With regard to other divisions of the field of folk-lore, the views of scholars differ, but in the realm of faerie these differences are reconciled; it is agreed that fairy tales are relics of the ancient mythology; and the philosophers stroll hand in hand harmoniously. This is as it should be, in a realm about which cluster such delightful memories of the most poetic period of life-childhood, before scepticism has crept in as ignorance slinks out. The knowledge which introduced scepticism is infinitely more valuable than the faith it displaced; but, in spite of that, there be few among us who have not felt evanescent regrets for the displacement by the foi scientifique of the old faith in fairies. There was something so peculiarly fascinating in that old belief, that 'once upon a time' the world was less practical in its facts than now, less commonplace and humdrum, less subject to the inexorable laws of gravitation, optics, and the like. What dramas it has yielded What poems, what dreams, what delights

Excerpt from British Goblins: Welsh Folk-Lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions

With the rich mass of legendary lore to which these figures belong, the present volume is not in tended to deal; nor do its pages treat, save in the most casual and passing manner, of the lineage and original significance of the lowly goblins which are its theme. The questions here involved, and the task of adequately treating them, belong to the comparative mythologist and the critical historian. Rather than to the mere literary workman.

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The legend of the Cyhyraeth is sometimes conflated with tales of a monstrous Welsh spirit in the shape of a hideously ugly woman with a harpy-like appearance: unkempt hair and wizened, withered arms with leathery wings, long black teeth and pale corpse-like features. She approaches the window of the person about to die by night and calls their name or travels invisibly beside them and utters her cry when they approach a stream or crossroads.

Wirt Sikes's 1881 tome defines and records Welsh fairy legends as they existed -- still vital, alive, not just a mordant mythology but living folklore in that year. Like many texts of the time, it treats the subject mechanically, detailing fairy legends with such care and precision as to leach away a measure of the magic. But all the same, there's plenty of magic here: this is the myth that modern fantasy grows from; and the truth is that it's not to be found elsewhere still alive. (Jacketless library hardcover.)

One of the most beautiful and complete collections of stories, legends, myths, folktales, and traditions to ever emerge from Wales. Compiled by an American-the United States consul for Wales in the late nineteenth century-this volume was the work of several years' labor. Scouring the hills and valleys of Wales after falling in love with the land, the author wrote down the oral traditions, stories, myths, and legends related to him by the people he met on his travels. The result was a spectacular work, divided up into four sections: Faerie Realm, the Spirit-World, Quaint Old Customs, and Bells, Wells, Stones, and Dragons. In this book, the reader will not only learn of the greatest Welsh legends (including King Arthur, Iolo ap Hugh, the Green Lady of Caerphilly), but also of the local fairy stories and even the superstitions of ancient-and not so ancient-Wales. Rarely has a nation's mythos and essence been so elegantly captured as in this work. The legacy of Welsh mythology and folklore has entered the vocabulary of modern English, and spread around the world, being some of the oldest tales in all Europe. As the author states in his introduction: In a certain sense Wales may be spoken of as the cradle of fairy legend. It is not now disputed that from the Welsh were borrowed many of the first subjects of composition in the literature of all the cultivated peoples of Europe. This edition has been completely reset, contains the full text and all the wonderful-and hand restored-illustrations of the original work. It is a literary treasure of the first class. Illustrations by T. H. Thomas.

The legend of the Cyhyraeth is sometimes conflated with tales of a monstrous Welsh spirit in the shape of a hideously ugly woman with a harpy-like appearance: unkempt hair and wizened, withered arms with leathery wings, long black teeth and pale corpse-like features. She approaches the window of the person about to die by night and calls their name or travels invisibly beside them and utters her cry when they approach a stream or crossroads.

Wirt Sikes's 1881 tome defines and records Welsh fairy legends as they existed -- still vital, alive, not just a mordant mythology but living folklore in that year. Like many texts of the time, it treats the subject mechanically, detailing fairy legends with such care and precision as to leach away a measuyre of the magic. But all the same, there's plenty of magic here: this is the myth that modern fasntasy grows from and the truth is that it's not to be found elsewhere still alive. (Jacketless library hardcover.)

A compact collection of unique Welsh folk tales and myths.

Wales is a rugged and remote country, with many curious tales of superstition and myth concerning its surroundings. This small collection of stories was collated in 1880 by American journalist and writer Wirt Sikes, who dedicated most of his life to researching Welsh folklore and customs. The tales in this volume are special and unique to Wales and give readers wonderful insight into the beautiful country.

