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Between Worlds: Folktales of Britain & Ireland
The definitive collection of British and Irish folktales from master storyteller and poet Kevin Crossley-Holland. Rich and strange, these eerie and magical folktales from across Britain and Ireland have been passed down from generation to generation, and are gathered together in a definitive new collection from the master storyteller and winner of the Carnegie Medal, Kevin Crossley-Holland. Dark and funny, lyrical and earthy, these fifty stories are part of an important and enduring historical tradition that dates back hundreds of years. Described by Neil Gaiman as the "master", Crossley-Holland's unforgettable retellings will capture the imagination of readers young and old alike.
352 pages, Paperback
First published October 4, 2018
47 people are currently reading
1561 people want to read
About the author
Kevin Crossley-Holland
207 books244 followersKevin Crossley-Holland is an English poet and prize-winning author for children. His books include Waterslain Angels, a detective story set in north Norfolk in 1955, and Moored Man: A Cycle of North Norfolk Poems; Gatty's Tale, a medieval pilgrimage novel; and the Arthur trilogy (The Seeing Stone, At the Crossing-Places and King of the Middle March), which combines historical fiction with the retelling of Arthurian legend.
The Seeing Stone won the Guardian Children’s Fiction Award and the Smarties Prize Bronze Medal. The Arthur trilogy has won worldwide critical acclaim and has been translated into 21 languages.
Crossley-Holland has translated Beowulf from the Anglo-Saxon, and his retellings of traditional tales include The Penguin Book of Norse Myths and British Folk Tales (reissued as The Magic Lands). His collaborations with composers include two operas with Nicola Lefanu ("The Green Children" and "The Wildman") and one with Rupert Bawden, "The Sailor’s Tale"; song cycles with Sir Arthur Bliss and William Mathias; and a carol with Stephen Paulus for King’s College, Cambridge. His play, The Wuffings, (co-authored with Ivan Cutting) was produced by Eastern Angles in 1997.
He often lectures abroad on behalf of the British Council, regularly leads sessions for teachers and librarians, and visits primary and secondary schools. He offers poetry and prose workshops and talks on the Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, King Arthur, heroines and heroes, and myth, legend and folk-tale.
After seven years teaching in Minnesota, where he held an Endowed Chair in the Humanities, Kevin Crossley-Holland returned to the north Norfolk coast in East Anglia, where he now lives.
He has a Minnesotan wife, Linda, two sons (Kieran and Dominic) and two daughters (Oenone and Eleanor). He is an Honorary Fellow of St. Edmund Hall, Oxford, a patron of the Society of Storytelling and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.
The Seeing Stone won the Guardian Children’s Fiction Award and the Smarties Prize Bronze Medal. The Arthur trilogy has won worldwide critical acclaim and has been translated into 21 languages.
Crossley-Holland has translated Beowulf from the Anglo-Saxon, and his retellings of traditional tales include The Penguin Book of Norse Myths and British Folk Tales (reissued as The Magic Lands). His collaborations with composers include two operas with Nicola Lefanu ("The Green Children" and "The Wildman") and one with Rupert Bawden, "The Sailor’s Tale"; song cycles with Sir Arthur Bliss and William Mathias; and a carol with Stephen Paulus for King’s College, Cambridge. His play, The Wuffings, (co-authored with Ivan Cutting) was produced by Eastern Angles in 1997.
He often lectures abroad on behalf of the British Council, regularly leads sessions for teachers and librarians, and visits primary and secondary schools. He offers poetry and prose workshops and talks on the Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, King Arthur, heroines and heroes, and myth, legend and folk-tale.
After seven years teaching in Minnesota, where he held an Endowed Chair in the Humanities, Kevin Crossley-Holland returned to the north Norfolk coast in East Anglia, where he now lives.
He has a Minnesotan wife, Linda, two sons (Kieran and Dominic) and two daughters (Oenone and Eleanor). He is an Honorary Fellow of St. Edmund Hall, Oxford, a patron of the Society of Storytelling and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.
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January 24, 2026
The Dark Horseman
Poor Jemmy Nowlan is whisked away on an unbelievable adventure...one that take his life at any moment. This one was interesting but a bit abrupt with the plot - things shifted...really quickly.
"And who shall we put in the coffin?"
"No need to draw lots" said the leader. "Lay Jemmy Nowlan in the coffin."
Three heads of the Wall
Eleanor is slowly being edged out of her own family by her stepmother. She decides to journey and (like the title) finds three heads on the wall. Her sister decides to go on a similar journey...only to have far different results.
"And the princess felt quite powerless to overcome the growing distance between them. There was no place for Eleanor in her own home."
The Small-Tooth Dog
Very reminiscent of beauty and the beast only with an interesting twist.
"Here we are!" said the big brown dog. "You'll like it here."
Corinna didn't like it at all.
Butterfly Soul
About as wild as as the quote above. People were certainly creative when they didn't have internet.
"No need to count the missing sheep: I would have fallen asleep too - but then I saw your mouth open, and out flew a butterfly as white as first-day snow."
King of the Cats
Our narrator, Harry, stumbles upon something quite extraordinary and unforgettable. But when he tells anyone they (unsurprisingly) don't believe him.
"Nine black cats! They all had white chests, and they were coming down the path carrying a coffin covered with black velvet."
The Baker's Daughter
Someone is going to get an unforgettable lesson...a necessary one but an unforgettable one.
"The baker was thin-lipped; he never game so much as a crumb away. But his daughter was worse."
The Dead Moon
The Moon comes to earth as a beautiful woman and notices a man trying to cross a marsh. The Things are after him and she must decide - save him, or save herself.
"But when the Moon did not shine, out came the Things that live in the darkness. They wormed around, waiting for a chance to harm..."
The Slumber King
Our narrator needs money. The money is guarded by thousands of sleeping warriors who can wake at a moment's notice...I wonder what could possibly happen...
"Thousands of warriors lay there, sleeping."
The Green Children
A group of hot, tired and hungry farmers stumble upon something quite extraordinary...but discovering that something and keeping it alive are two totally different things.
"Their skin was green, their hair was green; they wore green clothes."
The Last of the Picts
The Picts are long since gone, but stories of them will remain.
"They were very short, with red hair and long arms and feet so broad that when it rained they could put them up over their heads and use them as umbrellas."
The Oldest of Them All
An eagle is looking for a new partner and becomes obsessed with finding out how old she is. Unsurprisingly, the eagle receives some unexpected (but not unwelcome) news.
"The eagle soared over the hill and the valley and found the blackbird sitting on a stone."
Fair Gruagach
What a wild ride!
"Then the Lady of the Green Gown took a handkerchief from her pocket. She shook it and disappeared..."
