Good Background Reading
For a broad background to folklore, myth and legend, you also have to look at the history of the areas that you are researching. This section of the library has a good cross section of factual, research based books.
FROM THE BEAST TO THE BLONDE: On fairy tales and their tellers - Marina Warner
This book is basically the go to handbook for the history of fairy tales - how they came about, how they developed into what we know today. It is great for those who are looking at researching in detail, however, it is a tome of a book, and not for you if you just want to pick up a book for a bit of light reading - if you are not an accademic, have a dictionary to hand.
NO GO THE BOGEYMAN: Scaring, lulling, and making mock - Marina Warner
this book is about the monsters that enbody our deepest darkest fears and how they are portrayed in media, and how we cope and use strategies to deal with the terror they conjour up.
THE HANDBOOK OF FOLKLORE: Traditional beliefs, practices, customs, stories, and sayings - Charlotte Sophia Burne
A wide ranging guide to folklore, and an impressive compilation of traditional lore, this fascinating book is divided into 3 sections: Belief and Practice; Customs; Stories, Songs and Sayings.
THE FOLKLORE CALENDAR - George Long
Provides a superb guide to ancient rites and customs throughout the year, from Up Helly Aa to The Christmas Mummers, and everything in betweeen.
PAGAN BRITAIN - Ronald Hutton
This book explains what we know about Britain's pagans and how we know it. It covers periods in history from the Paleolithic to the age of Christianity arriving in Britain. It is a complete analysis of the pagan past of Britain relying on facts rather than myth.
SACRED BRITANNIA - Miranda Aldhouse-Green
This book is a look at the way that different cultures coming to Britain not only brought their own beliefs but merges them to existing indigenous cults, and how those ideologies, beliefs, forces and tensions are still relevant today.
THE DRUIDS - Peter Beresford Ellis
Through this book the druids emerge as an intellectual caste of their society. They were doctors, lawyers, ambassadors, advisers as well as fulfilling a religious role. They are much more than the mysterious magic wielding wizards of the dark age.
THE NORTHUMBRIANS: North-East England and its People - Dan Jackson
This book has a lot of information and is well researched, exploring the history and culture of the area in great detail. It is an easy, funny and interesting read, taking into consideration hard work, drinking, sentimentality, masculinity and industry. It is just crammed full of details.
BOOKS ABOUT WITCHES
Factual research based books about the topic
WITCHCRAFT: A History in 13 Trials - Marion Gibson
This book uses 13 significant witchcraft trials that tell the fascinating history of witchcraft from the middle ages to the present day.It will challenge your perceptions of what you beieve and that accusations of witchcraft is still alive and kicking today in many places across the world.
HOW TO KILL A WITCH: A guide for the patriarchy - Claire Mitchell & Zoe Venditozzi THE WITCHES OF SCOTLAND
I cannot praise this book enough, it is funny, historic, accurate, thought provoking and uplifting all at the same time. The Witches of Scotland look deep into history and the misogynistic background of the witch trials and the legal or absurdly psuedo legal backing for them. It is a must read for everyone.
TALES RELATED TO PLACES
These books have tales that are specifically linked to geographic locations.
THE A-Z OF CURIOUS COUNTRY DURHAM: Strange stories of mysteries, crimes, and eccentrics - Martin Dufferwiel
This book is a miscellany - at times tragic, at times comic, but always entertaining. It is a good collection of tales as an introduction to the area and the tales that come with it.
ILLUSTRATED TALES OF NORTHUMBERLAND - Rob Kirkup
In this lovely book the author couples illustrations and photos to bring to life and add dimensions to the stories told within it's pages. It would be a wonderful accompaniment to a road trip around Northumberland to visit the places mentioned in it.
SCOTTISH BORDERS FOLK TALES - James P Spence
This is a great collection of stories from the Scottish Borders. They are funny, serious, and a wee bit spooky. Well worth a read on a cold wet afternoon by the fire.
SCOTTISH MYTHS AND LEGENDS - Judy Hamilton
This entertaining collection of stories covers everything from, fairy folk, witches, giants, monsters, princes and princesses and much more! Short easy to read chapters and stories, perfect if you have a couple of minutes to rest and recharge in the netherworld.
TALES SET IN PARTICULAR TIME PERIODS
These books are tales that are connected to particular eras.
CURIOUS MYTHS OF THE MIDDLE AGES - Sabine Baring-Gould (edited by Edward Hardy)
This book was first published in 1866 and became very popular with many versions and editions being published over the next 25 years, when it was eventually eclipsed by other works. It is a very readable collection of era specific tales.
MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF THE MEDIEVAL WORLD - Paul Watts
This book provides a detailed account of medieval mythology in its original context. it offers a window into a medieval mind-set in which such things as angels, demons, visions, magic, holy relics, and other supernatural entities were an accepted reality.
UPLIFTING BOOKS FOR WOMEN IN PARTICULAR
These are collections of stories that are great for a quick pick me up or a thought provoking thought session.
FOXFIRE WOLFSKIN: and other stories of shapeshifting women - Sharon Blackie
These stories are about coming to terms with our animal natures, exploring the ways in which we might renegotiate our fractured relationship with the natural worls, and uncovering the wildness and wilderness within.
DARK FAIRY TALES OF FEARLESS WOMEN - Rosalind Kerven
This is a fairy tale collection for our times, with stories that take you through Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North and South America and the Pacific. Enter a world in which magic exists, hope triumphs and every woman's heart is alive with courage.
COLLECTIONS OF TALES
General collections of tales from everywhere that provide good background reading in general.
TREASURY OF FOLKLORE: STARS AND SKIES - Willow Winsham
This is a lovely book, I have the hardback copy with a beuatiful blue and silver cover, and as the name suggests it is a collection of stories that are based around the stars and skies. A lovely collection of myths, folktales and traditions. There are other books covering other topics as well.
LEGENDS OF THE CELTS - Frank Delaney
This book is a rich belending of myth, legend and culture. Tales of warriors, feuding families, kings and supernatural abilities from deep within the Celtic culture.
THE DARK HORSEMAN AND OTHER BRITISH AND IRISH FOLKTALES - Kevin Crossley-Holland
These stories are a good mixture of ghost stories, heroic legends, fairy tales, and magic from all over the UK. There area a number of other books by the same author which are also well worth a looking into. This is a good cross section of stories if you need a beginner introduction.
MYTHOS: THE GREEK MYTHS RETOLD - Stephen Fry
I don't think I need to say much about this book to be honest. It's peppered with Fry's tell tale humour and brings the Greek myths to life in a more accessible and at times hilarious way. Just read it if you haven't already!