West Yorkshire Folk Tales

by John Billingsley

Whether hailing from the open Pennine hills or the close-knit neighbourhoods of industrial towns, West Yorkshire folk have always been fond of a good tale. This collection of stories from around the county is a tribute to their narrative vitality, and commemorates places and people who have left their mark on their communities. Here you will find legendary rocks, Robin Hood, tragic love affairs, thwarted villainy, witches, fairies, hidden treasure and much more. The intriguing stories, brought to life with illustrations from a local artist, will be enjoyed by readers time and again.

194 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2010

Reviews

[Gavin Whyte]

I devoured this like a tasty dessert. I must’ve read it just at the right time. I’m from West Yorkshire so I’m rather biased of the stories contained in this wee book, but they’re all very entertaining and told in a way as if you’re at the pub with the author. Also, I’ve been in Taiwan for the past six years, and so it was great (really great) to see familiar names of the places I’d grown up with, in print.

(I’ll be returning to Blighty in a matter of weeks, and because of this book I’m more aware than ever that I’m returning to a place with a rich and colourful history.)

[Eloise]

Rounded up from 3.5

This volume in the series seemed a little folksier than others I've read, a lot more like sitting down for a chat and a cuppa than picking up and anthology. That's a little deceptive though, as the author's legwork and authority were clear in the musings on the development of folklore casually dropped through the anecdotes and the detailed endnotes.