The Folklore of Wales: Ghosts - Badder/Norman

Wales is a land with a vast wealth of ghost stories, including fantastical animals, flickering death omens and unseen things that go bump in the night. Whether these tales are based on true events, or are the creations of active imaginations, is known only to those who have experienced them – but what is certain is that their power to delight and scare us remains undimmed to this day. In The Folklore of Wales: Ghosts, renowned folklorists Delyth Badder and Mark Norman present an intriguing and comprehensive selection of ghostly accounts, illuminating key themes running through them, and giving insights into the history and culture of Wales’s varied regions and communities. With original Welsh texts, many translated into English for the first time, the authors present a wide panorama of stories and first-hand accounts that will be new to even the most seasoned folklore reader. Ranging from the distant past right up to the present day, this collection shines a spotlight on the unique qualities of folkloric ghost beliefs in Wales.

This excellent book brings much that is new to the study of ghostlore in Britain. Its new translations of invaluable source material previously little known to non-Welsh speakers have the welcome effect also of giving us a much more accurate regional picture than previous rather vague and unhelpful references to in Wales. The accounts are also a revelation, highlighting subjects not often recognised in general British ghostlore. The authors have made a splendid contribution to deepening our understanding of regional ghost reports and beliefs within Britain.',An impeccably researched book, The Folklore of Wales: Ghosts provides a long overdue authoritative work on the historical, cultural and social significance of the supernatural in Welsh folklore. The detailed attention to the imagery, rituals and belief systems surrounding such spectres, the source materials and the inclusive approach to the Welsh language in the recording and re-introduction of these ghost stories give this book a broad appeal. It not only introduces a non-Welsh-speaking audience to the dynamics of the language in conveying supernatural motifs and beliefs, for readers of Welsh it highlights the intricacies of meaning that the Welsh language and indeed the landscape can convey through these eerie tales. Congratulations to Delyth and Mark on a highly perceptive and thorough history of Welsh ghosts. From spectral sows to stone-throwing poltergeists, this is a book that will entertain, entice and educate in equal measure.,This meticulously researched book unearths the facts behind the fiction of Waless ghostly tales, and offers a fascinating insight into the shaping of its folklore.,This absorbing study of Welsh ghosts and spirits makes a valuable contribution to our understanding of both Welsh folklore and the broader historical significance of the spirit world. It is expertly researched, engagingly written, and beautifully illustrated. The richness of the translated Welsh language material is a gift to the general reader and scholar alike.