Folk Tales – serie

The garden is an oasis, a pocket of nature in our busy modern lives, full of plants, animals, insects – and a fair bit of magic.Folk Tales from the Garden follows the seasons through a year of stories, garden lore and legends. Explore the changing face of nature just outside your front door, from the tale of the Creator painting her birds and the merits of kissing an old toad, to pixies sleeping in the tulips, and an unusually large turnip.

Humorous tales, cautionary tales, tall tales, fairy tales, heroic tales – the depths of Swedish folklore hold all of the above and more besides.From cunning folk and helpful Tomtar, to sinister Näcken and the Stallos of Sami legend (and with plenty of romance and derring-do in-between), this book covers centuries' worth of Sweden’s folk tales, telling stories that have never been translated into English as well as several oral tales published in writing for the first time.

This lively and entertaining collection of folk tales from the Scottish Borders is rich in stories both tall and true, ancient and more recent, dark and funny, fantastical and powerful. Here you will find the Lochmaben Harper, Tam Linn, Thomas the Rhymer, Muckle Mou’d Meg and Michael Scot the wizard. These well-loved and magical stories – some appearing in print here for the first time – are retold in an engaging style, shaped by James Spence’s many years of storytelling. Richly illustrated and enlivened by the rhythmic Scots language of the region, these enchanting tales are sure to be enjoyed and shared time and again.

Storyteller and author Jen Foley brings together stories from the dark forests, ruined castles and magical green pastureland of Bedfordshire. In this treasure trove of tales you will meet Anglo-Saxon heroines and lascivious monks, as well as restless ghosts, conniving highwaymen, demons and witches – all as fantastical and powerful as the landscape they inhabit. Retelling each story in her engaging style, and richly illustrated with unique line drawings, these humorous, clever and enchanting folk tales are sure to be enjoyed and shared time and again.

Do you think that legends are all about princes and princesses, knights and heroes, giants and monsters? Well, they aren’t always. The stories in this book are about girls like you and girls you might know: clever, strong, brave and resourceful. Here you can read the story of Vasilisa, who wasn’t afraid of the deep dark forest; Mollie Whuppie, who knew how to trick a giant; Tipingi, who was able to call on her friends to help her get out of trouble; Seren, who used her love of singing to help others; and many more fearless characters. Storyteller Fiona Collins has chosen the best of the old tales from all around the world and reworked them into new and exciting versions to be enjoyed by everyone, accompanied by magical illustrations by talented artist Ed Fisher.

From caverns deep underground to sky-high mountains, the rocks and stones all around us are ancient. Greedy oni lurk in a cave in Japan; a stonecutter becomes a mountain; and a story of romance, revenge and tragedy plays out on the face of a plate. Revealing hidden fossils, gemstones, folklore and secrets, storyteller Jenny Moon’s tales are interwoven with interesting facts and geological observations that will catch the imagination of readers young and old, making this more than just a book of stories.

Professional Storyteller Wendy Shearer has gathered together stories from many Caribbean islands and countries, drawing on oral history and written texts to bring these folk tales to life. Many stories are of West African origin, kept alive through rhythm and song. These tales and their languages were blended with European and East Indian folklore, with royalty, heroes and spirits exacting revenge. Alongside the stories are newly collected reminiscences of migration to Britain from Caribbean countries during the Windrush years. These first-hand accounts mirror the themes found in the folk tales with love and loss, magic and mystery, caution and justice.Cric! Crac! Prepare to be enchanted by La Diablesse from Haiti, outsmarted by the trickster Anansi, or terrified by the shapeshifting Old Higue in Guyana.

The life of the travelling musician hasn't changed much over the millennia. For a prehistoric harper, a medieval fiddler or a modern guitar player, the experience is pretty much the same: there are times when everything goes well and others when nothing does.But it's not just performing that can go wrong – listening can also be dangerous! Can you stop dancing when you get tired or must you keep going until the music stops … if it ever does? What happens if it carries on past midnight? What if it turns you to stone?Pete Castle has selected a variety of traditional tales from all over the UK (and a few from further afield) to enthral you, whether you are a musician, a dancer, or a reader who likes to keep dangerous things like singing and dancing at arm's length.

Rivers and streams sculpt our landscape, and have connected our communities throughout history, from mountain to estuary and to the wide sea beyond. They give us water and food, trade and transport – yet they have a life-force all of their own.In this collection of traditional folk tales from wild rivers, lakes, and streams, Lisa Schneidau retells old stories of danger and transformation, of river goddesses, ghosts and the mysterious creatures that dwell in the watery arteries of Britain and Ireland.

