Mark Rees’s books are available form all good bookshops, offline and on.
- Paranormal Swansea and Gower (2024)
- Paranormal Cardiff (2023)
- Illustrated Tales of Wales (2022)
- Paranormal Wales (2020)
- The A-Z of Curious Wales (2019)
- The Little Book of Welsh Landmarks (2018)
- Ghosts of Wales: Accounts from the Victorian Archives (2017)
- The Little Book of Welsh Culture (First edition: 2016/ Second edition: 2022)
Paranormal Swansea and Gower
Swansea has long been a place of magic and mystery. Ruined castles with ghostly inhabitants dot the landscape, while the golden sands of Gower are steeped in Arthurian mythology and seafaring tales of smugglers and pirates. Yet it has also seen much upheaval and destruction, from the early Viking invaders to the Luftwaffe’s devastating ‘three-nights’ blitz’ during the Second World War. Paranormal Swansea and Gower takes the reader on a spine-chilling journey to dozens of supposedly haunted locations, ranging from well-known tourist destinations to more secluded spots off the beaten track, each with its own eerie tale to tell. These include the spirits of ancient soldiers who wage war on the beaches at dusk, the Gothic ruins guarded by the most terrifying of apparitions, the family home where the wraith of a murderer returned to haunt his former neighbours, the Swansea Devil, a ‘cursed’ work of art which lurks in the museum, and the workaholic miller who refuses to down tools at an historic watermill long after shuffling off this mortal coil.
Paranormal Swansea invites sceptics and believers alike to delve into these uncanny accounts of ghosts and spirits from across the city and county, guiding them through the mysterious and unknown. These tales of haunted places, supernatural happenings and weird phenomena will delight the ghost hunters, and fascinate and intrigue everybody who knows Swansea and Gower.
Click here to order Paranormal Swansea and Gower by Mark Rees.
Paranormal Cardiff
Paranormal Cardiff takes the reader on a spine-chilling journey to dozens of supposedly haunted locations, from well-known tourist destinations to more secluded spots off the beaten track. They include a poltergeist named Pete who baffled the experts, a ‘famous’ séance that wowed Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a vengeful eagle that protects a fairy-tale castle, a vampire bed that sucked the blood from those who slept in it, and the spooky streets of Llandaff, which fired the imagination of a young Roald Dahl. Paranormal Cardiff invites the reader to take a step into the unknown and explore the haunted places, supernatural happenings and weird phenomena of the city and the surrounding area.
Click here to order Paranormal Wales by Mark Rees.
Illustrated Tales of Wales
Published 2022, Amberley Publishing
A red and white dragon fighting tooth and claw in the moonlit sky; mischievous fairy folk luring unwary travellers deep into their underground lairs; a kind-hearted mermaid saving the lives of those in peril on the high seas; and a charmed boy who transforms into an otter and a bird to outrun a wicked witch. In Illustrated Tales of Wales, author Mark Rees (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales) explores the fantastical myths, legends and folk stories of Wales which have long fired the imagination of young and old alike. From the medieval tales of the Mabinogion to those rooted firmly in Arthurian mythology, they range from the quirky to the macabre and tell of heroic pets, strange superstitions, devious devils and restless spirits.
Click here to order Illustrated Tales of Wales by Mark Rees
Paranormal Wales
Published 2020, Amberley Publishing
Wales is said to be the most haunted country in the world. Restless spirits roam the ancient land, from the lofty peaks of Snowdonia to the dark depths of the abandoned mines. In Paranormal Wales author Mark Rees (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales) takes the reader on a spine-chilling journey to dozens of these locations, which include well-known tourist landmarks and more secluded spots well off the beaten track.
These accounts of disembodied voices, supernatural mists and pesky poltergeists range from centuries-old legends to modern-day sightings. Visit the ‘oldest pub’ in Wales, where more than 180 people are claimed to have been sentenced to death by hanging. Explore the majestic opera house built by a world-famous soprano, who some say continues to perform on her beloved stage from beyond the grave. Spend the night in a seemingly idyllic manor house, where the presence of a Victorian housekeeper is said to reduce unsuspecting guests to tears. Or step back in time at one of the many ivy-strewn castles, where ladies in white patrol the Gothic battlements as tortured screams ring out from the dungeons below.
Click here to order Paranormal Wales by Mark Rees
The A-Z of Curious Wales
Published 2019, The History Press
Wales’ history is packed with peculiar customs and curious characters. Here you will discover alien landscapes, ancient druids and a Victorian ghost hunter.
Find out why revellers would carry a decorated horse’s skull on a pole door to door at Christmastime, how an eccentric inventor hoped to defeat Hitler with his futuristic ray gun, and why a cursed wall is protected by a global corporation for fear it might destroy a town. From the folklore surrounding the red dragon on the flag, to the evolution of the song ‘Sosban Fach’, this compendium of weird and wonderful facts will surprise and delight even the most knowledgeable resident or visitor.
Click here to order The A-Z of Curious Wales by Mark Rees
The Little Book of Welsh Landmarks
Published 2018, The History Press
From the snowy peaks of Snowdonia to the glorious Wales Coastal Path, this compelling compendium is a fact-filled journey through Wales’ most iconic landmarks and popular tourist attractions. Experience the country’s immense history, from the breathtaking World Heritage Sites to the UK’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and the countless castles, secluded beaches, mystical rivers and hidden gems which can be found across the land. This handy book can be dipped into time and time again to reveal something new about the people, the heritage and the secrets of Cymru.
Click here to order The Little Book of Welsh Landmarks by Mark Rees
Ghosts of Wales: Accounts from the Victorian Archives
Published 2017, The History Press
“Do you believe in ghosts? Then attend to my story! Laugh as we may at the idea of ghosts, people do believe in ghosts, and fear them.”
In the Victorian era, sensational ghost stories made headline news.
Spine-chilling reports of two-headed phantoms, murdered knights and spectral locomotives filled the press. Spirits communicated with the living at dark séances, forced terrified families to flee their homes, and caused frightened workers to down their tools at the haunted mines.
This book – Ghosts of Wales: Accounts from the Victorian Archives – reveals for the first time more than 50 hair-raising – and in some cases, comical – real life accounts from Wales dating from 1837 to 1901. Unearthed from the newspaper archives, they include chilling prophecies from beyond the grave, poltergeists who terrorised the industrial communities, and more than a few ingenious hoaxes along the way.
Click here to order Ghosts of Wales: Accounts from the Victorian Archives by Mark Rees
The Little Book of Welsh Culture (second edition)
The Little Book of Welsh Culture (first edition)
Published 2016/ 2022, The History Press
The Little Book of Welsh Culture is a fast-paced, fact-filled journey through the cultural heritage of Wales, exploring the rich history of its literature, festivals, performing arts, visual arts and music, and unearthing some fascinating secrets and hidden gems along the way. Crammed full of myths, traditions, birthplaces and personalities, experience the country’s immense artistic legacy as never before, from the medieval legends surrounding King Arthur and The Mabinogion to its modern-day transformation into a thriving film location for big-screen blockbusters. Discover the truth behind the druidic rituals of the National Eisteddfod, separate the facts from the fiction that surround Dylan Thomas’ infamous lifestyle, and learn how Wales successfully regenerated the Doctor Who franchise.
Click here to order The Little Book of Welsh Culture by Mark Rees
