From the King &amp; Tinker, named after a traditional tale in which a disguised monarch surprises a local craftsman, to the Eagle &amp; Child, commemorating "the Lathom legend," many British pub names and signs are steeped in local traditions and ancient belief. Here, one of the UK's leading folklorists explores the stories behind the names, showing where they originated and tracing how they have evolved over the years. She reveals why the Green Man is sometimes depicted as a club-wielding giant with a girdle of leaves and sometimes as a Robin Hood figure, recalls the dramatic tale of local Wiltshire hero Rattlebone, and describes the centuries-old custom that gives its name to the Silver Ball in Columb. She also explains why you seem to be able to find a Red Lion, a Queen's Head, or a White Horse in every part of the country. Enlightening, revealing, and entertaining, Green Men &amp; White Swans is both an intriguing insight into the history of the British pub and a captivating journey through the country's legendary past.

Green Men & White Swans: The Folklore of British Pub Names

SIMPSON, Jacqueline

Reference

Arrow

Where can you find the 'Devil's footprints'? What happened at the 'hangman's stone'? Did Sweeney Todd, the demon barber of Fleet Street, ever really exist? Where was King Arthur laid to rest? Bringing together tales of hauntings, highwaymen, family curses and lovers' leaps, this magnificent guide will take you on a magical journey through England's legendary past. 
'A fascinating county-by county guidebook to the headless horsemen, bottomless pools, immured adulteresses and talking animals that make up the hidden landscape of the country.' London Review of Books 
'Evokes an England terrified by screaming skulls, tantalized by hidden treasure, spooked by the unearthly clanging of bells, bewitched by fairies and hobgoblins' Country Life 
'Wonderful Contains almost every myth, legend and ghost story ever told in England' Simon Hoggart, Guardian

Lore Of The Land: A Guide To Englands Myths And Legends

History

Penguin Books, Ltd.

Where can you find the 'Devil's footprints'? What happened at the 'hangman's stone'? Did Sweeney Todd, the demon barber of Fleet Street, ever really exist? Where was King Arthur laid to rest? Bringing together tales of hauntings, highwaymen, family curses and lovers' leaps, this magnificent guide will take you on a magical journey through England's legendary past. 'A fascinating county-by county guidebook to the headless horsemen, bottomless pools, immured adulteresses and talking animals that make up the hidden landscape of the country.' - "London Review of Books". 'Evokes an England terrified by screaming skulls, tantalized by hidden treasure, spooked by the unearthly clanging of bells, bewitched by fairies and hobgoblins' - "Country Life". 'Wonderful...Contains almost every myth, legend and ghost story ever told in England' - Simon Hoggart, "Guardian".

Lore Of The Land: A Guide To Englands Legends From Spring Heeled Jack To The Witche

Westwood, Jennifer

Penguin Uk

Watch out for a ghostly ship and its spectral crew off the coast of Cornwall. Listen for the unearthly tread and rustling silk dress of Darlington's Lady Jarratt. Shiver at the malevolent apparition of 50 Berkeley Square that no one survives seeing. England's past echoes with stories of unquiet spirits and hauntings, of headless highwaymen and grey ladies, indelible bloodstains, and ghastly premonitions. Here, county by county, are the nation's most fascinating supernatural tales and bone-chilling legends: from a ghostly army marching across Cumbria to the vanishing hitchhiker of Bluebell Hill, from the gruesome Man-Monkey of Shropshire to the phantom congregation who gather for a Sermon of the Dead. . .

Haunted England: The Penguin Book of Ghosts

Penguin

With 1250 entries ranging from dragons to Mother Goose, May Day to Michaelmas, this enchanting dictionary unfurls the colorful history behind the holidays, customs, legends, and superstitious beliefs of England. Ever wonder why we kiss under the mistletoe at Christmas or think a rabbit's foot brings good luck? Two folklore authorities provide reliable and often surprising answers to these and other curiosities that have shaped daily life in England for centuries. They explore the festivals and past celebrations of the English calendar, from St. Andrews Day and its tradition of drunkenness and cross-dressing to Twelfth Night and its king and queen cake. They also provide concise portraits of real and legendary characters that populate the public memory, including Robin Hood, The Brothers Grimm, Lady Godiva, Puck, and The Sandman. Fairies, mermaids, hobgoblins, and changelings are but a few of the supernatural forces surveyed here. However, as folklore encompasses the mundane as well as the fantastic, numerous other entries illuminate the significance of colors, numbers, flowers, animals, and household objects. Learn the curious history behind our distrust of the "black sheep," popular credence in "wishbone" wishes, folk cures for nosebleeds and warts, and persistent old wives' tales. In addition to ancient and medieval folklore, you will find many contemporary urban legends, e.g., the vanishing hitchhiker--a spooky figure seen ominously by travelers in Britain and the United States--and the Tooth Fairy. An entertaining resource, The Dictionary of English Folklore will be a fascinating companion for readers of English literature, history, cultural studies, and fantasy.

