The Treasury of Folklore by #FolkloreThursday’s Dee Dee Chainey and Willow Winsham
The Treasury of Folklore – Waterlands, Wooded Worlds and Starry Skies from Batsford Books is now available to pre-order!
The Treasury of Folklore is a gift edition compendium combining the authors’ favourite folklore across the three individual books from the Treasury of Folklore book series.
An entertaining and enchanting collection of myths, tales and traditions surrounding the seas, skies and woodlands that make up our natural world.
Enter an enchanting world where the mysteries of the seas, skies and woodlands come alive through shared myths, legends and folk tales. From the majestic creatures that dance beneath the waves to the celestial beings that populate the heavens and the spirits that reside within the forests, The Treasury of Folklore offers a portal into the lore of the natural world that has been whispered through the generations.
In this mesmerising compendium you’ll embark on a journey through the rich tapestry of myths, legends, and tales that have been woven into the very fabric of our natural world. You’ll tread mysterious waters and be beguiled by the sirens and sea monsters, soar to new heights with winged Pegasus and uncover stories of celestial beings, from thunder gods to constellations that have guided traveller’s across the heavens. And as you wander through the ancient woods, you’ll encounter spirits between the branches, insatiable cannibalistic children hewn from logs and the promise of the big, bad wolf.
The stories included here traverse countries and continents and have been carefully selected to highlight how humans are linked through time and place, with shared dreams, fears and ways of rationalising the unknown. Immerse yourself in the tapestry of tales collected in these pages, each story a testament to the enduring enchantment of the seas, skies, and woodlands.
Treasury of Folklore – Stars and Skies by #FolkloreThursday’s Willow Winsham
Treasury of Folklore – Stars and Skies: Sun Gods, Storm Witches and Soaring Steeds from Batsford Books is available here!
People have gazed up at the same stars for millennia, trading stories about them; conjuring gods and goddesses; mapping the constellations; and navigating the complex human world below. The tales, traditions and myths included here traverse countries and continents and have been chosen to highlight how humans are linked through time and place, with shared dreams, fears and ways of rationalising the unknown.
Under ‘Stars and Heavens’ Willow delves into rosy fingered dawn and the hubris of Icarus, the Greek myths surrounding the constellations and the omen of meteors, the trials of the Hawaiian goddess Hina and the legend of the rabbit in the moon. In the section on ‘Skies’ we are introduced to winged Pegasus and the trials of the Firebird, the Witch of Westray and stories of storms, the mysteries of the Northern Lights and unexplained UFOs.
Treasury of Folklore: Stars and Skies is a fascinating portal into a rich history of myths surrounding the sky, an aspect of the natural world that continues to fascinate and confound.
Treasury of Folklore – Woodlands and Forests by #FolkloreThursday’s Willow Winsham and Dee Dee Chainey
Treasury of Folklore – Woodlands and Forests: Wild Gods, World Trees and Werewolves from Batsford Books is available here!
An entertaining and enthralling collection of myths, tales and traditions surrounding our trees, woodlands and forests from around the world.
From the dark, gnarled woodlands of the north, to the humid jungles of the southern lands, trees have captured humanity’s imagination for millennia. Filled with primal gods and goddesses, dryads and the fairy tales of old, the forests still beckon to us, offering sanctuary, mystery and more than a little mischievous trickery. From insatiable cannibalistic children hewn from logs, to lumberjack lore, and the spine-chilling legend of Bloody Mary, there is much to be found between the branches. Come into the trees; witches, seductive spirits and big, bad wolves await you.
With this book, #FolkloreThursday aim to encourage a sense of belonging across all cultures by showing how much we all have in common.
Treasury of Folklore: Seas and Rivers by #FolkloreThursday’s Willow Winsham and Dee Dee Chainey
Treasury of Folklore: Seas and Rivers Sirens, Selkies and Ghost Ships from Batsford Books is available here!
Enthralling tales of the sea, rivers and lakes from around the globe. Folklore of the seas and rivers has a resonance in cultures all over the world. Watery hopes, fears and dreams are shared by all peoples where rivers flow and waves crash. This fascinating book covers English sailor superstitions and shape-shifting pink dolphins of the Amazon, Scylla and Charybdis, the many guises of Mami Wata, the tale of the Yoruba River spirit, the water horses of the Scottish lochs, the infamous mystery of the Bermuda Triangle, and much more. Accompanied by stunning woodcut illustrations, popular authors Dee Dee Chainey and Willow Winsham explore the deep history and enduring significance of water folklore the world over, from mermaids, selkies and sirens to ghostly ships and the fountains of youth.
With this book, Folklore Thursday aims to encourage a sense of belonging across all cultures by showing how much we all have in common.
A Treasury of British Folklore: Maypoles, Mandrakes and Mistletoe by Dee Dee Chainey
A Treasury of British Folklore: Maypoles, Mandrakes and Mistletoe from National Trust Books is available here.
Did you know, in Yorkshire it was believed a person lying on a pillow stuffed with pigeon’s feathers could not die? Or that green is an unlucky colour for wedding dresses—in Scotland they would not even serve green vegetables at the wedding breakfast? In the West Country, the seventh son of a seventh son has the power to cure ringworm. You’ve heard about St. George, but how about the Green Man, who was believed to rule over the natural world? Or Black Shuck, the giant ghostly dog who was reputed to roam East Anglia? As well as looking at the history of this subject, this book has a directory of places you can go to see folklore alive and well today. The Whittlesea Straw Bear Festival, for example, or wassailing cider orchards in Somerset.
Magpies & Red Skies: The enchanting origins of 100 superstitions by Willow Winsham
Magpies & Red Skies: The enchanting origins of 100 superstitions from Welbeck is available here.
Find a penny, pick it up
All day long you’ll have good luck
Whether hopping over cracks, saluting magpies or knocking on wood, we all seek good fortune through performing curious rituals. But is there ancient wisdom behind the folklore of superstition?
In this exquisitely illustrated tour through thousands of years of tradition, Willow Winsham explores the mysterious origins behind 100 of the most intriguing superstitions from across the globe.
England’s Witchcraft Trials by Willow Winsham
England’s Witchcraft Trials from Pen & Sword History is available here.
Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.
With the echo of that chilling injunction hundreds were accused and tried for witchcraft across England throughout the 16th and 17th centuries. With fear and suspicion rife, neighbour could turn against neighbour, friend against friend, with women, men and children alike caught up in the deadly fervour that swept through both village and town. From the feared covens of Pendle Forest to the victims of the unswerving fanaticism of The Witch Finder General, so-called witches were suspected, accused, and dragged into the spotlight to await judgement and their final fate.
Accused: British Witches Throughout History by Willow Winsham
Accused: British Witches Throughout History from Pen & Sword History is available here.
The image of the witch – crook-nosed, unpleasant of disposition and with a penchant for harming her neighbours – is well established in the popular imagination. For hundreds of years the accusation of witchcraft has been levelled against women throughout the British Isles: such women were feared, persecuted, revered and reviled, with many ending their journeys at the stake or noose. Far from a mass of pitiable, faceless victims however, each case tells its own story, with a distinct woman at its heart, spanning the centuries down to the present. What did it really mean to be accused as a witch? Why, and by whom, were such accusations made? Was it possible to survive, and what awaited those who did? Meticulously researched and skilfully and painstakingly woven, this book will be indispensable to anyone with an interest in the popular topic of the history of witchcraft and a love of fascinating and diverse individuals. Setting each of the accused in their social and historical context, Willow Winsham delivers a fresh and revealing look at her subjects, bringing her unique style and passion for detail to this captivating read.