A spooky collection of folk tales from the Welsh spirit world, featuring stories of ghosts, spectres, and fairies.

First published in 1880, this collection of Welsh folk tales focuses on the many eerie tales of supernatural occurrences in the secluded country. Wirt Sikes collated stories of angelic and evil spirits, and this volume features tales of fairies, ghosts, and spectral animals. A perfect read for those who wish to learn more about Wales' rich history of myths and legends.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

One of the most beautiful and complete collections of stories, legends, myths, folktales, and traditions to ever emerge from Wales. Compiled by an American-the United States consul for Wales in the late nineteenth century-this volume was the work of several years' labor. Scouring the hills and valleys of Wales after falling in love with the land, the author wrote down the oral traditions, stories, myths, and legends related to him by the people he met on his travels. The result was a spectacular work, divided up into four sections: Faerie Realm, the Spirit-World, Quaint Old Customs, and Bells, Wells, Stones, and Dragons. In this book, the reader will not only learn of the greatest Welsh legends (including King Arthur, Iolo ap Hugh, the Green Lady of Caerphilly), but also of the local fairy stories and even the superstitions of ancient-and not so ancient-Wales. Rarely has a nation's mythos and essence been so elegantly captured as in this work. The legacy of Welsh mythology and folklore has entered the vocabulary of modern English, and spread around the world, being some of the oldest tales in all Europe. As the author states in his introduction: In a certain sense Wales may be spoken of as the cradle of fairy legend. It is not now disputed that from the Welsh were borrowed many of the first subjects of composition in the literature of all the cultivated peoples of Europe. This edition has been completely reset, contains the full text and all the wonderful-and hand restored-illustrations of the original work. It is a literary treasure of the first class. Illustrations by T. H. Thomas.

A spooky collection of folk tales from the Welsh spirit world, featuring stories of ghosts, spectres, and fairies.

First published in 1880, this collection of Welsh folk tales focuses on the many eerie tales of supernatural occurrences in the secluded country. Wirt Sikes collated stories of angelic and evil spirits, and this volume features tales of fairies, ghosts, and spectral animals. A perfect read for those who wish to learn more about Wales' rich history of myths and legends.

A compact collection of unique Welsh folk tales and myths.

Wales is a rugged and remote country, with many curious tales of superstition and myth concerning its surroundings. This small collection of stories was collated in 1880 by American journalist and writer Wirt Sikes, who dedicated most of his life to researching Welsh folklore and customs. The tales in this volume are special and unique to Wales and give readers wonderful insight into the beautiful country.

This wonderful history of British folk and faerie lore focuses on Welsh tales and legends of fairy life.

The Realm of Faerie by Wirt Sikes was first published in 1880 and gives detailed insight into British folklore. With a focus on the history of Welsh faerie lore, this beautiful volume contains many chapters and tales surrounding Tylwyth Teg, the ancient mythological creatures of Wales.

The contents of this volume feature:

- Fairy Tales and the Ancient Mythology

- Classification of Welsh Fairies

- Lake Fairies

- Changelings

- Living with the Tylwyth Teg

- Fairy Music

- Fairy Rings

- Piety as a Protection from the Seductions of the Tylwyth Teg

- Fairy Money and Fairy Gifts in General

- Origins of Welsh Fairies

Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

British Goblins - Welsh Folk-lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions. British Goblins does a good job at its stated purpose - collecting and loosely categorizing Welsh Folklore of every category, ranging from the reasons behind certain customs and superstitions of daily life, to descriptions and associated stories of various faeries, goblins, and giants, to descriptions of apparitions and the view of the afterlife, to more fantastic things, like dragons, standing stones, and magic wells and stones. Although a somewhat anecdotal approach is taken, the author has in fact preserved a good deal of information that might have otherwise been lost.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Numberless customs in Wales which appear to be meaningless, to people of average culture, are in truth replete with meaning. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900's and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

British Goblins - Welsh Folklore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions. Second Edition is an unchanged, high-quality reprint of the original edition of 1880. Hansebooks is editor of the literature on different topic areas such as research and science, travel and expeditions, cooking and nutrition, medicine, and other genres. As a publisher we focus on the preservation of historical literature. Many works of historical writers and scientists are available today as antiques only. Hansebooks newly publishes these books and contributes to the preservation of literature which has become rare and historical knowledge for the future.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.