These engaging folk tales from Cumbria were collected as fragments that the author has brought back to life. Shaped by the natural world, local customs and generations of chattering, these traditional tales reflect the unique Cumbrian wit and wisdom. Herein you will find intriguing accounts of Hunchback and the Swan, the Screaming Skulls of Calgarth, the Millom Hob Thross, Hughie the Graeme, Cumbrian Crack, and Billy Peascod’s Harp. They will make you want to visit the places where they happened and meet some of the characters that feature in them. Including charming illustrations from the local artist Steven Gregg, this captivating collection will be enjoyed by readers time and again. Taffy Thomas has lived in Grasmere for well over thirty years, and is a highly experienced storyteller with a repertoire of more than 300 tales. In the 2001 New Year Honours List he was awarded the MBE for services to storytelling and charity, and in 2010 was appointed as the first UK Storyteller Laureate.

Norfolk is steeped in story. Whether we are treading fields, fens, beaches or streets, the landscape is pregnant with secret histories. The collective imagination of countless generations has populated the county with ghosts, saints, witches, pharisees, giants and supernatural beasts. Stories have evolved around historical characters, with Horatio Nelson, Oliver Cromwell, Anne Boleyn, Tom Paine and King Edmund becoming larger than life in folk-memory. This book is a celebration of the deep connection between a place and its people.

The Orkney Islands are a place of mystery and magic, where the past and the present meet, ancient standing stones walk and burial mounds are the home of the trows.Orkney Folk Tales walks the reader across invisible islands that are home to fin folk and mermaids, and seals that are often far more than they appear to be. Here Orkney witches raise storms and predict the outcome of battles, ghosts seek revenge and the Devil sits in the rafters of St Magnus Cathedral, taking notes!Using ancient tales told by the firesides of the Picts and Vikings, storyteller Tom Muir takes the reader on a magical journey where he reveals how the islands were created from the teeth of a monster, how a giant built lochs and hills in his greed for fertile land, and how the waves are controlled by the hand of a goddess.

‘We can’t look out for the land unless we love the land, and we can’t love the land unless we know its stories.' - Taffy Thomas MBEThis book is the third in a trilogy of nature-inspired volumes of folk tales by well-loved storyteller Taffy Thomas. Collected over many years spent travelling the length and breadth of the British Isles in his work as a professional storyteller, and told in his well-honed style, these traditional tales are engaging, entertaining, humorous and powerful. With captivating illustrations and a centre section of illustrated trails, this collection will reconnect readers to the land through story.

‘Tom’s new anthology contains a “wide pantheon of supernatural beings, from the dangerous Blue Men of the Minth and the jealous mermaid of Caithness to the gentle selkie folk who live between two worlds” in stories harvested from the coastlines, lochs and islands of his native lead.’ - Coast magazine Book of the MonthScotland has over 11,600 miles of coastline, so it’s no surprise that the sea and shore have been inspiring folk tales for millennia.In Scottish Folk Tales of Coast and Sea, Orkney storyteller Tom Muir weaves tales from this lore-steeped shoreline, finding selkie folk, pirates and even the devil in the liminal space between land and sea. Learn how death was captured in a nut, how a mermaid wreaked her revenge and how whirlpools were created. Discover a land beneath the waves, the mysterious island of Tir-nan-Og and a chorus of demon cats – but beware the most grotesque monster of them all, the hideous Nuckelavee.

A collection of tales that grew out of the sprawling flatlands, the oozing fjords, the dark forests and the waves that crash on the shores of Denmark.How a Viking ship carried a future king into Roskilde Fjord, how a mermaid’s laughter brought fortunes to her fisherman host, how the people of Lolland survived a flood with waves 3m high and how a princess found her freedom in becoming a prince.Experience the history, landscapes, stories and fairy tales brought to life by a storyteller who called this country home for nearly sixty years.

