The Folklore of Cornwall

Piskies, mermaids, giants, and a revenant bridegroom: the stuff of legend. In the hands of skilled storytellers – the famed droll tellers of Cornwall – the result was magical. Considered in the context of narratives throughout Northern Europe, enchantment can be understood as well as enjoyed in this new way to look at Cornwall. 10b&w illus.

By considering the folklore of Cornwall in a Northern European context, this book casts light on a treasury of often-ignored traditions. Folklore studies internationally have long considered Celtic material, but scholars have tended to overlook Cornwall’s collections. The Folklore of Cornwall fills this gap, placing neglected stories on a par with those from other regions where Celtic languages have deep roots.

The Folklore of Cornwall demonstrates that Cornwall has a distinct body of oral tradition, even when examining legends and folktales that also appear elsewhere.  The way in which Cornish droll tellers achieved this unique pattern is remarkable; with the publication of this book, it becomes possible for folklorists to look to the peninsula beyond the River Tamar for insight.

A very readable text with popular appeal, this book serves as an introduction to folklore studies for the novice while also offering an alternative means to consider Cornish studies for advanced scholars. The comparative analysis combined with an innovative method of The Folklore of Cornwall is not to be found in other treatments of the subject.

Acknowledgements

Preface by Philip Payton

Introduction

Chapter 1 The Collectors

Chapter 2 The Droll Tellers

Chapter 3 Folkways and Stories

Chapter 4 Piskies, Spriggans, and Bucca

Chapter 5 Piskies and Migratory Legends

Chapter 6 Seeking the Companionship of People

Chapter 7 Mermaids

Chapter 8 The Spectral Bridegroom

Chapter 9 Giants

Chapter 10 Knockers in the Mines

Chapter 11 Tommyknockers, Immigration, and the Modern World

Conclusion

Appendix: Type Index for Cornish Narrative

Bibliography