The Peddler of Swaffham
Someone keeps telling the narrator to go somewhere in a dream...should he listen? Or give it all up>
"But the man in scarlet came a second time..."
The Wildman
Somethings creep in the dark and should remain there...
"Don't ask me my name. I've heard you have names. I have no name."
The Lambton Worm
The Worm is wreaking devastation across the land - only one man can stop it.
"Childe Lambton never went to mass on Sunday mornings."
Shonks and the Dragon
Oh no. A dragon? Time to get the pitchforks.
"In the name of every man, woman and child living in Brent Pelham - why, in his own name, modest as it was - he had to fight the dragon."
Sea Tongue
The bellwoman has a story to tell - it is up to you to listen.
"I am the bell. I'm the tongue of the bell. I was cast before your grandmother was a girl. Before you grandmother's grandmother."
The Piper and the Pooka
A piper who only knows one song and a Pooka who only knows how to do one thing - what will happen when they connect??
"Up behind the piper crept a shape."
Tom Tit Tot
Tim Tit Tot - a man as crazy as his name -
"There was once a little old village where a woman lived with her giddy daughter."
helps out a lady engaged to the king with a spinning problem.
Monday, Tuesday
Lusmore is going to learn the hard way NOT to interrupt the fair folk...
"Then the music faltered and stopped; the dancers stood still...Lusmore watched as the little people crowded together...and began to whisper."
The Changeling
An unbaptized baby was a serious worry back in the day...
"...there was a horrible yelling coming out of the cradle."
The Farmer and the Boggart
A clever farmer, a not-so-clever Boggart...I wonder what will happen...?
"...his visitor was a squat boggart; his whole face was covered in hair and his arms were almost as long as fishing poles."
The Shepherd's Tale
A shepherd has a wild tale - almost unbelievable, no?
"Then I saw them quite clearly - little men and women dancing in a ring."
Fairy Ointment
Whenever a fairy asks if you can see them...just SAY NO!
"You can see me, then," said the little man.
Joan nodded.
Charger
A man tries to sell his charger and something quite...unusual...happens.
"And there and then, right in front of the round-eyed farmer, the little man and Charger sank into the ground."
Dathera Dad
The farmer's wife bakes a special treat with disastrous results!
"The kitchen was a magic box, full of light and dancing shadows."
Yallery Brown
Tom is about to go on a wild journey thanks to a certain mysterious Yallery Brown.
"It was a Sunday night in July, and Tom was in no hurry to get back to High Farm."
The Three Blows
Widowed Megan and her baby, Gwyn, must survive against all odds. A sprinkling of fair folk certainly makes their lives more interesting...
"But when the wind opened its throat and rain swept across the slopes...the farm seemed alone then, alone in the world."
The Fine Field of Flax
We listen to an incredibly interesting life story.
"I am part of this, no less than the green curve of the hill, the twisted tree, the ring of dawn water."
Sea Woman
One should never trust the sea.
"The girl jumped off the rock. Her eyes were sea eyes, wide and flint-gray."
The Black Bull of Norway
A wise woman and Bracken have a rather interesting conversation.
"Whom knows whom I'll meet? Who knows where I'll go?"
Mossycoat
A poor widow and her clever daughter find a way to obtain the prince's hand. Reminiscent of Cinderella but without the child-like wonder.
Tam Lin
Just goes to show...always use protection. Otherwise you may get embroiled in a fairy scandal.
"Oh! I forbid you, maidens all,
Who wear gold in your hair
To cross the plain of Carterhaugh,
For young Tam Lin lives here."
Yellow Lily
A greedy prince and his love for card games soon puts everyone in the kingdom at risk.
"The son of the king of Ireland relished tests of strength and trials of wit. A love of chance..."
The Green Mist
The bogles are not to be messed with as our narrator soon finds out.
\"Have you no sense? They're all around. You know they can hear you, the bogles."
A Village of Fools
The quote says it all!
"Trying to drown this eel," said one old man.
Mare's Eggs
Oh the wild lies that were told pre-internet!
"It's like a cannonball," he said. "Or a green-and-white football. And it's like a huge egg. So what is it?"
"Sure!" said the greengrocer. "That's exactly what it is. It's a mare's egg."
The Cow That Ate the Piper
A deadly cold and many questionable decisions.
The frost tightened his white fist. Bushes by the roadside hunched their shoulders; the road began to glitter.
"We're all dead men," said the piper, "if we don't keep moving."
Poll
The miner listens to a voice...that isn't there.
"...a Welsh miner was walking slowly along the shady lane..."
The Wise Men of Gotham
Unfortunately, this has nothing to do with Batman.
"Two men from Gotham net on Nottingham Bridge."
Magpies in the Crabtree
Never trust magpies - very quarrelsome birds!
"Magpies in the crabtree."
The Riddler
A complicated riddle...I will have to think on this.
"A knight came riding in from the east..."
Samuel's Ghost
Never go to a graveyard - especially at night.
"So Samuel set off for the graveyard, asking the way, and rubbing shoulders with all the horrid things that glowered around him."
Slam and the Ghosts
AGAIN - do NOT visit graveyards at night!
"He let himself quietely out of the cottage and, under stars sharp as thorns, walked up to the graveyard."
The Dauntless Girl
Sometimes the bravest is not necessarily the strongest!
"She pushed open its creaking door and saw skulls and thigh bones and bones of every kind gleaming in front of her."
Billy
Short, violent and to the point.
"He fell out of the apple tree and broke both his legs."
Fear and Fly
People should really just avoid everything haunted, right?
"I cant promise you a quiet night, though," the old woman said. "This cottage is haunted."
Overall, this was an enjoyable read. I really liked the summary at the end, where the authors talked about how these stories grew and developed over the years. Wish that would've happened after every chapter rather than at the end!
I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
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January 27, 2020
Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
Author Kevin Crossley-Holland has done his research into folktales from Britain and Ireland and compiled them into one book featuring forty-eight different short stories split into six different themes, including Magic and Wonder, Adventures and Legends, Fairies and Little Peoples, Love, Wits, Tricks and Laughter and Ghosts.
It took a while to go through each of the stories and I was hoping that at some point in the book I would have that moment when one of the stories would resonate with me and I would remember being told the tale as a child, but alas that moment never came. At forty-two I can quite confidently say I have never heard of any of these stories before, so I don’t know whether that makes me ill-educated or these folktales are tales that are not that well known, or only know in certain parts of the country?
Some of the stories were interesting and are stories I will remember for a long time to come, others were boring and I wanted to give on on them. There were also a few where I struggled to understand the meaning behind them such as the first story in the book ‘The Dark Horseman’. My favourite came right near the beginning, in fact, it was the second story called ‘Three Heads of the Well’ and was about two princesses and teaches us about being kind to others less fortunate than ourselves as you never know what is around the corner.
