This post was last updated on November 28th, 2025 at 03:28 pm
Where does the story of Welsh books begin? It starts when Welsh first began to take shape as a language in the 5th century. During this turbulent period, Brythonic-speaking Celts began transitioning to Primitive Welsh as they faced incursions by Picts, Scots, and Germanic tribes.
An intrinsic part of what makes Welsh books special and sets them apart from others is the Welsh language itself and its evolution. Welsh is a Celtic language that evolved from Brythonic. The Britons (ancient Welsh people), like all the ancient Celts, didn’t write anything down. At least, not for many centuries. They passed on their beliefs, traditions, family history, and other important information through oral storytelling.
The earliest writings found in Wales, though not in Welsh itself, were inscribed in Latin and Ogham (an early Irish inscription system of lines and notches) between the 4th and 6th centuries. We find the very oldest written Welsh on the Cadfan Stone (also called the “Tywyn Stone”). It dates between the 7th and 9th centuries. The heroic poem Y Gododdin was composed as early as the 6th century (and later preserved in a 13th-century manuscript). The Gododdin were a Brythonic people of Hen Ogledd (the Old North, an area between what is now Scotland and England).
This post is about Welsh books.
Welsh Books Past and Present
In the 8th and 9th centuries, Old Welsh appears in the marginal notes of Latin texts. In the 10th century, King Hywel Dda (“Hywel the Good”) wrote his famous Cyfraith Hywel (“Welsh Law”) law code in Old Welsh. This set of rules would govern medieval Cymru for centuries.
The 12th and 13th centuries give us perhaps the most famous of all Welsh books: The Mabinogion. It’s one of the oldest collections of stories from Welsh mythology. While we don’t know (and probably never will) the creators of the original oral tales, various individuals compiled and assembled them into several books during this time. If you’ve ever read the tales, you can clearly see their pre-Christian origins in pagan Wales.
Several hundred years later, we find the first Welsh book written and printed with a printing press in 1546. Yny Lhyvyr Hwnn, which means “In This Book.” Although the author wrote it anonymously, Bishop Richard Davies noted at the time, in 1567, that it was Syr Siôn Prys (also known as Sir John Prise) who authored it. The book was very short, consisting of only seventeen leaves. However, Syr Prys included on its few pages things of great importance at the time. They include the calendar in use, various Christian texts, and guides on how to read Welsh. The publication of Yny Lhyvyr Hwnn ushered in the use of the printing press in Wales—a historic event. It also marks the advent of literature written in the Welsh language, Cymraeg.
Some Famous Welsh Books in More Modern Times
Sometimes what’s considered modern depends on your point of view, of course. And that’s okay! In addition to that, some of the most famous Welsh books are not prose at all, but poetry.
In Country Sleep by Dylan Thomas
One such example is In Country Sleep by Dylan Thomas. This moving collection of poetry explores themes of love, death, and the passage of time. The author immerses readers in a realm where one begins to doubt the line between dreams and reality. The poems tenderly capture the core of the human experience through their vivid images. His language is almost lyrical, much like the Welsh language itself.
Thomas’s verses give readers new perspectives, understanding, and a connection to the universal. Consider borrowing this one from your local library. Copies online are currently going for hundreds of pounds or dollars, depending on your location!
The Blue Bed by Glyn Jones
The Blue Bed is this famous Welsh writer’s first book. It’s a collection of nine short stories, of which the title story is a part. The other tales include I Was Born in the Ystrad Valley, The Kiss, Knowledge, Wil Thomas, Eben Issac, Cadi Hughes, Eden Tree, and Forth – Y – Rhyd. The Blue Bed is set in a small Welsh community. It follows the complexities of interpersonal relationships and the often bittersweet transformations that occur over time. Themes also include love, sorrow, and the enduring impact of memory, as the author shows us the intricate connections between the protagonists’ lives. We see the spirit of a small town united by shared experiences and the unspoken bonds that keep people together. Circumstances eventually make the characters face the ghosts of their pasts. Will they succumb, or will they ultimately find comfort and understanding in unexpected places?
