Wirt Sikes
British Goblins: Welsh Folk-lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions
"British Goblins: Welsh Folk-Lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions" by Wirt Sikes is a folklore collection published in 1880. Written by an American consul stationed in Cardiff, this compilation explores the supernatural world of Wales through fairies, spirits, ancient customs, and legendary creatures. Drawing from eighteenth-century sources and oral traditions gathered from Welsh locals, Sikes organized his findings into four sections covering everything from enchanted realms to dragons. The work became a landmark English-language study of Welsh mythology, though scholars debated its reliance on earlier collections versus original fieldwork.