The book is also filled with fabulous black illustrations by Frances Castle which look remarkable mixed in with Kevin Crossley-Holland’s words and give the book plenty of charm.
If you love folktales or stories that speak to you then Between Worlds is the book to pick up. It is not one I would advise sitting and reading in one go, nor is it a book you have to read in order, just pick and choose your tales whenever you feel in the mood.
Author Kevin Crossley-Holland has done his research into folktales from Britain and Ireland and compiled them into one book featuring forty-eight different short stories split into six different themes, including Magic and Wonder, Adventures and Legends, Fairies and Little Peoples, Love, Wits, Tricks and Laughter and Ghosts.
It took a while to go through each of the stories and I was hoping that at some point in the book I would have that moment when one of the stories would resonate with me and I would remember being told the tale as a child, but alas that moment never came. At forty-two I can quite confidently say I have never heard of any of these stories before, so I don’t know whether that makes me ill-educated or these folktales are tales that are not that well known, or only know in certain parts of the country?
Some of the stories were interesting and are stories I will remember for a long time to come, others were boring and I wanted to give on on them. There were also a few where I struggled to understand the meaning behind them such as the first story in the book ‘The Dark Horseman’. My favourite came right near the beginning, in fact, it was the second story called ‘Three Heads of the Well’ and was about two princesses and teaches us about being kind to others less fortunate than ourselves as you never know what is around the corner.
The book is also filled with fabulous black illustrations by Frances Castle which look remarkable mixed in with Kevin Crossley-Holland’s words and give the book plenty of charm.
If you love folktales or stories that speak to you then Between Worlds is the book to pick up. It is not one I would advise sitting and reading in one go, nor is it a book you have to read in order, just pick and choose your tales whenever you feel in the mood.
October 13, 2019
Folktales are magical portals to the past, passed down from generation to generation. Magical beings, morality lessons, social commentary, legends, tales of heroes, revenge, evil....there's a little bit of everything in folktales. I'm especially fond of tales from Ireland and Britain.....it's in my DNA. Plus it's the perfect time of year to enjoy some old tales of strange, eerie and legendary happenings. And, this book delivers! Great stories! Awesome illustrations!
I read this book slowly, savoring each of the 50 stories. I like to take my time with story collections, even when they are short. I read the stories one at a time and let them soak in....making the book last. I thoroughly enjoyed each story. And I've ordered a physical copy of this book for my keeper shelf. I will be re-reading this one!
The stories are separated by theme -- magic, legends, faeries/little people, passion & love, tricks and ghosts. My favorite tale in the book is King of the Cats. That's been a favorite story of mine for a very long time, and the author did a great job with his version. My favorite section is of course the ghost story portion. I love ghostly stories, and Kevin Crossley-Holland picked some good ones to include!
A very enjoyable reading experience! This is the first book by Kevin Crossley-Holland that I've read. He's written many books including one about Norse Myths. I'm definitely going to be reading more of his work! The illustrations by Frances Castle in this book are awesome and showcase the folktales perfectly! The book's front cover is perfect as well.
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this story collection from Candlewick Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
I read this book slowly, savoring each of the 50 stories. I like to take my time with story collections, even when they are short. I read the stories one at a time and let them soak in....making the book last. I thoroughly enjoyed each story. And I've ordered a physical copy of this book for my keeper shelf. I will be re-reading this one!
The stories are separated by theme -- magic, legends, faeries/little people, passion & love, tricks and ghosts. My favorite tale in the book is King of the Cats. That's been a favorite story of mine for a very long time, and the author did a great job with his version. My favorite section is of course the ghost story portion. I love ghostly stories, and Kevin Crossley-Holland picked some good ones to include!
A very enjoyable reading experience! This is the first book by Kevin Crossley-Holland that I've read. He's written many books including one about Norse Myths. I'm definitely going to be reading more of his work! The illustrations by Frances Castle in this book are awesome and showcase the folktales perfectly! The book's front cover is perfect as well.
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this story collection from Candlewick Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
November 29, 2018
Originally posted on A Frolic Through Fiction
*Rated 3.5/5 stars
Does Britain have its own set of folk and fairy tales? We hear so much more about the German classics, made famous by the Brothers Grimm. But believe it or not, they do exist, and Kevin Crossley-Holland has brought them into our modern day.
Covering many different stories split into sections such as love, little people and ghosts, Kevin Crossley-Holland retells the folktales in a simplistic but lowkey whimsical way. While the simple style doesn’t distract away from the story, it doesn’t do much to enhance it either – though the simplistic style usually stems from the time when folktales were told orally, and I’m glad to see Crossley-Holland didn’t try to change the stories and claim them as his own. In fact, one of the parts I found most interesting about the book was the list of sources for each story in the back. Something about knowing where the stories came from added an air of magic to them – though that’s probably just my love of history coming through.
Speaking of where the stories came from though, I loved loved loved recognising some of the cities and towns mentioned in the stories. I’d read a folktale set on a bridge in Nottingham and think “I’ve been on that bridge!” and get excited over my next visit, knowing the story will spring to mind. Folktales generally hold a nostalgic feel to me anyway, but bringing them closer to home in a collection like this really added to the reading experience.
It was strange though, how many of the tales were recognisable. Not because I’d heard them before – in fact, there were only a couple I had heard of before this collection, hence my excitement towards reading it and discovering new folktales. No, it felt strange because Britain – or rather, England – basically stole some of the well known stories. The most obvious of the lot was the clear anglicised versions of Cinderella and Rumplestiltskin. Now I’m not really presenting this as an outright criticism of the book, as Kevin Crossley-Holland just retold the folktales as they came. And he does acknowledge the original fairy tale in the obviously copied stories. But it did thrown me off slightly, reading these stories under the name of a British or Irish folktale knowing full well it’s been taken from another culture. Of course, every story is inspired by something, so similarities won’t be hard to come by. But these were straight up replicas, just with a few name changes. It felt odd.
Of course, as with any collection of short stories, my interest dipped and peaked at random depending on the story I was currently reading. I’d have been amazed if my interest remained high throughout, really. But as always, the length of the stories meant I could flip through them in rapid succession, keeping me motivated to continue even when the current story was just not to my taste.
That being said, I did still really enjoy reading them. My favourite sections without a doubt were the sections on love and ghosts. Those two genres of storytelling just feel so traditionally whimsical to me, and so discovering old stories of the sort fascinated me to no end. Accompanied by silhouette style illustrations too, it really was a lovely experience flipping through the pages. I can imagine this being a sweet gift for those with a fanciful mind, an easy but fascinating read to curl up with in these winter months.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy of this book. This in no way affects my opinion.