Welsh History Books
Knowing history helps us to make sense of things. It’s the story of how we got here. In the best of cases, it ensures we won’t allow the atrocities of the past to repeat themselves. Welsh history books cover every era and evolution of the land we’ve come to know as Cymru. From ancient times to the present, Wales’ past is marked by significant cultural and political transformations. Each new chapter in the story of Wales has been colored by events both turbulent and unique, yet never dull for a moment. However, its enduring folklore and legends continue to inspire.
Tudor Wales by Nathen Amin
From the blurb: The Tudors are one of history’s most infamous families. The era over which they reigned still captures the public’s interest without rival. ‘Tudor England’ in itself has become a well-known phrase that covers many aspects of the era. This is particularly true in architecture, the arts, and lifestyle. What is often overlooked, however, is that the Tudors, whilst coming to encompass all that is considered great about England, were a Welsh dynasty with their roots firmly entrenched in the hills across Offa’s Dyke.
This guide will take you on a journey throughout the beautiful country of Wales. It exposes the reader to the hidden gems of the Tudor era, from Harlech Castle in the north to Pembroke Castle in the west, and from the holy Bishop’s Palace at Lamphey to the sacred Cathedral at St. David’s. From Dale, Carew and Penmynydd to Raglan, Conwy and Denbigh, every part of Wales has Tudor links, both to the royal Tudors and their more obscure Welsh ancestors. This guide will put you on the path to a true Tudor experience in the Land of their Fathers.
The Kings & Queens of Wales by Timothy Venning
From the blurb: The Welsh kings and queens who ruled prior to the Norman Conquest of Wales are shrouded in mystery. Most of what we know is from legend, names in annals, and from their opponents. This book sets out to identify what we know or can reasonably surmise about these rulers, to disentangle their history, and to assess their achievements. The Welsh ruled over large areas of Britain in the pre-and post-Roman eras, before they were pushed back into Wales itself by the Anglo-Saxons. Caratacus and Boudicca are names that stand out from early tribal states. Medieval Welsh legends refer to shadowy ‘High Kings’ who ruled after the Romans left—Vortigern, Ambrosius, and of course the enigmatic ‘Arthur’.
Venning explores these mysterious figures before discussing the kings and queens of each area of what we now know as Wales—the north, the centre and south-west, and the south-east—as well as the short-lived Welsh states in the rest of Britain.
For more reading on the rulers of Wales, I’ve done an entire post about Kari Maund’s excellent book, The Welsh Kings: Warriors, Warlords and Princes. The article not only gives a thorough description of the book, but also other interesting historical information about Cymru in the early Middle Ages.
Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd by Laurel A. Rockefeller
The word “ferch” in Gwenllian’s title means “daughter of.” From the blurb: Queen Elizabeth Tudor’s Heroic Welsh Foremother! Born in 1097 in Aberffraw Castle, Princess Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd ap Cynan was always destined for great things. As daughter to one of Gwynedd’s greatest warriors, she grew up strong and passionate—more than a match for her older brothers. At sixteen, Gwenllian’s life changed forever when she fell in love with Prince Gruffydd ap Rhys, the beleaguered heir to Rhys ap Tewdur of Deheubarth.
Together, husband and wife fought for and ruled southern Wales. They challenged the Norman Conquest of Wales, proving once and for all the nobility and courage of the Welsh people, a courage that endures across the centuries and lives in the heart of every Welsh man, woman, and child. Includes an extensive timeline covering over 400 years of Welsh and English medieval history. Explore Gwenllian’s legacy after her death in “Empress Matilda of England.” Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd: The Warrior Princess of Deheubarth is Book 6 of the series The Legendary Women of World History.
Non-Fiction Books
I Never Knew That About Wales by Christopher Winn
From the blurb: The inspiration for the primetime ITV series on Great Britain, this is a spellbinding journey around Wales by bestselling author Christopher Winn. Packed full of legends, firsts, birthplaces, inventions, and adventures, I Never Knew That About Wales visits the thirteen traditional Welsh counties and unearths the hidden gems that they each hold. Discover where history and legends happened.
Learn where people, ideas, and inventions began; where dreams took flight; where famous figures were born and now rest. A glittering pantheon of writers, artists, thinkers, inventors, heroes, and villains have lived and toiled in this small country. Remarkable events, noble (and dastardly) deeds, and exciting adventures have all taken place with Wales as their backdrop. This book seeks out their heritage, their monuments, their memories, and their secrets. This irresistible compendium of interesting facts and good stories will give you a captivating insight into the people, ideas, and events that have shaped the individual identity of every place you visit. It will have you exclaiming again and again: ‘Well, I never knew that!’
