marry him under very strange conditions; "The Adventures of Three Farmers," and "The Fairy Wife," in which fairies outsmart mortals; and a wealth of other fanciful, imaginative tales. Among these are such favorites as "Elidyr’s Sojourn in Fairy-Land," "Pergrin and the Mermaiden," "The Cave of the Young Men of Snowdonia," "Goronwy Tudor and the Witches of Llanddona," "A Strange Otter," "Nansi Llwyd and the Dog of Darkness," "The Bride from the Red Lake," "Lowri Dafydd Earns a Purse of Gold," and many more. Overflowing with charm, whimsy, and authentic Welsh flavor, this stimulating collection is sure to delight not only children but also fairy- and folk-tale lovers of all ages.
210 pages, Paperback
First published February 5, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
February 28, 2012
3.5 stars.
“There is no end of treasure hidden in the mountains of Wales, but if you are not the person for whom it is intended, you will probably not find it. Even if you do find it, you will probably not be able to secure it, unless it is destined for you.”
There are eighty-three stories in this collection. I have to admit I’m not a huge fan of short stories (but that may be because I’ve not read a lot) so I’m not really an expert on how many stories should be in a collection.
But that’s a lot of folklore.
I was on a bit of a strict deadline with my reading so, even though I didn’t rush through this book, I wonder if I would have enjoyed this book more if I had taken my time and dipped into it leisurely instead of sprinting and cannonballing right, slapbang into the middle.
Um… that metaphor worked better in my head.
Anyway, please don’t get too daunted by the vast amount of stories, because the majority of them are only a page long.
I loved how Mr Jenkyn Thomas told these stories. I could just imagine sitting in a warm country pub deep in the Welsh valleys listening to him tell these stories. As with all good myths and legends, these stories are meant to be read out loud.
From poor Grassi, the forgetful dame is left the lid of the well open and caused the lake of Glasfryn to form (you may recognise her as the weeping ghost “dressed in white silk and a white velvet bonnet”), to the well that sprung in the place where St Winnifred’s decapitated head landed before she was restored to her life by her uncle, St Beuno; these stories were so fascinating and intriguing.
Is there really a lake (again made by someone leaving their lake uncovered. I have to wonder whether the British Isles would have any llyns, lakes or lochs if we weren’t all so forgetful? ) on Mynydd Mawr that kills sheep?! And how about the sighting of so-called Corpse Candles (will-o’-the-wisps)…would they really predict a funeral in the area? And is there a well in Llanbedrog that can tell you who has wronged you with the aid of just a list of names and a loaf of bread? And is that really the reason why a red dragon is the emblem of Wales and inspiration behind many a stuffed toy (I may or may not own a few of them… *cough*)?
This is what I want to know.
However, my favourite favourite story is the tale of poor Gelert.
I won’t go into the particulars, though I’m sure you a few of you might know the unfortunate story. I like to think that somewhere out there him and a little Scottish dog named Bobby are sucking up to the Lord of the Dogs to battle for the title of “The UK’s Most Beloved Dog”.
All in all, I really enjoyed this collection. There were a few that I wasn’t entirely sure of and a few that were incredibly similar; but if you enjoy fairy tales or are interested in finding Arthur’s treasure Celtic mythology I would really recommend this book.
Most of these stories don’t have a moral or a definite point so I thought I’d think of one myself.
If you ever find yourself walking through the mountains of Wales and you see fairies dancing to music played on a harp: leg it.
[This review is part of Wythnos Cymraeg || Welsh Week on my blog. Find out more here.]
“There is no end of treasure hidden in the mountains of Wales, but if you are not the person for whom it is intended, you will probably not find it. Even if you do find it, you will probably not be able to secure it, unless it is destined for you.”
There are eighty-three stories in this collection. I have to admit I’m not a huge fan of short stories (but that may be because I’ve not read a lot) so I’m not really an expert on how many stories should be in a collection.
But that’s a lot of folklore.
I was on a bit of a strict deadline with my reading so, even though I didn’t rush through this book, I wonder if I would have enjoyed this book more if I had taken my time and dipped into it leisurely instead of sprinting and cannonballing right, slapbang into the middle.
Um… that metaphor worked better in my head.
Anyway, please don’t get too daunted by the vast amount of stories, because the majority of them are only a page long.
I loved how Mr Jenkyn Thomas told these stories. I could just imagine sitting in a warm country pub deep in the Welsh valleys listening to him tell these stories. As with all good myths and legends, these stories are meant to be read out loud.
From poor Grassi, the forgetful dame is left the lid of the well open and caused the lake of Glasfryn to form (you may recognise her as the weeping ghost “dressed in white silk and a white velvet bonnet”), to the well that sprung in the place where St Winnifred’s decapitated head landed before she was restored to her life by her uncle, St Beuno; these stories were so fascinating and intriguing.
