The folklore of Britain
abounds with local tales about the activities of one sort of
supernatural being or another giants, elves, hobs, boggarts, dragons or
shape-changing witches. The stories are vivid, dramatic and often
humorous. Carolyne Larrington has made a representative selection, which
she re-tells in a simple, direct way which is completely faithful to
the style and spirit of her sources. Most collectors of local legends
have been content merely to note how they may serve to explain some
feature of the landscape or to warn of some supernatural danger, but
Carolyne Larrington probes more deeply. By perceptive and delicate
analysis, she explores their inner meanings. She shows how, through
lightly coded metaphors, they deal with the relations of man and woman,
master and servant, the living and the dead, the outer semblance and the
inner self, mankind and the natural environment. Her fascinating book
gives us a fuller insight into the value of our traditional tales.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.
This was a wonderful book. It is perfect for anyone interested in all
things supernatural. Great job.
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