The Best of Wales 2025 by JourneySmart Guide
From the blurb: A Comprehensive Guide to Over 450 Attractions from Cardiff to the Llyn Peninsula with Road Trip Itineraries.
Alphabetically Organized Listings: Quickly locate any attraction in Wales, from Cardiff’s historic sites to the natural beauty of the Llyn Peninsula. Each entry is organized alphabetically and provides crucial details such as addresses, contact information, and hours of operation. Dynamic QR Code Mapping: Each listing features a QR code that links directly to Google Maps for seamless navigation. It includes links to the latest photos, official websites, and current admission prices. This integration guarantees you have the most current information available.
Comprehensive and Practical Insights: Tailored specifically for the needs of contemporary travelers, our guide offers practical tips, suggested itineraries, and recommendations for local tour operators, enhancing your journey across Wales. Whether planning a short visit or a lengthy exploration, this guide delivers invaluable local insights. Personalized Descriptions: Engage with the unique attributes of each location through detailed narratives that explore the historical and cultural significance of each site. These enriching stories deepen your connection to the places you visit, enhancing your overall travel experience.
You can find more non-fiction books at the following post. Each one is quite different and gives the reader a rich and distinct aspect of Welsh culture to explore. Have a look at the 4 Best Books About Wales for All-Night Reading.
Welsh Fairy Tales, Folklore, and Mythology
What is the difference between fairy tales, folklore, and mythology? That’s a great question! The three terms overlap, but each one describes a different type of story and tradition. You’ll find definitions in the relevant sections below.
Fairy Tales
Fairy tales are a subgenre of folktales. (Folktales, by the way, are not the same as folklore. They are closely related, though. Folktales are the traditional stories of a culture that are a part of its folklore.) Fairy tales are fictional stories that involve magic or magical creatures. The tales are usually set in a non-specific time and place—“once upon a time.” People usually tell fairy tales for entertainment or to teach lessons and morals.
One Moonlit Night by T. Llew Jones
From the blurb: A new version of Gillian Clarke’s adaptation of Lleuad yn Olau, a collection of twenty-six traditional Welsh tales specially written for children by T. Llew Jones. Outstanding full-page colour illustrations. First published in 1991. This collection of Welsh tales draws on a tradition older than books. Some of the stories are almost as old as the hills where crocks of gold are hidden. It’s the Wales of Arthur and Merlin, of poets and princes, wizards and witches, heroes and heroines, faithful hounds and evil tyrants. Here, brave boys overcome giants, and young women help to catch monsters. Lovers mostly live happily ever after, just as they do in our dreams. Sad, gruesome, beautiful, strange, and funny stories are all set in real landscapes, in places you can find on a map.
Contents: One Moonlit Night, Old Copenhagen, The Red Bandits of Mawddwy, Daughters of the Sea, The Tappers, The Harpist, The Shaggy Giant, The Girl from Llyn y Fan Fach, The Sword in the Stone, The Cow on the Roof, Athur’s Last Journey, The Country under the Sea, The Magician’s Treasure, The Bee, the Club and the Music-Box, King Arthur’s Cave, The Owl and the Eagle, Gwenllian and the Pedlar, Mist on the Mountain, The King’s Secret, The Magic Ring, The Story of Gelert, The Land of Strange Names, Culwch and Olwen, The Golden Arm, Branwen, Gwion and the Witch.
Folklore
Folklore is a broader category that encompasses the traditions, customs, sayings, beliefs, songs, and stories passed down through oral tradition (storytelling). Unlike mythology, not all folklore is sacred. It might be humorous or convey a superstition.
Some Welsh folklore books you’ll love diving into include Welsh Folklore and Folk Custom by T. Gwynn Jones, British Goblins: Welsh Folklore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions by Wirt (William Wirt) Sikes, and Illustrated Tales of Wales by Mark Rees. Another fascinating book that’s also won awards is Welsh Folklore by Elias Owen.