Is there really a lake (again made by someone leaving their lake uncovered. I have to wonder whether the British Isles would have any llyns, lakes or lochs if we weren’t all so forgetful? ) on Mynydd Mawr that kills sheep?! And how about the sighting of so-called Corpse Candles (will-o’-the-wisps)…would they really predict a funeral in the area? And is there a well in Llanbedrog that can tell you who has wronged you with the aid of just a list of names and a loaf of bread? And is that really the reason why a red dragon is the emblem of Wales and inspiration behind many a stuffed toy (I may or may not own a few of them… *cough*)?
This is what I want to know.
However, my favourite favourite story is the tale of poor Gelert.
I won’t go into the particulars, though I’m sure you a few of you might know the unfortunate story. I like to think that somewhere out there him and a little Scottish dog named Bobby are sucking up to the Lord of the Dogs to battle for the title of “The UK’s Most Beloved Dog”.
All in all, I really enjoyed this collection. There were a few that I wasn’t entirely sure of and a few that were incredibly similar; but if you enjoy fairy tales or are interested in finding Arthur’s treasure Celtic mythology I would really recommend this book.
Most of these stories don’t have a moral or a definite point so I thought I’d think of one myself.
If you ever find yourself walking through the mountains of Wales and you see fairies dancing to music played on a harp: leg it.
[This review is part of Wythnos Cymraeg || Welsh Week on my blog. Find out more here.]
August 10, 2010
Ten things I learned from this book
1. Fairies are jerks. They like to steal babies and replace them with changelings. Plowing through a fairy ring will result in your crops being burned down and one of your descendants dying.
2. If you are walking home in the dark and you hear music, don't try to find it.
3. When someone tells you to put ointment on a baby's eyes but not your own, it's best to follow their advice.
4. Goblins will remain invisible until you give them a reason to beat you senseless.
5. If you make a deal with one of the Fair Folk, they will take it very literally. That will screw you in the end.
6. Humans and Fairies can fall in love, bump uglies and make babies. It's weird.
7. Fairies will not go anywhere near or touch iron.
8. The native language of the Fairies is similar to ancient Greek.
9. The Welsh were the first human inhabitants of Honey Island (The British Isles). They trapped the island's most horrible monster (not the smoke monster) at the bottom of a lake.
10. Sometimes a story "has a moral, but it does not signify".
1. Fairies are jerks. They like to steal babies and replace them with changelings. Plowing through a fairy ring will result in your crops being burned down and one of your descendants dying.
2. If you are walking home in the dark and you hear music, don't try to find it.
3. When someone tells you to put ointment on a baby's eyes but not your own, it's best to follow their advice.
4. Goblins will remain invisible until you give them a reason to beat you senseless.
5. If you make a deal with one of the Fair Folk, they will take it very literally. That will screw you in the end.
6. Humans and Fairies can fall in love, bump uglies and make babies. It's weird.
7. Fairies will not go anywhere near or touch iron.
8. The native language of the Fairies is similar to ancient Greek.
9. The Welsh were the first human inhabitants of Honey Island (The British Isles). They trapped the island's most horrible monster (not the smoke monster) at the bottom of a lake.
10. Sometimes a story "has a moral, but it does not signify".
July 9, 2016
Two things I learned: always be polite when you are in Wales and never trust a fairy.
Read
September 3, 2023The message I got from the book is that if you go to a lake, you’ll either meet a beautiful woman there or you’ll drown. Actually, maybe both will happen.
November 11, 2012
I learned that a collection of Welsh legends is called a Mabinogion, and I like that I have one. It's not THE Mabinogion, which I think is a bigger book, but it's a fair enough size, with a lot of the same stories. I mainly read this because the Prydrain Chronicles are sort of based off the Mabinogion, and I was happy when I could make a connection between characters of this and of that.
Okay, other than that, wow. The Welsh sure do like their... fairy-ring disappearances, conjurers, and all around depressing death stories. Seriously, a lot of these ended in death. But then again, a lot of them end happily, with these gentle Welsh folk outwitting the fairies and devils and whatnot. So I think it's a good mix. Fairytales in general are a weird breed, though, whether it be Welsh, English, Swedish, or German, as I've read all. But they're so interesting, it's hard not to like them.
Okay, other than that, wow. The Welsh sure do like their... fairy-ring disappearances, conjurers, and all around depressing death stories. Seriously, a lot of these ended in death. But then again, a lot of them end happily, with these gentle Welsh folk outwitting the fairies and devils and whatnot. So I think it's a good mix. Fairytales in general are a weird breed, though, whether it be Welsh, English, Swedish, or German, as I've read all. But they're so interesting, it's hard not to like them.
May 8, 2018
I gave this book five stars because it records many stories which would, otherwise have been lost to us . It's important to preserve folk heritage and pass it on to the next generation or else we loose this rich store of ancient knowledge on folklore and beliefs
July 9, 2020
I really enjoyed this collection, although at the very end it felt like he kind of wimped out and included a few that were either commonly known or that fit poorly. Still, I got what I was hoping for, a solid dose of the lore of Wales, as distinct from the literary "epic" style stuff that was already available.