A Dictionary of English Folklore

Roud, Steve

Europe

Oxford University Press

Ever wonder why we kiss under the mistletoe at Christmas or think a rabbit's foot brings good luck? In this informative volume, two folklore authorities provide reliable and often surprising answers to these and other curiosities that have shaped daily life in England for centuries. Comprising 1,250 entries, this dictionary explores the festivals and past celebrations of the English calendar, from St. Andrews Day and its tradition of drunkenness and cross-dressing to Twelfth Night and its king and queen cake. It also provides concise portraits of real and legendary characters that populate the public memory, including Robin Hood, The Brothers Grimm, Lady Godiva, Puck, and The Sandman. And just as folklore encompasses the mundane as well as the fantastic, numerous other entries illuminate the significance of colors, numbers, flowers, animals, and household objects. In addition to ancient and medieval folklore, readers will find many contemporary urban legends, such as the vanishing hitchhiker--an ominous figure seen by travelers in Britain and the United States--and the Tooth Fairy.

A Dictionary of English Folklore (Oxford Quick Reference)

Politics & Social Sciences

Social Sciences

Containing 1,250 entries, from dragons to Mother Goose, May Day to Michaelmas, this reference work is an absorbing and entertaining guide to English folklore. Aimed at a broad general readership, the dictionary provides an authoritative reference source on such legendary characters as The Sandman, Jack the Giant Killer, and Robin Hood, and gives entertaining and informative explanations of a wide range of subjects in folklore, from nosebleeds and wishbones to cats and hot cross buns.

This dictionary is part of the Oxford Reference Collection: using sustainable print-on-demand technology to make the acclaimed backlist of the Oxford Reference programme perennially available in hardback format. An engrossing guide to English folklore and traditions, with over 1,250 entries. Folklore is connected to virtually every aspect of life, part of the country, age group, and occupation. From the bizarre to the seemingly mundane, it is as much a feature of the modern technological age as of the ancient world. BL Oral and Performance genres-Cheese rolling, Morris dancing, Well-dressingEL BL Superstitions-Charms, Rainbows, WishbonesEL BL Characters-Cinderella, Father Christmas, Robin Hood, Dick WhittingtonEL BL Supernatural Beliefs-Devil's hoofprints, Fairy rings, Frog showersEL BL Calendar Customs-April Fool's Day, Helston Furry Day, Valentine's DayEL

A Dictionary of English Folklore (The Oxford Reference Collection)

Literature & Fiction

History & Criticism

Relating archaeological discoveries to early Scandinavian and Icelandic literature, Simpson explores Norse culture in detail, placing emphasis on Viking art, literature, and daily life

The Viking World

World

St Martins Pr

The Folklore of Discworld

Terry Pratchett joins up with a leading folklorist to reveal the legends, myths and customs of Discworld, together with helpful hints from Planet Earth. Most of us grew up having always known when to touch wood or cross our fingers, and what happens when a princess kisses a frog or a boy pulls a sword from a stone, yet sadly some of these things are beginning to be forgotten. Legends, myths, and fairy tales: our world is made up of the stories we told ourselves about where we came from and how we got here. It is the same on Discworld, except that beings, which on Earth are creatures of the imagination — like vampires, trolls, witches and, possibly, gods — are real, alive and, in some cases kicking, on the Disc. In The Folklore of Discworld, Terry Pratchett teams up with leading British folklorist Jacqueline Simpson to take an irreverent yet illuminating look at the living myths and folklore that are reflected, celebrated and affectionately libelled in the uniquely imaginative universe of Discworld.

PRATCHETT,TERRY

Mythology & Folk Tales

Doubleday, UK

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by SIMPSON, Jacqueline. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by SIMPSON, Jacqueline

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by SIMPSON, Jacqueline. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Green Men & White Swans: The Folklore of British Pub Names

Lore Of The Land: A Guide To Englands Myths And Legends

Lore Of The Land: A Guide To Englands Legends From Spring Heeled Jack To The Witche

Haunted England: The Penguin Book of Ghosts

A Dictionary of English Folklore

A Dictionary of English Folklore (Oxford Quick Reference)

A Dictionary of English Folklore (Oxford Quick Reference)

A Dictionary of English Folklore (The Oxford Reference Collection)

The Viking World

The Folklore of Discworld