Welsh Giants, Ghosts, and Goblins by Claire Fayers
From the blurb: A wealth of Welsh myths, legends, and ghost stories are reimagined for contemporary younger readers. Meet Idris, the teenage giant king on a quest to collect stories. As he travels across Wales, readers encounter a vengeful house goblin, a ghost that steals life, dwarves that have moved in beneath someone’s garden, a tea party of lady ghosts, a furry trickster goblin, and many other fascinating and devious fairy folk.
These seventeen adventures, fairy tales, and ghost stories from across Wales are retold and reimagined by the author as the traditional stories are given new life through the contemporary storyteller’s lens. It’s a feisty, inclusive, and relatable cast in a mix of traditional and contemporary settings.
Welsh Mythology
Mythology is considered a collection of sacred stories that deal with deities, supernatural beings, and the creation of the world. The collection of myths may be tied to religion or religious worship. Myths are usually closely related to beliefs or a sense of identity. Take the Mabinogion, for example, as it was viewed among ancient Welsh people.
The most famous Welsh mythology book of all time is the Mabinogion. You probably already know that it’s a collection of Welsh tales compiled during the Middle Ages. The compilation originates from earlier, pre-Christian era stories that people shared through oral tradition. Some other great books to check out include The Book of Taliesin: Poems of Warfare and Praise in an Enchanted Britain, translated by Gwyneth Lewis, and Myths and Legends of the Brecon Beacons by Horatio Clare. You’ll find more below at the links.
Tales of Merlin, Arthur, and the Magic Arts by Elis Gruffydd
From the blurb: The original Welsh stories of these beloved characters and their world for the first time in English. The stories in Tales of Merlin, Arthur, and the Magic Arts deal with well-known figures from medieval Britain who will be familiar to many readers—though not from the versions presented here. These freshly translated tales emerge from the remarkable and enormous sixteenth-century Chronicle of the Six Ages of the World by the Welshman Elis Gruffydd.
Tales of Merlin, Arthur, and the Magic Arts revives the original legends of these Welsh heroes alongside stories of the continued survival of the magical arts, from antiquity to the Renaissance, and the broader cultural world of the Welsh. These stories provide a vivid and faithful rendering of Merlin, Arthur, and the many original folktales left out of the widespread accounts of their exploits.
Fiction Books
When it comes to fiction books set in Wales, this is a bigger genre. It encompasses contemporary Welsh books as well as historical, time travel, fantasy, and you name it! A few to consider include Submarine by Joe Dunthorne, Drift by Caryl Lewis, Resistance by Owen Sheers, The Whispering Mountain by Joan Aiken, and The Twelve by Liz Hyder.
Gold by Dan Rhodes
From the blurb: Like a Welsh Amélie set in a pub, Gold is a tender, understated tale of love, loss, and growing up. It is also vintage Dan Rhodes, one of the most critically beloved novelists working today. Miyuki Woodward, lover of beer and microwaveable food, has been taking a two-week vacation—away from her companion—to the same seaside town in Wales for the last eight years. She is made to feel at home at the salty seaside pub, where Short Mr. Hughes, Tall Mr. Hughes, and Mr. Puw are happy to add her to their trivia-contest team.
This year, following an impulsive artistic act involving gold spray paint, Miyuki will take part in the most turbulent events the village has seen since Tall Mr. Hughes returned from the pub toilet without remembering to button up. Gold is a bittersweet, idiosyncratic, funny affirmation of life and a touchingly satisfying story rich in pathos, insight, and asides from the best-selling author of Timoleon Vieta Come Home and Anthropology.
Romance
Some noteworthy romance novels set in Wales include Longing by Mary Balogh, The Winter Witch by Paula Brackston, A Reckless Match by Kate Bateman, A Fresh Start at Well Cottage by Sally E. Morgan, Simply Love by Mary Balogh, The Beauty Bride by Claire Delacroix, and Desire Lines (Welsh Blades series) by Elizabeth Kingston. Another one to check out is Glass Houses by Francesca Reece. While more in the literary romance category, it’s set in North Wales and explores such themes as love, Welsh nationalism, class conflicts, and desire.
