Stephen Roud

Richly illustrated, this is a magnificent guide to London’s folklore and legends, from the “Man in Grey” who haunts Drury Lane’s Theatre Royal to the Blind Beggar of Bethnal Green via the true stories behind Sweeney Todd and Spring-Heeled Jack.

The Legends and Traditions of the World's Most Vibrant City

London Lore

The first major new book on British superstitions and their history in over a generation, this survey not only explains what people have believed and why, but when superstitions arose, which parts of the country adopted them, how they evolved and what people believe today. Drawing extensively on literary sources from medieval times to the present, the book settles many arguments, debunks many myths and provides in the process a fascinating sideways view of social customs and beliefs over the centuries.

A Pocket Guide to Superstitions of the British Isles

Jacqueline Simpson

An entertaining reference on English folklore features 1250 entries that shed new light on the colorful history behind the holidays, legends, superstitions, traditions, contemporary urban legends, and customs of England, discussing such topics as Mother Goose, Robin Hood, folk cures, wishbone wishes, festivals, and more.

A Dictionary of English Folklore

The English Year is a lavishly illustrated day-by-day guide to all the customs and festivals of England, from the national celebrations to herald the New Year down to small local traditions such as the Minehead Hobby Horse or Duck Racing in Oxfordshire. As he explores the history and development of these fascinating traditions, eminent folklorist Steve Roud paints vivid pictures of ancient local customs such as cheese-rolling in Randwick and Punkie Night in Somerset, and contemplates why some festivals such as Guy Fawkes' Night and Whitsun have lost much of their previous importance while others, such as Valentine's Day and Hallowe'en, have blossomed astonishingly in recent years.

A Month-by-month Guide to the Nation's Customs and Festivals, from May Day to Mischief Night

The English Year

Julia Bishop

One of the Spectator's Books of the Year 2012 'Farewell and adieu to you fair Spanish ladiesFarewell and adieu to you ladies of SpainFor we've received orders for to sail for old EnglandBut we hope in a short while to see you again'One of the great English popular art forms, the folk song can be painful, satirical, erotic, dramatic, rueful or funny. They have thrived when sung on a whim to a handful of friends in a pub; they have bewitched generations of English composers who have set them for everything from solo violin to full orchestra; they are sung in concerts, festivals, weddings, funerals and with nobody to hear but the singer.This magical new collection brings together all the classic folk songs as well as many lesser-known discoveries, complete with music and annotations on their original sources and meaning. Published in cooperation with the English Folk Dance and Song Society, it is a worthy successor to Ralph Vaughan Williams and A.L.Lloyd's original Penguin Book of English Folk Songs.'Her keen eye did glitter like the bright stars by nightThe robe she was wearing was costly and whiteHer bare neck was shaded with her long raven hairAnd they called her pretty Susan, the pride of Kildare'In association with EFDSS, the English Folk Dance and Song Society

Stephen Roud

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