author
Wirt Sikes
1836–1883
Best known for exploring Welsh folklore, this American writer and journalist helped bring fairy lore, legends, and local customs to a wide English-speaking audience. His work still attracts readers curious about the imaginative world behind traditional Welsh tales.
1 Audiobook
About the author
Born in Watertown, New York, in 1836, Wirt Sikes was an American journalist and writer whose career moved between newspapers, public service, and books. He is remembered most for his writing on Wales, especially after serving as United States consul in Cardiff during the late 1870s.
His best-known book, British Goblins (1880), gathers Welsh folk beliefs, fairy stories, legends, and customs in a lively, accessible way. That blend of reporting, storytelling, and curiosity helped make the book an enduring entry point for readers interested in Welsh tradition.
Sikes also wrote on politics, history, and travel, showing the range of a working journalist with broad interests. He died in 1883, but his name remains closely linked with the rich folklore of Wales.