Wales Reading List

Suggested Reading List for Wales  
Please note: Students and parents should use discretion in determining the appropriateness of each book for the student’s age, reading level, and maturity.  Books are designated G (grade school), J (junior high), or H (high school).

 

TITLE &  LINK

 DESCRIPTION

GRADE
LEVEL

FICTION OR
NONFICTION

Celtic Heritage: Ancient Tradition in Ireland and Wales, by Alwyn Rees

A book that explains the ancient cultural traditions that gave birth to and passed on a literature that continues to interest and inspire the average reader, as well as writers and artists. The Reeses are experts in their field, not popularizers; however, their book is not an arcane tome intended for Ph.D candidates.

J/H

N

A Child's Christmas in Wales, by Dylan Thomas

"A Child's Christmas in Wales" is a lyrical, minutely remembered evocation of the Christmas season, as perceived by a happy child. The work captures all aspects of the season: the weather, the village activities, the villagers, the sights and sounds, the purchasing and opening of gifts, and the preparation and enjoyment of food and drink for the holiday.

ALL.

F

Essential Celtic Mythology: Stories That Change the World, by Lindsay Clarke

Nine stories offer armchair adventures of love, war, and honor and highlight values central to ancient Celtic culturevalues that continue to shape and inspire the Western mind. These tales bring to life a world of miraculous events and acts of passion, peopled with fair maidens, brave warriors, giants, and ogres in a world governed by the virtues of fairness, generosity, wisdom, and loyalty. A fresh, contemporary retelling of classic stories of Celtic mythology.

J/H

N

Evans Above by Rhys Bowen

A pleasingly unpretentious debut that introduces Constable Evan Evans, newly arrived in Llanfair, a village at the foot of Mount Snowden in North Wales. Evans, in police training in the busy city of Swansea, opted for the quiet life after his father, also a policeman, was killed in the line of duty. That quiet life becomes illusory, however, when the bodies of two strangers, Thomas Hatcher and Stewart Potts, are found on the mountain, seemingly killed in separate accidents.

J/H

F

Here Be Dragons, by Sharon Kay Penman

Thirteenth-century Wales is a divided country, ever at the mercy of England's ruthless King John. Then Llewelyn, Prince of North Wales, secures an uneasy truce with England by marrying the English king's daughter, Joanna. Reluctant to wed her father's bitter enemy, Joanna slowly grows to love her husband, who dreams of uniting Wales. But as John's attentions turn again and again to subduing Wales, Joanna must decide between these powerful men.

J/H

F

History of Wales, by John Davies

Davies, a teacher in Cardiff, unearths the evidence of prehistoric hill forts and Roman ruins; he delineates the feudal wars, the 1536 union with England and the ensuing Reformation; and he explains the transformations of the Industrial Revolution...The book is not an easy read -- it is packed with facts, interpretations, and ideas that really need careful study to appreciate and understand fully.

J/H

N

How Green Was My Valley, by Richard Llewellyn

Llewellyn's tale of a young man's coming-of-age in a small Welsh mining town--the basis for the beloved film of the same name--is "a beautiful story told in words which have Welsh music in them . . . a book which will live in the mind and memory of its readers."

ALL

F

Insight Guides Wales, by Brian Bell (Editor)

One of the famous Insight travel guides.

ALL

N

A String in the Harp, by Nancy Bond

In an ideal blend of absorbing fantasy and realistic fiction, "A String in the Harp" tells the story of 12-year-old Pete Morgan who, on a visit to Wales, finds a harp key that shows him scenes from the life of the ancient bard Taliesin. Set in both present-day and ancient Wales, this Newbery Honor title has become a contemporary classic.

G

F

Tales from the Mabinogion, by Gwyn Thomas

This excellent version of the first four branches of the Mabinogi (the medieval Welsh mythological cycle) is suitable for a wide range of age groups. I was delighted to see that the magic of these tales -- very nicely suggested in the illustrations -- would hold a child's attention while satisfying   the adult reader as well.

ALL

F

Traditional Food from Wales, by Bobby Freeman

With over 260 recipes, this book is the definitive guide to Welsh food and customs through the centuries. Introductory chapters trace the evolution of important Welsh foodstuffs: cereals, cheese and butter, poultry and eggs, meat, fish, and fruits, flowers, and vegetables. Later chapters include recipes for traditional favorites like Blackberry Bread Pudding, Welsh Salt Duck, and Trout with Bacon.

ALL

N

Traditional Welsh Cookery, by Geoffrey Osborne Taylor

This appetizing collection of traditional Welsh recipes which have been handed down through the centuries is now available in the highly successful series of Hale Pocket Guides. Adaptability and simplicity are the main features of Welsh cookery and this is reflected in many of the recipes which can be prepared and served quickly if unexpected visitors come for a meal.

ALL

N

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