Full Description
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.
Contents
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