January 15, 2020
I'd say 4.5 stars. Great stories about things that go bump in the night or that are on the roads you travel. Some designed to scare, some to instill morals but all pretty interesting. Listened to some of them while stuck in traffic which was made bearable by these interesting tales.
Purchased the audio book on Chirp for cheap.
Good narrator.
Purchased the audio book on Chirp for cheap.
Good narrator.
August 13, 2019
There's a reason the Brothers Grimm fairy tales are widely spread and these ones aren't, and it's not just better marketing. Kevin Crossley-Holland has done a remarkably good job of bringing all of these 50+ tales together with incredible illustrations and a unique spin, but despite claims that these are timeless tales I'm not sure they really are.
Most of the stories contained within this anthology are very short, often with a key message or motto as per folklore tradition and some are perhaps not strictly British or Irish in origin but the new take on them makes them so. The whimsical and often dark retelling of each tale makes them more compelling and easier to consume in bite-size chunks which is perfect for a collection of this nature. Something is definitely lacking from many of them though: charm.
The thing about fairytales is that you really need to live in them for a long enough time that you become invested in what happens and to really care about the message being spread. This isn't to say short fairytales can't work, of course they can, but they need a certain degree of charm to make them likeable, memorable and to maintain that eerie or whimsical feel intended by them. Very few of these had that feel to them, few left a lasting impression and most ended on a bizarre note.
I do really like the simple nature of the stories. They are low-key, whimsical and have straight forward plots to follow which prevents the message from being lost for the most part. With that said, the simplicity of the stories does again prevent a connection forming between the reader and the world or characters, but I liked that it allowed for a lot of different stories to be told in a way that would be accessible for most readers across varying degrees of education or reading ability.
For English readers these stories will have a little more nostalgia or appeal because many of them feature recognisable places from even some of our smaller towns and cities; this added real heart to some of the tales and I love that this will be unique to whoever you are and wherever you've been; it's a unique reading experience personalised to everyone.
The latter portion of the book details how some of these stories were sourced which was a great component to include alongside a glossary of terms and how to pronounce them. Unfortunately this was probably more enjoyable than the stories themselves and despite a few moments of resonance this missed the mark too often for me to consider it enjoyable.
ARC provided free from Walker Books in exchange for an honest review.
Most of the stories contained within this anthology are very short, often with a key message or motto as per folklore tradition and some are perhaps not strictly British or Irish in origin but the new take on them makes them so. The whimsical and often dark retelling of each tale makes them more compelling and easier to consume in bite-size chunks which is perfect for a collection of this nature. Something is definitely lacking from many of them though: charm.
The thing about fairytales is that you really need to live in them for a long enough time that you become invested in what happens and to really care about the message being spread. This isn't to say short fairytales can't work, of course they can, but they need a certain degree of charm to make them likeable, memorable and to maintain that eerie or whimsical feel intended by them. Very few of these had that feel to them, few left a lasting impression and most ended on a bizarre note.
I do really like the simple nature of the stories. They are low-key, whimsical and have straight forward plots to follow which prevents the message from being lost for the most part. With that said, the simplicity of the stories does again prevent a connection forming between the reader and the world or characters, but I liked that it allowed for a lot of different stories to be told in a way that would be accessible for most readers across varying degrees of education or reading ability.
For English readers these stories will have a little more nostalgia or appeal because many of them feature recognisable places from even some of our smaller towns and cities; this added real heart to some of the tales and I love that this will be unique to whoever you are and wherever you've been; it's a unique reading experience personalised to everyone.
The latter portion of the book details how some of these stories were sourced which was a great component to include alongside a glossary of terms and how to pronounce them. Unfortunately this was probably more enjoyable than the stories themselves and despite a few moments of resonance this missed the mark too often for me to consider it enjoyable.
ARC provided free from Walker Books in exchange for an honest review.
May 18, 2019
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read early for an honest review.
This book has a wide range of stories separated by subject (adventure, love, ghosts, fairies, etc). The stories themselves were pretty short and good for reading as bedtime stories or as a group. But there weren't any that would stay with me after I've finished.
This book has a wide range of stories separated by subject (adventure, love, ghosts, fairies, etc). The stories themselves were pretty short and good for reading as bedtime stories or as a group. But there weren't any that would stay with me after I've finished.
October 8, 2019
Kevin Crossley-Holland’s Between Worlds: Folktales of Britain and Ireland is filled with fascinating tales of magic and fantasy. I enjoyed this collection of brief and interesting short stories. But, a few tales are disjointed and meandering. I like Frances Castle’s simple art but I wish it was more interesting.
These eerie and magical folktales from Britain and Ireland are populated with kings and queens, princes and princesses, as well as crafty commonfolk, giants, ghosts, and faeries. Some particularly memorable tales include The Dauntless Girl (young Mary who fears nothing—especially not ghosts—and who is greatly rewarded in the end,) and The Green Children (which tells the story of two green children who struggle to adapt to a new world).
Most of the stories are prose but there are a few interesting lyrical verses. Some tales are grim and dark, others are funny, and some are light and uplifting. Most of these stories are memorable, well-written, and nicely concise. They also feature universally applicable situations and a healthy dose of morality.
However, a few tales are too long and disjointed. Some parts can also be a bit confusing and I wish certain things were written more clearly. Crossley-Holland also includes some super short pieces that aren’t really stories and I’m not sure about the necessity of their inclusion in the collection.
I appreciate the inclusion of a pronunciation guide because I never know how to properly say some of these names! I also love that there is a notes and sources section so I can read more about my favourite folktales.
Frances Castle’s simple but effective black and white artwork nicely complements the darkness and eeriness of these folktales. However, I do wish the art was more interesting and more specific to the stories because it can be a little generic.
Between Worlds: Folktales of Britain and Ireland is a fascinating folktale collection filled with magic and adventure. It is a great addition to any library. While many of the stories can appeal to middle-grade readers, I think this book is more suited to adults who are interested in research or literature.
Thank you to NetGalley and Candlewick Press for this book in exchange for an honest review.
🧚🧚🧚 ½ faeries out of 5!
These eerie and magical folktales from Britain and Ireland are populated with kings and queens, princes and princesses, as well as crafty commonfolk, giants, ghosts, and faeries. Some particularly memorable tales include The Dauntless Girl (young Mary who fears nothing—especially not ghosts—and who is greatly rewarded in the end,) and The Green Children (which tells the story of two green children who struggle to adapt to a new world).
Most of the stories are prose but there are a few interesting lyrical verses. Some tales are grim and dark, others are funny, and some are light and uplifting. Most of these stories are memorable, well-written, and nicely concise. They also feature universally applicable situations and a healthy dose of morality.
