A Comprehensive Summary and Analysis of Folk-Lore of West and Mid-Wales

Jonathan Ceredig Davies' "Folk-Lore of West and Mid-Wales," penned in 1911, stands as a comprehensive compilation of Welsh traditions, customs, superstitions, and stories gathered from the rural heartlands of Wales. Davies embarked on a mission to preserve the unwritten Welsh folk-lore, fearing its imminent disappearance, and to present it in a manner accessible to students and historians. Davies meticulously collected verbatim accounts, striving to maintain the original Welsh idiom while rendering them into English. The book primarily focuses on the counties of Cardiganshire, Carmarthenshire, and Pembrokeshire, known as "West Wales," but also includes material from bordering counties like Montgomery, Radnor, and Brecon, thus justifying its broader title. Davies spent nine years traversing these regions, engaging with the local populace to gather materials, ensuring that his work reflected authentic Welsh narratives. The author expresses gratitude to Countess Amherst for suggesting "lines of search".