The Sword and the Stone Heart by Estelle Tudor
From the blurb: Guinevere De Wynter, may be an earl’s granddaughter, but she feels caught between two worlds: the bright lights of London Society and the lush rolling hills of Wales. Wishing to embrace the best of both worlds and honour a promise to her mother, she searches for love, but it proves as elusive as the myths and legends of her homeland.
A chance encounter with Tristram Pierce-Lanceton, Duke of Camberleigh, gives her hope, but the stone-cold duke professes not to believe in love, instead believing protection and security are all that matters. Their burgeoning relationship is put to the test when Guinevere is horribly betrayed.
Back in Wales, Guinevere has no other choice but to accept Tristram’s protection, while battling against the knowledge that she is not being true to herself and her own heart’s desires. In a life-or-death situation, Guinevere must fight for what she believes in while trying to free Tristram from the stone prison he has encased his heart within, before time runs out for both of them.
Desire Lines by Elizabeth Kingston
From the blurb: All he ever wanted was to go home. Leaving his life as a noble hostage behind him, Gryff has fled from one danger to another, never safe, always longing for a forbidden return to his conquered Welsh homeland. Held captive by villainous men, his unlikely savior is the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen – and the most deadly. Her silence is unnerving, her generosity unexpected, and her pointed warning that she will not be an object of lust is perfectly clear.
Nan has no doubt the ragged Welshman she has saved from certain death was born to better things, far different from the servant’s life she’s led. Though the last thing she wants is a companion on her journey to find her cherished sister, she is compelled to help the man with haunted eyes and a mysterious past. But she feels the pull of his fascination every instant, and her own unexpected desire soon takes them places neither could have foreseen.
Historical Fiction Books
Some historical fiction books set in Wales to definitely check out include How Green Was My Valley by Richard Llewellyn, Owen Glendower by John Cowper Powys, Porius: A Romance of the Dark Ages by John Cowper Powys, Here Be Dragons by Sharon Kay Penman, The Rape of the Fair Country by Alexander Cordell, and Whale Fall by Elizabeth O’Connor. Of course, there are many more, and you can find a few gems below.
A Prince of Wales by Wayne Grant
From the blurb: With King Richard’s return from captivity and Prince John’s exile, a weary peace settles on England after years of civil war. But across the border in Wales, the vicious struggle to decide who shall rule Gwynedd still rages.
To tip the balance, the rebel Prince, Llywelyn, calls in an old debt from the Earl of Chester. The Prince saved the Earl’s life and helped him take back his city. Now, he wants Sir Roland Inness and the Invalid Company to help him take back his country.
The Saga of Roland Inness series begins with this tale of a fourteen-year-old boy who has extraordinary skill with a longbow. It is a story of courage, loyalty, honor, and treachery. Most of all, it is a story of high adventure set in a time so filled with drama that it has spawned legends that fascinate people to this day. It is the time of Richard the Lionheart, Robin Hood, Eleanor of Aquitaine, and William Marshall, legendary figures all—some real and some fictional.
Rhodri’s Furies: Ninth-century Welsh Resistance to Viking and Saxon Incursions by John Broughton
From the blurb: A fisherman’s son, Alun ap Drystan, worships his grandfather Iolyn, a renowned former warrior. The old man is worried about the future of his homeland, and to help, he sends father and son to visit a reclusive seer with Druidic blood.
Speaking in riddles, the seer tells Alun the find the Battle Prince: together, they will be the saviours of Gwynedd, and that he will be a great warrior, mingling with the greatest in the land.
After a chance meeting with the cattle breeder Iowerth and his son, Cadfael ap Iowerth, Alun realises that the youth’s name in Old Welsh means Battle Prince: his foretold comrade. The youths soon become inseparable friends and blood brothers. But can the seer’s prediction be correct?
Welsh Literature
Some of the most famous Welsh literature was written by authors you’re probably already familiar with. These include How Green Was My Valley by Richard Llewellyn, On the Black Hill by Bruce Chatwin, and Under Milk Wood by Dylan Thomas. However, contemporary Welsh literature is just as relevant, as societies change like the seasons—nothing stays the same for long. Pigeon by Alys Conran is an example of a modern novel in which a young woman struggles with the complexities of her relationship with her Welsh identity. You can find more Welsh literature in the post 7 Best Welsh Novels Full of Hardship and Hiraeth and the link below.