However, a few tales are too long and disjointed. Some parts can also be a bit confusing and I wish certain things were written more clearly. Crossley-Holland also includes some super short pieces that aren’t really stories and I’m not sure about the necessity of their inclusion in the collection.
I appreciate the inclusion of a pronunciation guide because I never know how to properly say some of these names! I also love that there is a notes and sources section so I can read more about my favourite folktales.
Frances Castle’s simple but effective black and white artwork nicely complements the darkness and eeriness of these folktales. However, I do wish the art was more interesting and more specific to the stories because it can be a little generic.
Between Worlds: Folktales of Britain and Ireland is a fascinating folktale collection filled with magic and adventure. It is a great addition to any library. While many of the stories can appeal to middle-grade readers, I think this book is more suited to adults who are interested in research or literature.
Thank you to NetGalley and Candlewick Press for this book in exchange for an honest review.
🧚🧚🧚 ½ faeries out of 5!
December 13, 2020
On the one hand, I love fairy tales and folk stories because of their magic objects, talking animals, and the call of adventure. On the other hand, I sometimes struggle reading the original stories. They were recorded at a different time, of course, and this sometimes shows in bland, simplistic, or repetitive writing. I do love a good retelling, but I’m also curious about the original stories and that’s why this collection of tales from Britain and Ireland is such a great book. Kevin Crossley-Holland took the original tales and updated them by employing modern language, shortening repetitive sections (you know how things tend to come in threes in fairy tales), and getting creative with the writing style and narrative structures. On top of that the book is separated into different sections such as “Love,” “Magic and Wonder” (my favorite), or “Ghosts” and beautifully illustrated throughout.
July 12, 2019
If you are looking for a step back in time, and a "cannot put this book down" then you need to check this one out! I LOVED it! There are some great tales and stories, and each one takes you down a different path. It was amazing.
As a history teacher, I loved reading this, as I can recommend this book to my students! I will be blasting this one on social media to as "the must-read book for Fall."
Thank you to NetGalley and Candlewick Press for an ARC copy of this book for a unbiased review. All views are strictly my own.
As a history teacher, I loved reading this, as I can recommend this book to my students! I will be blasting this one on social media to as "the must-read book for Fall."
Thank you to NetGalley and Candlewick Press for an ARC copy of this book for a unbiased review. All views are strictly my own.
September 16, 2019
Encountering Crossley-Holland's writing is always a delight. He is, without doubt, one of our most gifted wordsmiths and in this collection he uses his talents to honour and embrace the language and voice of a time lost. In this collection of British and Irish folk tales (I write this wide-eyed that other reviews don't think we have a heritage here). Between Worlds' stories span our isles, exploring six different themes: Magic, Legends, Fair Folk, Love, Wit and Ghosts. At the collection's conclusion Crossley-Holland shares where the stories' origins and why (and how) he chose to tell them the way he did. I really liked this addition.
The style and tone of the narratives change depending on where these stories or set and what kind of atmosphere he is trying to project. The stories of wit are light and short; those that are ghost stories flit between sombre and humorous. For me though, it was the stories of the Fair Folk and Magic that he wove best. These retellings and landscapes were places in which he read at his most comfortable. These are the fairies that I encountered in the work of Joseph Jacobs and the tales of Magic ones I found within the Reader's Digest book of Myths and Legends.
The collection deserves 5 stars; my only reticence comes from the fact that some of the sections are stronger than others.
The style and tone of the narratives change depending on where these stories or set and what kind of atmosphere he is trying to project. The stories of wit are light and short; those that are ghost stories flit between sombre and humorous. For me though, it was the stories of the Fair Folk and Magic that he wove best. These retellings and landscapes were places in which he read at his most comfortable. These are the fairies that I encountered in the work of Joseph Jacobs and the tales of Magic ones I found within the Reader's Digest book of Myths and Legends.
The collection deserves 5 stars; my only reticence comes from the fact that some of the sections are stronger than others.
January 6, 2020
I wanted to start the year off right and I've never ever regretted reading fairy stories and folklore, even when I didn't like them.
These ones I liked very much.
These ones I liked very much.
August 16, 2019
I received this book via LibraryThing Early Reviewers program in exchanged for an honest review.
Created to entertain one night and retold over the years then centuries, folktales came down to the early modern times in oral form before being written down before they were lost forever. Between Worlds: Folktales of Britain and Ireland by Kevin Crossley-Holland is collection of nearly 50 tales that cover a variety of fantastical territory. Amongst the titles that I personally liked “The Dead Moon”, “Fair Gruagach”, “Mossycoat”, and “The Dauntless Girl” while the entire section entitled “Wits, Tricks, and Laughter” was a waste. While the primary audience is for middle school children, as an adult I did have a nice time reading the book overall though there were some stretches where I was just making it through several stories until a decent one came up.
Created to entertain one night and retold over the years then centuries, folktales came down to the early modern times in oral form before being written down before they were lost forever. Between Worlds: Folktales of Britain and Ireland by Kevin Crossley-Holland is collection of nearly 50 tales that cover a variety of fantastical territory. Amongst the titles that I personally liked “The Dead Moon”, “Fair Gruagach”, “Mossycoat”, and “The Dauntless Girl” while the entire section entitled “Wits, Tricks, and Laughter” was a waste. While the primary audience is for middle school children, as an adult I did have a nice time reading the book overall though there were some stretches where I was just making it through several stories until a decent one came up.
January 4, 2020
Tedious. Reading a book of folktales about the UK and Ireland would be great for if you're visiting places. 'Hey, I've heard a great story from Cornwall...' etc. This tome wont help you at all. First, the sources for the stories aren't listed until the end of the book so unless you're going to go through the whole book again of no use. Second, the author massively editorialises each of the stories, adding elaborate descriptions and ornate language, making it quite difficult to retell these stories (which is the entire point of folktales). It would have been better for the writer to be less self-obsessed with putting their take on these stories and to just relate the stories the way they'd actually be told.
September 27, 2019
This is such a brilliant book for anyone interested in some strange fairy/folk tales of Britain and Ireland. The book is seperated into different sections and each contains a wealth of different folk tales, some of which you may have heard of and some of which you haven’t. There’s such a range of different stories of different lengths that there’s bound to be a favourite for everyone in here, from tales featuring fairy people and boggarts to legends of knights, silly villagers and even strange ghostly happenings!
The book begins with a list of pronounciation, which is good as I had no idea how to pronounce some of the names in the stories, followed by a contents listing every story. After that each section containing individual folktales, is based on a different area, such as magic and wonder, adventures and legends, love, ghosts, etc. Each of these sections has a double page before the tales begin with a beautifully illustrated image in black and white. After that each folk story has its own little image and a lovely folliage pattern running at the bottom of each page.
