Cornish Folk Tales

By Mike O'Connor

The ancient land of Cornwall is steeped in mysterious tradition, proud heritage and age-old folklore. Before books were widely available, wandering ‘droll tellers’ used to spread Cornish insight and humour to all parts of the Duchy – exchanging their tales for food and shelter. Anthony James was one such droll teller, and this collection follows him as he makes his way around Cornwall one glorious summer. Richly illustrated with hand-drawn images and woodcuts, Cornish Folk Tales will appeal to anyone captivated by this beautiful land and its resident kindly giants, mischievous piskeys, seductive mermaids, bold knights and barnacle-encrusted sea captains.

• Language: English
• Publisher: The History Press
• Release date: Sep 16, 2011
• ISBN: 9780752470290

Mike O'Connor

Mike O’Connor is a powerful and engaging storyteller who performs at many events across the country. An important researcher into Cornish music and folklore, he has been awarded the OBE and made a bard of the Gorsedh of Kernow.

Reviews for Cornish Folk Tales

[john257hopper · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An interesting collection of folk tales, some of which I have read before, perhaps in other than Cornish contexts. The folk tales are not told independently, but within a framework narrative of a real Cornish wandering minstrel and storyteller of the early 19th century, Anthony James, an ex-soldier blinded in the Napoleonic wars, wandering from Cury round via Penzance, Lands End, St Ives and Bodmin, among many other places, telling stories to his travelling companion Jamie or to countrypeople they meet en route. Unfortunately I found this narrative rather wooden and punctuated by some grating anachronisms, such as "dunno" and "crumbs" (as in the mild expression of surprise). Lightweight but quite enjoyable overall.