The Living Wells of Wales: new photographs and old tales of our sacred springs, holy wells and spas is the fullest guide yet to the sacred springs, holy wells and spas of Wales. In it, Phil Cope explores over 300 wells, in cities and towns, on mountainsides, in deserted valleys, on the coast and in sea caves. They include healing and cursing wells, and wells named for saints, witches, angels, fairies, friars, nuns and hermits. His atmospheric photographs are accompanied by folk tales, myths and legends, conversations with well-keepers, and poems inspired by these magical places.
Phil Cope writes of The Living Wells of Wales: “It is not a history book, although it does contain within its pages a great deal of history; and it is not a work of fiction either, although it does retell many unbelievable tales.
Most accurately, it is a multifarious celebration of the many, sometimes contradictory levels of meaning that wellspring sites offer, the varying versions of the truth that history, oral accounts, myth, legend, folk tales, poetry and art suggest, alongside my own attempts to observe and capture something of the spirit of these special places through photography.”
Published by Seren Books.
The Living Wells of Wales: new photographs and old tales of our sacred springs, holy wells and spas is the fullest guide yet to the sacred springs, holy wells and spas of Wales. In it, Phil Cope explores over 300 wells, in cities and towns, on mountainsides, in deserted valleys, on the coast and in sea caves. They include healing and cursing wells, and wells named for saints, witches, angels, fairies, friars, nuns and hermits. His atmospheric photographs are accompanied by folk tales, myths and legends, conversations with well-keepers, and poems inspired by these magical places.
Phil Cope writes of The Living Wells of Wales: “It is not a history book, although it does contain within its pages a great deal of history; and it is not a work of fiction either, although it does retell many unbelievable tales.
Most accurately, it is a multifarious celebration of the many, sometimes contradictory levels of meaning that wellspring sites offer, the varying versions of the truth that history, oral accounts, myth, legend, folk tales, poetry and art suggest, alongside my own attempts to observe and capture something of the spirit of these special places through photography.”
Published by Seren Books.
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