Illustrated Tales of Wales

by Mark Rees

Wales is a country steeped in myths, legends and folklore. From the medieval stories of the Mabinogion to more modern-day mysteries, the land has been forged in tales of ancient druids, fire-breathing dragons, strange superstitions, and restless spirits.In 'Illustrated Tales of Wales’, local author Mark Rees explores the hidden history of some of the country’s more curious people, places and events. Ranging from the quirky to the macabre, they include the elusive fairy folk which lure travellers into their magical rings, the world’s most notorious and blood-thirsty pirates, and the countless enchanted landmarks associated with King Arthur, Merlin the wizard and the Knights of the Round Table.Wales is home to the world’s largest lump of coal, the smallest commercial brewery, and the UK’s smallest house. It was seen as a safe-haven for those accused of witchcraft during the witch craze persecutions, and is littered with magical wells and holy springs which saw royalty make pilgrimages from far and wide to benefit from their supernatural powers. On the darker side of things, accounts of vampirism plagued rural villages, the Welsh sin-eater was the most despised person in the community, while the dreaded corpse candles and phantom funerals brought eerie warnings of imminent death.‘Illustrated Tales of Wales’ offers an engaging and different look at Wales, with this alternative tour through the country’s peculiar past.

96 pages, Paperback

Published June 15, 2022

Reviews

[GRANT · Rating 4 out of 5]

a very good resource linking geography and legendary tales. Well, maybe some are real. At least all the places are - many of which I've been to and I hope to see them all! It is organized by type of legend not by any geographical order or guide. Still, all the places are clearly identified. I find it interesting that the author used "Creative Commons" photos (with citations) for the illustrations. I like taking my own pics but then I haven't really published either. While not sourced with footnotes, it has a good bibliography that has already led me to other tomes.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wales is filled with stories of mythological beings (fairies, mermaids, King Arthur), and the author nicely introduces these and relates them to specific places.