'Janet Dowling is magic and her stories bring the wonders of the night sky onto the page. She has journeyed from Polar ice to Pacific islands in search of tales which will re-enchant the heavens under which we all live and which so many of us forget.' - Jeremy Harte, The Folklore SocietyDiscover the Greek myths that are laid before you in the stars. Explore the folk tales of other cultures that have their own stories of the stars to guide the ancients in planting, navigating, and knowing when the beasts migrate across the plains.Start your own adventure to answer the question 'Whose constellation is it anyway?' in this compelling collection of folk tales of the night sky.Winner of the 2024 Storytelling World Resource Awards for Best Anthology

‘This delightful book is filled with fascinating and enchanting folklore and histories of both coast and sea. Even if you are not a coastal dweller, you will find magic and wonder in some of England's oldest and strangest tales. A lovely read.’ - Annie WorsleyEngland is a maritime nation. Our folklore and history are scattered with tall tales of the high seas, mysteries of the unknown world beneath the ocean surface, and the coast where human life meets the salt sea.This book is a collection of traditional folk tales from the coasts and seas of England, retold with a contemporary twist by Lisa Schneidau. Within these pages you’ll find magic and monsters, sailor heroes and ghost ships, and even mermaids and shapeshifters.Immerse yourself in these sea stories and let the current of England’s mysterious ocean world sweep you away.

Pixies are recognised around the world as mischievous members of the fairy race, but their traditional stories dwell in South West England. Across Cornwall, Devon and Somerset, they have been loved and revered, avoided and feared for centuries.Within these pages, you will find the collected tales of the Pixies, Piskeys, Knockers and Spriggans and many more of their magical kin. Their impish and unpredictable nature can help or hinder us, their human neighbours. Their stories call for playful kindness, magical thinking and careful respect for the living landscape around us.Allow the stories of the Pixies to charm you, rekindle your relationship with the land and embolden your connection to nature. But be warned: these tales are alive with Pixie magic! Expect enchantment and take care as you prepare to enter the wild places of Britain’s South West.

Just ask those mountains over there.They have heard these stories before.They have witnessed the floods.Through the travels of a Mesolithic Marsh Girl, Peter Stevenson tells the folk tales of the sea along the Welsh Coast Path. From bridge-dwelling bwbach and drunken mermaids, to swan girls, salmon children and the pirate Leekie Porridge of Tenby – follow Môrwen on a journey that blends past and present and explores the social and environmental change that is carved into the Welsh coastline.

Swept by strong ocean currents and ferocious storms, Rathlin Island is mysterious and hauntingly beautiful. Lying just six miles off the north coast of County Antrim, it is the most northerly inhabited island of Ireland. Once home to prehistoric hunter-gatherers, its inhabitants have endured Viking raids, medieval massacres, famine and emigration. As farmers, fishermen and seafarers, they are resourceful, independent and proud – and they have always enjoyed a good story.Drawing on Irish and Scottish traditions, Rathlin has a rich folk heritage all its own. Much of it may have been lost but for one island man – Tommy Cecil. Best known for rescuing Sir Richard Branson after his hot-air balloon ditched into the sea off Rathlin, Cecil was also instrumental in saving many of the island’s old stories. Taken from recordings held in the Ulster Folk Museum, this unique collection brings these stories to print for the first time.

'For fans of folklore this is a must read.' - Scottish Field magazineThis spellbinding collection of stories once again gathers together legends and lore from across Scotland in one special volume.Drawn from The History Press’ popular Folk Tales series, this second selection features further tales from authentic Scottish storytellers, honouring the unmistakable character of Scotland’s customs, beliefs and dialects.From the fearsome elfin warrior haunting Carterhaugh Woods to the beautiful mermaid enchanting young men off the coast of Orkney, this collection of tales belongs on the bookshelves of all who enjoy both the magic of Scotland and a well-told story.

BULGARIAN-born oral storyteller, Nana Tomova, carries in her bones old tales of golden maidens and winged serpents, wise women and wild nature stretching back to ancient Thracian times, when the Great Goddess was revered. Spirits of forest and water cure and curse, the Three Fates determine destinies, a girl lets down her hair for a wolf to climb up and vampires roam the dark nights. Discover a realm of imagination and enchantment through this freshly translated collection of traditional stories, featuring Rima Staines’ otherworldly illustrations.'Told, retold and interpreted with wisdom and joy, elegantly structured to reflect the Earth’s seasons, this collection of folk stories is magical in every sense. Reading these stories is like sipping fine aged wine at candle light inside a dragon’s cave. It transported me to the creative dawn of Thrace, the Balkans and Bulgaria – and to my own psyche.' – Kapka Kassabova

This enchanting collection of stories once again gathers together legends and lore from across Ireland in one special volume. Drawn from The History Press’ popular Folk Tales series, herein lies a second treasure trove of tales from a wealth of authentic Irish storytellers.From fairies, mermaids and enchanted caves to devils, witches and ancient gods, this collection honours the distinct character of Ireland’s different customs, beliefs and dialects, and belongs on the bookshelves of all who enjoy a well-told story.

