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‘Tom’s new anthology contains a “wide pantheon of supernatural beings, from the dangerous Blue Men of the Minth and the jealous mermaid of Caithness to the gentle selkie folk who live between two worlds” in stories harvested from the coastlines, lochs and islands of his native lead.’ - Coast magazine Book of the Month
Scotland has over 11,600 miles of coastline, so it’s no surprise that the sea and shore have been inspiring folk tales for millennia.
In Scottish Folk Tales of Coast and Sea, Orkney storyteller Tom Muir weaves tales from this lore-steeped shoreline, finding selkie folk, pirates and even the devil in the liminal space between land and sea. Learn how death was captured in a nut, how a mermaid wreaked her revenge and how whirlpools were created. Discover a land beneath the waves, the mysterious island of Tir-nan-Og and a chorus of demon cats – but beware the most grotesque monster of them all, the hideous Nuckelavee.
‘Tom’s new anthology contains a “wide pantheon of supernatural beings, from the dangerous Blue Men of the Minth and the jealous mermaid of Caithness to the gentle selkie folk who live between two worlds” in stories harvested from the coastlines, lochs and islands of his native lead.’
Book of the Month, Coast magazine,
'Painstakingly researched and beautifully re-told in Tom’s spare and witty prose, this collection roots out some lesser-known tales, along with fresh tellings of familiar stories such as Assipattle and the Mester Stoorworm'
The Orcadian,
'Drawing on previously published tales, Muir ranges around the coast with tales of Selkie folk, the mysterious island of Tir-nan-Og and the hideous Nuckelavee monster.'
Scottish Field,
'In this salty collection, Tom Nuir nets a choice harvest of tales that can only delight storytellers, sailors, and coastal explorers alike.'
@graeme_c on Instagram,
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When it comes to folk tales in Scotland we find that the sea plays a very important role, and it’s hardly surprising. The coastline is over 11,600 miles long, taking in all the islands, both large and small. The sea dominated the lives of so many, and the old tales reflected the…
24th April, 2018 in Folklore, Local & Family History
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