Every story in this book is interesting to read although I will say that some felt easier to read than others. The earlier stories are harder to get into, for me at least, especially as the way some of them are written are more old fashioned and felt like, in some tales, the text jumped suddenly from action to action without a proper break (in some senses similar to the way some bible stories just jup ahead in time), a couple of others which were poems, or written in a poem style were also a little harder to get into for me. The earlier stories are also longer than a lot of the later ones so if you struggle at first to enjoy this book I’d suggest diving into some other tales first. Each story is interesting though and some of them felt more powerful and fun to read than others. There’s a real mix between the very magical tales and silly stories of things that happen and I love the fact that both types of tale are included here.
Some of the stories were recognisable to me, even the very second story about three heads in a well is something I recall hearing or reading in the past. It’s amazing how many of these folktales felt familiar to me and some of them even felt like re-written versions of some well known ones, such as Mossycoat being an obvious copy of Cinderella (although we don’t know for sure where the tale originated from before it was eer written down). Some of the stories, like ‘Mossycoat’ I really enjoyed, especially as it felt like a better version of the Ceniderella story. Some stories felt like fun adventures, while others were so funny they made me laugh out loud. My favourites in this book are ‘The Pedlar of Swaffham’ which is a good adventure story with a very good ending and is a little funny, and ‘The Wise Men of Gotham’ which is the silliest collection of very short tales of some very ridiculous people!
The illustrations in this book are really beautiful and definitely add to the magic of reading this. The text is smaller than in some books (although not too small) so it can seem daunting to read so much but the illustrations for each tale really make this feel like a more fun read and I enjoyed every picture, admiring them both before and after reading the story they belonged to. I also can’t help but love the section images which feel so beautiful and also that running border along the bottom which just makes the book feel all the more special and in some ways beautiful in the way some old-fashioned books are. At the back of the book are some detailed author notes on where every single story comes from and what the author did, if anything, to add or change it. This was some very valuable information and I liked being able to understand what some of the tales are about or where the inspiration comes from – I was was especially excited to hear that the idea from ‘The Pedlar of Swaffham’ goes back to the 1400s! There is also a concluding tale which isn’t a traditional folktale but one from the author called ‘Evnoi’ which was just in the style of the other stories and made for fun reading.
I’ve always loved folktales and learning about them so this wasn’t a difficult book for me to get into, but even if you’ve not heard that many folk tales I’d still recommend this book for anyone to read, children or adults. Some of the tales are a bit weird, and may not sit well with younger kids who read them, such as in one story, in part of the tale there is the idea of killing someone and stripping the flesh from their bones (it did sound a bit ew) but most of the stories are not so bad although keep in mind that folktales can get a little weird. It’s a book I’d recommend to dip into and pick a story to read, especially as so many of them are little more than a page or two long and you might just find a tale you like or can recognise in more modern books today!
-Thanks to Walker books for a free copy for review.
The book begins with a list of pronounciation, which is good as I had no idea how to pronounce some of the names in the stories, followed by a contents listing every story. After that each section containing individual folktales, is based on a different area, such as magic and wonder, adventures and legends, love, ghosts, etc. Each of these sections has a double page before the tales begin with a beautifully illustrated image in black and white. After that each folk story has its own little image and a lovely folliage pattern running at the bottom of each page.
Every story in this book is interesting to read although I will say that some felt easier to read than others. The earlier stories are harder to get into, for me at least, especially as the way some of them are written are more old fashioned and felt like, in some tales, the text jumped suddenly from action to action without a proper break (in some senses similar to the way some bible stories just jup ahead in time), a couple of others which were poems, or written in a poem style were also a little harder to get into for me. The earlier stories are also longer than a lot of the later ones so if you struggle at first to enjoy this book I’d suggest diving into some other tales first. Each story is interesting though and some of them felt more powerful and fun to read than others. There’s a real mix between the very magical tales and silly stories of things that happen and I love the fact that both types of tale are included here.
Some of the stories were recognisable to me, even the very second story about three heads in a well is something I recall hearing or reading in the past. It’s amazing how many of these folktales felt familiar to me and some of them even felt like re-written versions of some well known ones, such as Mossycoat being an obvious copy of Cinderella (although we don’t know for sure where the tale originated from before it was eer written down). Some of the stories, like ‘Mossycoat’ I really enjoyed, especially as it felt like a better version of the Ceniderella story. Some stories felt like fun adventures, while others were so funny they made me laugh out loud. My favourites in this book are ‘The Pedlar of Swaffham’ which is a good adventure story with a very good ending and is a little funny, and ‘The Wise Men of Gotham’ which is the silliest collection of very short tales of some very ridiculous people!
The illustrations in this book are really beautiful and definitely add to the magic of reading this. The text is smaller than in some books (although not too small) so it can seem daunting to read so much but the illustrations for each tale really make this feel like a more fun read and I enjoyed every picture, admiring them both before and after reading the story they belonged to. I also can’t help but love the section images which feel so beautiful and also that running border along the bottom which just makes the book feel all the more special and in some ways beautiful in the way some old-fashioned books are. At the back of the book are some detailed author notes on where every single story comes from and what the author did, if anything, to add or change it. This was some very valuable information and I liked being able to understand what some of the tales are about or where the inspiration comes from – I was was especially excited to hear that the idea from ‘The Pedlar of Swaffham’ goes back to the 1400s! There is also a concluding tale which isn’t a traditional folktale but one from the author called ‘Evnoi’ which was just in the style of the other stories and made for fun reading.
I’ve always loved folktales and learning about them so this wasn’t a difficult book for me to get into, but even if you’ve not heard that many folk tales I’d still recommend this book for anyone to read, children or adults. Some of the tales are a bit weird, and may not sit well with younger kids who read them, such as in one story, in part of the tale there is the idea of killing someone and stripping the flesh from their bones (it did sound a bit ew) but most of the stories are not so bad although keep in mind that folktales can get a little weird. It’s a book I’d recommend to dip into and pick a story to read, especially as so many of them are little more than a page or two long and you might just find a tale you like or can recognise in more modern books today!
-Thanks to Walker books for a free copy for review.
April 2, 2020
This sort of book is about as close as we can get to traveling back in time. Thanks to Neil Gaiman for recommending this, although I have read 4 other books by Crossley-Holland before, and enjoyed them all.
I am not a folklorist, but I have always loved to read folk and fairy tales. Of course, when I was young, I loved to read them just for the stories, and often the kind of mystery of the stories. I remember finding some copy of original (not Disney-ified) folktales on a bookshelf in my house, probably mostly Grimm brothers, and being entranced and heartbroken at many of the stories, and also at finding out the truth about the original versions of many stories I thought I already knew. But I think even at that age, I was sensing something deeper, and that is really the joys, fears, sorrows, and sensibilities of our ancestors. In many ways, reading stories like these is a much truer way to understand what it would have been like to live in, say, Norfolk or Galway in the early modern period up until around 1900 or so, than reading many social history books.