In this book of folk tales, Liz Berg shares Jewish memories: tales, songs and jokes of Jews told by Jews in Britain and Ireland. Some stories moved from place to place, changing and adapting to new landscapes and taking on different texture, but the essence of the tales stay the same, preserved through oral storytelling, captured and recorded on these pages.Here are tales from the time of Diocletian’s Jewish slaves working in the tin mines of Cornwall, through to the modern tales being told in communities today, all incorporating the wit and magic of a rich and varied culture successfully integrated into Britain and Ireland.

‘Delightfully offbeat and always engaging, this collection of folk tales offers new perspectives on both familiar and forgotten stories. Perfect for folklore fans and anyone who wants to add a bit of magic to their day.’ - Heather Fawcett, Sunday Times best-selling author of Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of FaeriesDo you know the legends of the giants who ruled England before the first human kings? What about the demon dog Black Shuck who terrorized sixteenth-century Norfolk? Or the many times the Devil has tried to get his way before being outwitted by everyday people?England’s historic counties are overflowing with folklore, and this collection of 39 stories from the hit podcast Three Ravens reimagines dozens of classic tales in surprising, spooky, and often hilarious ways. Filled with tales of ghosts, mermaids, half-forgotten heroes, bloody legends and more, The Three Ravens Folk Tales spans centuries, styles, tones and narrators, making it perfect for bedtimes, reading by torchlight, or curling up on the sofa to enjoy with a mug of something hot.

Cuddly and cute, fierce and ferocious, cunning and conniving, worshipped and feared – felines appear in many forms in the humble folk tale.The cats in this collection of 57 stories are often heroic, witty and, at times, scheming or downright terrifying. Kitties big and small, from every corner of the world, such as the Kasha from Japan, the Nunda from East Africa, El Hombre Gato from Argentina, Kisa, the Cat from Iceland and many others can be found purring, hissing and prowling through these pages.

Founded fifteen centuries ago by the legendary Gaelic king Fergus Mór mac Eirc, Dál Riada was a most unusual ancient kingdom. From the Antrim Glens and Rathlin Island up through Kintyre, Argyll and the Inner Hebrides to the Isle of Skye, it was inhabited by Gaelic seafaring warriors and Viking raiders.With great skill and boundless courage, they navigated around the many islands and countless miles of treacherous coastline. They fought mighty battles, endured wild ocean storms and met with whirlpools and whales. Their presence still echoes in the old place names, and their stories of strange sea monsters, witches and otherworldly creatures have been passed down through the generations. In this collection, storyteller and folklorist Colin Urwin reimagines a few of the very best.

‘What a wonderful book. Wolves through a prism of love, understanding and fascination.’ – Derek Gow, author and ecologistWolves have been hunted to extinction in many countries, clung on in isolated populations near human communities and thrived in remote wilderness: theirs is a story of adaption and survival that is not yet finished.Once prevalent in Britain, the wolf has been much maligned and persecuted, but it has also been missed, and the ‘return of the wolf’ in this compendium of tales mirrors the aspiration to reintroduce this ancient species to Britain’s recovering wild places.The wolf has wended its way into our collective imagination through traditional narratives around the world. Known as shapeshifter, this animal has weaved itself into our folklore for centuries; from the compelling protagonist and agent of change to the wily trickster and persecutor, and today as a totem of hope for the rewilding movement.Storyteller and outdoorsman Chris Salisbury ensures the legacy of this beloved creature lives on in an unforgettable collection of wolfish tales to tell out loud.

The Highlands of Scotland are rich in traditional stories. Even today, in the modern world of the internet and supermarkets, old legends dating as far back as the times of the Gaels, Picts and Vikings are still told at night around the fireside.They are tales of the daoine sìth – the fairy people – and their homes in the green hills; of great and gory battles; of encounters with the last wolves in Britain; of solitary ghosts; and of supernatural creatures like the selkie, the mermaid, and the Fuath, Scotland’s own Bigfoot.In a vivid journey through the Highland landscape, from the towns and villages to the remotest places, by mountains, cliffs, peatland and glen, storyteller and folklorist Bob Pegg takes the reader along old and new roads to places where legend and landscape are inseparably linked.