Somerset Folk Tales


Book Description

These Somerset tales, newly collected or retold with a strong sense of the land and the waters that shaped them, reflect our enduring interest in the natural landscape. Let these stories from the Summer Lands take you on a journey: across wind-wild moors that plummet to treacherous tides traversed by sea morgans; on a scramble from gorges shaped by the Devil's spite to caves dwelled in by bitter witches. Discover ancient mines and dragons' haunts, and emerge into forests and fields to be befriended by bees or bedevilled by fairies; then stroll beside ancient waterways, where willows walk and orchards talk. From Gwyn ap Neath to Joseph of Arimathea, your travelling companions will meet you from legend, history and living memory – from the places where they were once known best. Sharon Jacksties has a sharp eye for the landscape of Somerset and the seen and unseen stories that it holds, a sympathetic ear for the dialect of the South West, and a playful wit that brings this collection of tales to vivid and delightful life.




Somerset Folk Tales for Children


Book Description

Folk tales from Somerset, especially selected for children by a professional storyteller




The Little Book of Somerset


Book Description

Did you know? The town of Wincanton is twinned with a place that does not exist. William Gibbs of Tyntesfield House made his fortune by importing bird droppings from Peru. A song by 'Scrumpy and Western' singer Adge Cutler was banned by the BBC for being too raunchy. Nine villages in Somerset are known as the 'Thankful Villages'. From seaside to countryside and villages to towns, Somerset is a county where it's difficult to separate history and mystery. This fast-paced, fact-packed compendium of places, people and trivia reveals all sorts of answers to questions you might have wondered about – and some you didn't. The facts, stats and anecdotes will surprise even those familiar with this beautiful and historic county.




Folktales of England


Book Description

“The most satisfactory general collection of folktales to come out of England since the advent of modern collection and classification techniques.”—Journal of American Folklore Tales of unnatural beings, curses, and ghosts, tall tales, shaggy dog stories—this collection from a renowned British folklorist offers a wide historical range, as well as commentaries. If wonder tales are not as abundant in England as elsewhere, other kinds of folktales thrive: local traditions, historical legends, humorous anecdotes. Many of the favorite tales which English-speaking peoples carry with them from childhood come from a long tradition—stories as familiar to Shakespeare, Ben Jonson, Spenser, and their many contemporaries as they are to us. This volume is a “fine, homely feast” for anyone interested in the folklore of the world (Times Educational Supplement). “Should be of special concern to Americans since many of the tales are parallel to or the source of our own folk stories.”—Choice “This is entertainment, to be sure, but is also part of man’s attempts to comprehend his world.”—Quartet




Animal Folk Tales of Britain and Ireland


Book Description

Stories and animals have long travelled the same routes. Through our heritage of charming, quirky and profound tales, you will find yourself re-acquainted with Britain's wondrous fauna. Find out how hedgehog ended up with spines and what makes him scuttle so fast, discover how pigs saved a prince from leprosy and why the wealthy lord was so intent on capturing the black fox. Sharon Jacksties' wonderful book combines traditional stories, little-known zoological facts and true anecdotes to create a treasure trove of stories for animal lovers of every kind.




British Folk Tales and Legends


Book Description

In 1970 Katharine Briggs published in four volumes the vast and authoritative Dictionary of British Folktales and Legends to wide acclaim. This sampler comprises the very best of those tales and legends. Gathered within, readers will find an extravagance of beautiful princesses and stout stable boys, sour-faced witches and kings with hearts of gold. Each tale is a masterpiece of storytelling, from the hilarious 'Three Sillies' to the delightfully macabre 'Sammle's Ghost'.




Forgotten Folk-tales of the English Counties (RLE Folklore)


Book Description

In this book, first published in 1970, Ruth L. Tongue has collected a number of county folk tales recorded by her from childhood onwards, from old people, village children and farm round-the-fire sessions. Many of the beliefs embodied in the gipsy and witchcraft tales are still in practice today among the travelling people and locally ‘gifted’ healers. The tales reveal a good deal of fairy lore, some tree lore, including ghostly trees like Crooker, and the ‘uncanny’ Black Dog makes his appearance in more than one tale. The collection includes several of the long fireside tales which would be told on succeeding evenings on winter nights round the kitchen fire, and rhozzums from various localities.




Myths of Gods and Goddesses in Britain and Ireland


Book Description

Ancient deities have shaped the mythological landscapes of Britain and Ireland. Layer by layer, these tales of the ancient gods and goddesses make up the narrative bedrock of these islands. Throughout the ages this has been the meeting place of successive cultures, each bringing their own stories to glorify those beings with supernatural powers. Despite their immortality, these divinities and superhumans are nevertheless vulnerable, depending on the voices and memories of people to celebrate their wondrous exploits. Here you will meet the all-powerful beings once revered throughout these lands. Elemental divinities of sky and earth, goddesses and gods in human guise, have escaped the confines of dusty encyclopaedias. Now you will come to know them by the stories of their deeds, famous and infamous in equal part.




Angela Carter's Book Of Fairy Tales


Book Description

Once upon a time fairy tales weren't meant just for children, and neither is Angela Carter's Book of Fairy Tales. This stunning collection contains lyrical tales, bloody tales and hilariously funny and ripely bawdy stories from countries all around the world- from the Arctic to Asia - and no dippy princesses or soppy fairies. Instead, we have pretty maids and old crones; crafty women and bad girls; enchantresses and midwives; rascal aunts and odd sisters. This fabulous celebration of strong minds, low cunning, black arts and dirty tricks could only have been collected by the unique and much-missed Angela Carter. Illustrated throughout with original woodcuts.




English Folktales


Book Description

This enchanting collection of traditional English folktales reflects the depth and diversity of the folk heritage of Britain, and illustrates the ties between stories, land, and people. The editors present an enticing assortment of more than 50 tales, gathered from practicing storytellers and organized into sections based on broad themes—The Fool in All His Glory, Wily Wagers and Tall Tales, Holy Days and Days of Heroes, and so forth. There's a story for every listener—from Teeny Tiny and The Pixies' Beds for young children to spooky ghost stories and witch tales, such as Wild Edric and Jenny Greenteeth for older readers and listeners. For each tale, the authors cite a region of origin. Like other titles in the series, the book contains background information: notes on the tales, a brief history of England, a map, photographs, a glossary, and a bibliography of sources. Brief biographies of the tellers are also included. All of these elements combine to form an apt resource for read-alouds and programs, an indispensable source for storytellers, and a great research tool for students. All grade levels.