What you always struggle to learn from a history book is, "what did the people at the time actually think and feel about what they were experiencing?" A lot of that will just always be hidden from us due to the subjective nature of human consciousness, but I think stories get at something much deeper than what can be described based on parish records or the like. We need both, of course, but too often these sort of folktales are neglected.
We get so much in these stories that just doesn't always make sense, and for that reason, this excellent set of linguistically modernized original folktales by the master story teller Kevin Crossley-Holland is not for everyone. But life and what happens in it doesn't always make sense.
Did people in the British Isles literally believe in the fair folk? I don't know, probably some did, but I think that is missing something more important. People's lives in those days were characterized so much by what they didn't and couldn't know, and this comes out in story form. People didn't know much beyond a 30 mile radius from where they were born. They didn't know why they got sick. They didn't know what the weather would be like 2 days from now. I could go on and on. They just had to respond, as best they could, to what they faced. And this definitely comes out in a lot of syncretism in these stories--we often have priests and magic charms co-existing, without any seeming dissonance.
My main other experience with these sort of stories as an adult is the master folklorist Joseph Jacobs, and these stories compared favorably with those. Jacobs' works are all old enough that they are out of copyright, so I plan to keep reading more of his works in the future to expand the geographic regions from which I have read folktales.
I am not a folklorist, but I have always loved to read folk and fairy tales. Of course, when I was young, I loved to read them just for the stories, and often the kind of mystery of the stories. I remember finding some copy of original (not Disney-ified) folktales on a bookshelf in my house, probably mostly Grimm brothers, and being entranced and heartbroken at many of the stories, and also at finding out the truth about the original versions of many stories I thought I already knew. But I think even at that age, I was sensing something deeper, and that is really the joys, fears, sorrows, and sensibilities of our ancestors. In many ways, reading stories like these is a much truer way to understand what it would have been like to live in, say, Norfolk or Galway in the early modern period up until around 1900 or so, than reading many social history books.
What you always struggle to learn from a history book is, "what did the people at the time actually think and feel about what they were experiencing?" A lot of that will just always be hidden from us due to the subjective nature of human consciousness, but I think stories get at something much deeper than what can be described based on parish records or the like. We need both, of course, but too often these sort of folktales are neglected.
We get so much in these stories that just doesn't always make sense, and for that reason, this excellent set of linguistically modernized original folktales by the master story teller Kevin Crossley-Holland is not for everyone. But life and what happens in it doesn't always make sense.
Did people in the British Isles literally believe in the fair folk? I don't know, probably some did, but I think that is missing something more important. People's lives in those days were characterized so much by what they didn't and couldn't know, and this comes out in story form. People didn't know much beyond a 30 mile radius from where they were born. They didn't know why they got sick. They didn't know what the weather would be like 2 days from now. I could go on and on. They just had to respond, as best they could, to what they faced. And this definitely comes out in a lot of syncretism in these stories--we often have priests and magic charms co-existing, without any seeming dissonance.
My main other experience with these sort of stories as an adult is the master folklorist Joseph Jacobs, and these stories compared favorably with those. Jacobs' works are all old enough that they are out of copyright, so I plan to keep reading more of his works in the future to expand the geographic regions from which I have read folktales.
February 8, 2020
This collection of folktales is split into different themes: Magic and Wonder; Adventures and Legends; Fairies and Little People; Power, Passion, and Love; Wits, Tricks, and Laughter; Ghosts. The st9ories themselves come from all over Great Britain, Ireland, and from some of the smaller islands. Many have a variety of versions, and only one is used here. Some are very short, others a bit longer. There is an English version of Rumplestiltskin, and a version of Cinderella. All are fun to read.
In the Sources and Notes section at the end Crossley-Holland gives a little more information about the origins of each of the stories. I would have preferred that each of those be at the beginning of the story itself. It was neat to find out that one of the stories--The Farmer and The Boggart--was collected in the small town (Mumby, Lincolnshire) my 3ggrandfather was christened in in 1824. Did he know a version of this story?
––––
These versions of the stories in this collection were previously published in two collections (1987 and 1997)--the illustrations are new. All of the stories originally came from stories collected and published in the 19th and 20th centuries. Crossley-Holland updated them to modern English (out of various dialects, he is also a translator from Anglo-Saxon).
In the Sources and Notes section at the end Crossley-Holland gives a little more information about the origins of each of the stories. I would have preferred that each of those be at the beginning of the story itself. It was neat to find out that one of the stories--The Farmer and The Boggart--was collected in the small town (Mumby, Lincolnshire) my 3ggrandfather was christened in in 1824. Did he know a version of this story?
––––
These versions of the stories in this collection were previously published in two collections (1987 and 1997)--the illustrations are new. All of the stories originally came from stories collected and published in the 19th and 20th centuries. Crossley-Holland updated them to modern English (out of various dialects, he is also a translator from Anglo-Saxon).
July 31, 2019
I received an ARC of this book thanks to Net Galley and publisher Candlewick Press in exchange for an honest review.
This book was everything I hoped for and more. It is essentially a collection of very readable fairy/folktales, most of which I hadn't heard of before and I thoroughly enjoyed. They are told in such a way that both children and adults can appreciate them and they all run a really good length so you can binge several of them at once. I can't really say much about this collection. If you enjoy reading fairy/folktales, this is a brilliant way to get to know some of the less-common ones. I am British but haven't read much about Irish folktales before so this collection was very fresh to me. The writing style is typical of those found in folktale collections and I would recommend checking this one out if you have an interest in the subject matter.
Overall Rating: 4/5
This book was everything I hoped for and more. It is essentially a collection of very readable fairy/folktales, most of which I hadn't heard of before and I thoroughly enjoyed. They are told in such a way that both children and adults can appreciate them and they all run a really good length so you can binge several of them at once. I can't really say much about this collection. If you enjoy reading fairy/folktales, this is a brilliant way to get to know some of the less-common ones. I am British but haven't read much about Irish folktales before so this collection was very fresh to me. The writing style is typical of those found in folktale collections and I would recommend checking this one out if you have an interest in the subject matter.
