A sourcebook of authentic folklore about Welsh witches, charmers, wisefolk,conjurers, necromancers and other magical practitioners.

Magic pervades every inch of Wales, from Anglesey in the north to the Vale of Glamorgan in the south, from the Marches in the east to the shores of the west. Every corner of this landscape has stories of local magicians and witches, yet so many of these figures are relatively unknown outside of Wales and are overshadowed by their English counterparts.

Set in encyclopedia format, Of Doves & Ravens invites readers on a tour through the rich folklore of this landscape. Discover the recollections of market fortune-tellers who historically plied their trade in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, and meet the gwrach who dwell in lonely places; the dynen hysbys who help find lost cattle and protect against the malevolence of witches; and the legendary magicians who summon demons and often are buried in the walls of church.

This is magical Wales revealed.

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Wales is amazingly rich and varied in terms of its folklore. Much of this is unique, being found only within the borders of the country. But over the years, Wales has had a raw deal. It has suffered terribly from poor collection and interpretation of its folklore, often at the hands of incoming antiquarians from over the border who tarred the material culturally with an English brush, changing some of its narratives in the process and eroding that uniqueness.

Of Doves and Ravens is to be celebrated for both addressing this problem and redressing the balance. Ben’s work is thorough and sympathetic whilst being endlessly fascinating. It has the academic rigour you want from a book in the genre, whilst remaining highly readable and entertaining. Full of magic and joy, Of Doves and Ravens will enrich your knowledge of the folklore of Wales without you even realising: clandestine learning at its best!'