In this sampler of folk-tales Katharine Briggs presents her reader
with a selection of classics, favourites and little-known oddities
from across the spectrum. The book is headed by an informative
Introduction, which provides a brief overview of the collection and
study of folklore, the classification of folk tales and the
scholarly consensus (or lack of consensus) on the subject. The
Introduction contains valuable information about the growth and
transmission of traditional stories; with the footnotes that follow
each tale, it gives a fascinating insight into their meaning and
social context. The tales themselves are drawn from a larger
wellspring - Briggs's own Dictionary of British Folk-Tales - and as
such this is an attempt to represent a much wider canvas in an
approachable volume, an aim the book achieves comfortably. It is
split into 18 sections according to the grand scheme of folk-tale
classification, and includes both well-known and obscure instances
of each type. Familiar tales appear in their original forms -
'Rumpelstiltskin' as 'Tom Tit-Tot', for instance - and many of the
stories are transcribed in the dialect of the area to which they
belong, lending authenticity to Briggs's rebellion against 'the
prettified, airy-fairy stories foisted upon children'. It will be
enjoyed by anyone who likes fairy tales and is interested in their
wider context, but is particularly aimed at students of
linguistics, sociology and oral tradition. (Kirkus UK)
Once upon a time a writer decided to set down the most memorable and magical tales she could find. She searched the country high and low, seeking out folktales and legends, ancient lore and modern cautionary tales. Her name was Katharine M. Briggs, and she went on to become the most important folklorist these islands have ever produced. In 1970 she 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 you 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. eBook available with sample pages: 0203217896
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