I recommend reading the book a few stories at a time, though, because some may seem like minor variations on a theme unless you give yourself a little breathing room to understand the tales a bit more. The relationship between the Welsh and the Good Folk living in their hills and forests is intriguing, and lends quite a bit to these tales. The concept that time means something different if you don't live in our version of it is made clear, both in the usual tales of someone staying too long in the other world, and in the punishment dealt out to a family, very eventually...
I recommend reading the book a few stories at a time, though, because some may seem like minor variations on a theme unless you give yourself a little breathing room to understand the tales a bit more. The relationship between the Welsh and the Good Folk living in their hills and forests is intriguing, and lends quite a bit to these tales. The concept that time means something different if you don't live in our version of it is made clear, both in the usual tales of someone staying too long in the other world, and in the punishment dealt out to a family, very eventually...
October 18, 2017
This anthology was originally published in 1907 and includes a range of Welsh fairy and legendary stories. The author was an armchair folklorist rather than someone who collected stories himself. He took the stories from already-published sources and reworked them in keeping with his own conceptions of an appropriate fairytale idiom. They are meant as an enchanting introduction rather than a rigorous scholarly exercise. And indeed, with their spare narrative style, matter-of-fact treatment of supernatural elements, and occasionally haunting imagery, they do have a rather enchanting effect, and are at the least successful in whetting curiosity for a deeper journey into Welsh fairy stories. The illustrations, by W. Pogany, are perhaps even more enchanting than the stories themselves.
December 5, 2019
This is a book to dip into rather than to read straight through. I did read it straight through and found it a little tedious. Many of the stories repeat themes. The introduction by Juliette Wood is excellent, and I think it might have been interesting to approach the book with reference to her introduction. She indicates groups of stories that share a common theme. Identifying and reading these stories as groups, with their similarity in mind, would have offered a different and interesting perspective.
Fairies seem to be rather mischievous, and intolerant of the failings of humans with regard to keeping their word. They like to mess with your head, and with time. Generally best to avoid them, I think.
Fairies seem to be rather mischievous, and intolerant of the failings of humans with regard to keeping their word. They like to mess with your head, and with time. Generally best to avoid them, I think.
February 21, 2022
An absolute delight for those who enjoy their fairies. Of course you can see the Christian spin control leaking through but you'll have that in pretty much any fairy tale. The goddess Eostre/ Ostara shows up disguised as Melangell in the tale of Melangell's Lambs (Malangell meaning "Honey Angel"connecting back to Austeja the ancient Bee Goddess). And I notice the Slavic vodyanoy (the Bee God) in the fat man who emerges from the lake with his beautiful water fairy daughters. So rub a little of the magical ointment on your eye and you can see through into fairyland!
March 22, 2023
An entertaining and charming collection of old Welsh tales of the fair folk. The author collected the stories from regular people throughout Wales at the turn of the twentieth century; many of the tales explain how features of the landscape such as lakes and mounds got their names, while others relate strange happenings on dark nights, when one encounters the fairies on the hills . . . Dover is to be commended for printing nice yet inexpensive paperback editions of many such otherwise forgotten fairy tale collections.
December 13, 2020
Full of magic and enchantment.
December 31, 2021
Some of these stories have very little substance, others are full of odd details that paint an amusing portrait of either great fortune or misfortune often depending on fairy whims.
"There is a moral to this story, but it does not signify."
"There is a moral to this story, but it does not signify."
July 27, 2022
A very good collection of Welsh stories. I just finished reading it online. I especially liked the story of King Arthur's knights in the cave, as well as the story of the men in the cave in Snowdonia.
February 18, 2019
nice read - a great collection of stories
September 23, 2025
A very interesting collection of fairy tales from across Wales- well worth reading.
December 3, 2021
I love The welsh Fairy Book because almost every page is a new story a new adventure. It is full of welsh mythology that at one time people would think where true who nose they might have been. This book is a magical adventure for the hole family.
March 20, 2015
Dry, in the manner of all collections of fairy tales, but really interesting. A good ghost story towards the end!
I read this as research for a story I'm writing set in North Wales. Not only was this useful, but as a huge fan of Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising sequence, I saw echoes of stories and elements that she'd incorporated into the two books set in Wales. I would recommend it to fellow Dark is Rising fans as well as people interested in fairy tales in general.
I read this as research for a story I'm writing set in North Wales. Not only was this useful, but as a huge fan of Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising sequence, I saw echoes of stories and elements that she'd incorporated into the two books set in Wales. I would recommend it to fellow Dark is Rising fans as well as people interested in fairy tales in general.
March 30, 2017
[Note: I love the look of this cover; but my review is not specific to this edition. I have read this online via Sacred Texts, which can be accessed here: http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/....]
December 14, 2011
i didn't like it...it talks about evil as if they live with us and we can communicate with them...
April 19, 2015
Some of the stories were nice and some of them were really silly.
You learn one main thing that fairies are jerks. xD
You learn one main thing that fairies are jerks. xD
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews