The Story of Brittany
How animation of the landscape shaped this Celtic entity
This online course is available to paid subscribers on my writing site wendymewes.substack.com It looks at the early history of Brittany through archaeology, legends and folklore. We explore the essentials of pre-history, the contributions of Celts and Romans, the Age of Saints and the establishment of this small region as a vibrant independent unit in the 9th century.
Much of the course revolves around sacred and historical sites, in keeping with the main focus of my work, places still visitable today and which have marked Breton culture and traditions. Megaliths, memorials, sacred springs, chapels and ancient routes figure alongside the natural wonders of hills, trees and rocks, always major characters in the spiritual dynamism of Brittany.
HERE & NOW
April 2025
Spending some time in Combourg
Continuing to write my online course The Story of Brittany
28th Giving a writing workshop at L'Autre Rive
I’ve been writing about Brittany for more than twenty years, with a focus on history, legends and spirit of place. My research has taken me to every corner of the region, especially for recent works of place-writing on ancient paths and the stories connected with megalithic and natural stones. I am interested in the relationship between places and their past, including the cultural presentation of this connection, and human reactions to the particularity of place. Why do some sites generate more interest than others? How do certain stories attach to specific places? What constitutes the spiritual appeal associated with sacred space? Megalithic memorials, Druidic lore, saintly powers, pilgrimage trails and popular perception are just some of the ingredients in my exploration of the early history of Brittany through its landscape.
RECENT NOVELS
Set in a Breton village