Salt by Catrin Kean
From the blurb: Wales Book of the Year 2021 Winner. Cardiff in the late 1800s is grimy, crowded, and grey, and Ellen, a domestic, dreams of escaping her dreary life there for the sea. When she falls in love with Samuel, a ship’s cook from Barbados, she is able to fulfil her fantasy by running away with him on a ship bound for the bright excitement of San Francisco.
Life at sea is brutal and dangerous, but it is a place where they can be free… Until circumstances force Ellen home, and the hardships of working-class life and racism begin to poison their lives. Salt is based on the lives of Kean’s great-grandparents, who married in 1878. It is their love story.
“Salt is a novel of rare beauty. Kean combines the talents of a born storyteller with a poet’s eye in a thrilling and moving debut.” —Carol Ann Duffy
“Kean writes like a dream, and this is a story for the ages.” —Alys Conran
Fresh Apples by Rachel Trezise
From the blurb: Sarah’s not abnormal or ugly, just a little bit fat, and she’s got cerebral palsy. “No way was it rape or even molestation… she’s fourteen, not a child. I’m not a paedophile.” Gemma’s mother had shagged Tom Jones. Nobody knew who her father was, least of all her mother. Spiderman doesn’t want to inflict his petty-thief persona on self-contained Caitlin, but he finds himself getting off at her stop. When chickens that belong to ‘Chelle’s grand-dad start to peck each other, sounding like death warming up, she wrings one of their necks and ends up doing worse.
Johnny Mental was sitting on his porch wearing sunglasses, drinking lager, his teeth orange and ugly. Someone was painting their front door a few yards away, with a portable radio playing soul music; Diana Ross or some shit. A big burgundy Vauxhall Cavalier came around the corner, real slow like an old man on a hill.
Eleven wry and defiant stories on the power and beautiful transience of youth.
Welsh Writers
Some Welsh writers you’ve probably heard of are Dylan Thomas, Roald Dahl, R.S. Thomas, Kate Roberts, T.H. White, Jan Morris, Gillian Clarke, and Emyr Humphreys. Other famous authors from Wales include Alys Conran, Charlotte Williams, Trezza Azzopardi, Manon Steffan Ros, Fflur Dafydd, and Owen Sheers. They write in both English and Welsh, each of them sharing unique and diverse elements of the story that is Wales.
Broken Ghost by Niall Griffiths
From the blurb: A Welsh community is drawn together and blown apart by a strange vision in the mountains: the huge spectre of a woman floating over a ridge. The people who live here in these mountains already have their own demons—drink, drugs, domestic violence, psychoses—but each character has a different experience of this strange apparition, a different reaction, and for some it will change everything. Is it a collective hallucination? A meteorological phenomenon? Whatever it is, they all saw something, early one morning on the shores of a mountain lake, something that will awaken in them powers and passions and, perhaps, a possibility of healing these broken people in a broken country.
An examination of modern humanity’s desperate need to live meaningfully and vividly in a mediated world—where individual autonomy is lost and the collective heart is atomised and exploited— this is a novel that gives voices to the marginalised, the dispossessed, the forgotten. Disturbing and unforgettable, darkly funny and deeply moving, written in a charged language that is vernacular, lyrical, and hieratic all at once, Broken Ghost is—simultaneously—a howl of anguish and a summoning of gods.
Audio Books
While there may not be quite as many Welsh audiobooks as other types, thankfully, you’ll still find them from reputable places like Audible. The link below will point you in the direction of the most fruitful areas to look. For anyone attempting to learn Welsh, I’ve also included a list of popular beginning audio novels.
The Snow Spider (The Magician Trilogy Book 1) by Jenny Nimmo
On Gwyn’s 9th birthday, his grandmother tells him he may be a magician, like his Welsh ancestors. She gives him five gifts to help him—a brooch, a piece of dried seaweed, a tin whistle, a scarf, and a broken toy horse. One blustery day, unsure what to do with his newfound magic, Gwyn throws the brooch to the wind and receives a silvery snow spider in return.
Will he be able to use this special spider to bring his missing sister, Bethan, home? THE SNOW SPIDER spins an icy, sparkly web of mystical intrigue that sets the stage for the next two books in this outstanding trilogy!
This post was about Welsh books.
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