The Folklore of Devon

by Mark Norman

Overview

Devon has a long and rich folkloric heritage which has been extensively collected over many years, but never before drawn together into one serious study. This book consolidates more than a century of research by eminent Devon folklorists into one valuable volume.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781804130360
Publisher:	University of Exeter Press
Publication date:	06/06/2023
Pages:	236
Sales rank:	354,080
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.17(h) x (d)

About the Author

Mark Norman was recently appointed as the new Recorder of Folklore for the Devonshire Association, and is well known as a popular folklorist around the world thanks to his creation, The Folklore Podcast, which has enjoyed more than 1.5 million downloads. He is a council member of the Folklore Society and founding curator of The Folklore Library and Archive. The Folklore of Devonais Marks fourth book.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1. Folklore Collection in Devon 2. Stories from the Moors 3. The Calendar Year 4. Farming and the Weather 5. The Devil in Devon 6. Fairies in Devon 7. Some Devon Hauntings 8. The Black Dog 9. Witchcraft 10. Modern Folklore Notes Bibliography Index

Editorial Reviews

"Mark Norman is the perfect guide through the pixy-paths of Devon tradition. He brings us fairy music and the Devil's footprints, the White Bird of the Oxenhams and the Black Dog of Vitifer Mine, presented with impeccable scholarship. A teller of good tales with a good understanding of folklore both ancient and modern, he is a worthy successor to the greats - Anna Bray, Theo Brown and Baring-Gould." Jeremy Harte, author of Explore Fairy Traditions and Cloven Country "A uniquely rich and entertaining exploration of Devon's rich folklore. From local rituals to Black Dogs, Witch and ghosts to the rich oral histories of heritage sites The Folklore of Devon explores the land, its stories and their context." David Waldron, Senior Lecturer in History at Federation University Australia and author of Sign of the Witch "In the period 1850 to 1950 important efforts were made in Devon to collect local folklore: arguably with more science and nouse than in any other English county. Until now, though, we have lacked an effective overview. With The Folklore of Devon Mark Norman has filled an important gap in the bookshelf of British folklore studies." Simon Young, author of The Boggart "An entertaining and comprehensive exploration of Devon folklore. Norman takes the old "county folklore" model into new times and territories and displays his wealth of knowledge. Rich in source material, engagingly written, and with delightful illustrations, The Folklore of Devon is a pleasure to read." Owen Davies, author of Grimoires and The Oxford History of Witchcraft and Magic "In The Folklore of Devon, Mark Norman makes a massive contribution to the study of regional folklore with international implications: the folklore of Devon is both highly specific to its historical and cultural context, and deeply intertwined with, for example, fairy lore and witch lore found throughout other parts of Europe. The meticulously documented agricultural customs, calendar customs, legends, and more demonstrate the extent to which folklore in Devon is highly meaningful to its participants, and should be of interest to a larger scholarly audience as well." Dr. Jeana Jorgensen, author of Folklore 101 and Fairy Tales 101

From the Publisher