Overall Rating: 4/5
June 13, 2019
Forty-eight folk and fairy tales from Britain and Ireland; some you've heard before, most will be new to you. The tales are organized by Magic and Wonder; Adventures and Legends; Power, Passion, and Love; Wits, Tricks, and Laughter; and Ghosts. This is a wonderful tome for your fantasy and fairy/folk tale collections; especially, if, like me, you love having a collection of tales from all over the world. Some are short enough to read aloud, others are longer and invite readers to sit down, have a nice cup of hot chocolate, and imagine a storyteller leading you back through time for stories about fairy rings, boggarts, and changelings. Frances Castle's stark black-and-white illustrations set a mood for each story and each section. An afterword on "Why Everyone Needs to Be Able to Tell a Story" is told as a final folktale, infusing the entire volume with a bit of magic. Comprehensive source notes identify each story's source(s) and original titles, if any.
June 22, 2019
I received an advance galley of this book through NetGalley.
The author, Kevin Crossley-Holland, mentions at the end that his intent with this collection was to take old tales and reclothe them in clean, bright, direct language. He succeeded. The collection flows between England and Ireland and all around the isles, and includes tales unfamiliar and familiar. His takes are entertaining and feature men and women and fairies and specters. The end of the book was a special delight for a research geek like me: he cites his sources and mentions the specific classic stories he drew from and why and how he changed them. The original stories were published throughout the 19th century and into the very early 20th.
This would be a great book to read aloud to children, but as an adult I found it to be quite enjoyable.
The author, Kevin Crossley-Holland, mentions at the end that his intent with this collection was to take old tales and reclothe them in clean, bright, direct language. He succeeded. The collection flows between England and Ireland and all around the isles, and includes tales unfamiliar and familiar. His takes are entertaining and feature men and women and fairies and specters. The end of the book was a special delight for a research geek like me: he cites his sources and mentions the specific classic stories he drew from and why and how he changed them. The original stories were published throughout the 19th century and into the very early 20th.
This would be a great book to read aloud to children, but as an adult I found it to be quite enjoyable.
September 26, 2019
A varied and interesting collection of tales, some more familiar than others, Between Worlds by Kevin Crossley=Holland takes the reader on a journey of adventure and whimsy, Along the way we meet fairies and giants, monsters and knights and travel all over the islands of Ireland and Britain. Some of the stories are funny, some designed to frighten, but all are told in a lyrical yet concise manner. Dotted among the prose are some stories told in verse and it is clear that the author has done his research,
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.
March 6, 2023
i could not repeat a single one of these stories back to you. they were all told in the most boring way possible, some of them were egregiously short, and i can't tell you a single detail. very belatedly i realized i read this author's king arthur series when i was in elementary or middle school, and now i am doubting the taste of my younger self (although maybe that one was genuinely better!) anyway! glad to finally be done!
February 14, 2020
He divides the stories into six sections: Magic, Legends, Fair Folk, Men and Women, Wit, and Ghosts. There are 6 - 8 stories in each section. Some of them are retold in folktale style, but others are retold more as contemporary prose, in the first person by one of the characters. Anyway, I found all of the stories fascinating, only a few were familiar to me. It was illustrated with lovely silhouettes. After the stories is a section giving the source of each story.
December 29, 2019
A very enjoyable insight into British & Irish folklore! I’m quite surprised I liked this considering I didn’t enjoy Crossley’s other retellings!
Read
December 13, 2021Dnf
June 4, 2019
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this, in exchange for my honest opinion. This will be available to purchase on October 8th.
This is the sort of book I love. I’m a huge fan of fairy stories and folktales, especially those from Ireland. They’re rich and magical. So, I went into this with the expectation that I’d enjoy it. And I did, indeed.
This is a very well-rounded collection. There were some stories that I’d already heard versions of, such as Tom-Tit-Tom, but also many that I hadn’t. The book was divided into different sections, based on the type of story was being told. For example, one section was devoted to Tricksters and Fools.
This book had it all. I’m a sucker for fairies, and there were fairies galore. And changelings; boggarts; giants! Everything my fantasy-loving heart could desire. They were told with great care taken to ensure the integrity of the way the stories were originally told. It was wonderful. I was reminded of the stories I read when I was young that made me fall in love with fantasy of all kind.
If you enjoy fairy tales, or fantasy of any kind, this is one to add to your collection.
This is the sort of book I love. I’m a huge fan of fairy stories and folktales, especially those from Ireland. They’re rich and magical. So, I went into this with the expectation that I’d enjoy it. And I did, indeed.
This is a very well-rounded collection. There were some stories that I’d already heard versions of, such as Tom-Tit-Tom, but also many that I hadn’t. The book was divided into different sections, based on the type of story was being told. For example, one section was devoted to Tricksters and Fools.
This book had it all. I’m a sucker for fairies, and there were fairies galore. And changelings; boggarts; giants! Everything my fantasy-loving heart could desire. They were told with great care taken to ensure the integrity of the way the stories were originally told. It was wonderful. I was reminded of the stories I read when I was young that made me fall in love with fantasy of all kind.
If you enjoy fairy tales, or fantasy of any kind, this is one to add to your collection.
January 11, 2026
A lovely collection of traditional folk stories some funny, some tragic and some achingly beautiful and wonderfully told. The illustrations are gorgeous too.
April 19, 2020
Charming collection of stories, fables, and myths! I found this to be an enjoyable read.
December 3, 2020
This is a fantastic collection, and aptly named. Written in classic fairytale style, it’s also unique, lyrical, colorful and strange, giving it that otherworldly feel characteristic of the genre; not here or there but somewhere, in-between worlds where all manner of unexpected things can happen. With expert care, the author has brought together fresh, obscure tales with well-imagined familiar ones, breathing new life into something timeless. Beautiful and highly recommended.
July 3, 2019
I was rooting around in a bookstore in Ireland, looking for something to remember the trip by. I pondered the Yeats and Wildes, until I found this gem. Not my intention to get a book of English and Irish folk/fairy tales, but Kevin Crossley-Holland’s writing just caught me from the first page.
I won’t waste time going over in detail the odd and fanciful and unquestionably Celtic stories -- though a personification of the moon going down to the moors/bogs to see all the monsters she keeps at bay with her light, is kind of worth mentioning. An ethereal and creepy tale about the power of nature, “The Dead Moon” was one that really lingered in my mind. Something about how he described the monsters that lived in the dark:
“Harm and mishap and evil: bogles and dead things and crawling horrors: they all appear on the nights when the moon did not shine.”
You see, every story, from the nonsensical to the familiar to the original, is written with care and craft. Take the first two sentences of “Dathera Dad,” a strange little story about a fairy child popping out of a Christmas pudding, for example. This is a story with essentially no point and little plot, yet look at how much he cares about how he tells it:
“The kitchen was a magic box, full of light and dancing shadows. Shafts of winter sunlight lanced the range and the dresser and the pail of milk, and the hawthorn tree shivered outside the window.”
Doesn’t his words want to make you dive head first into the story?
A couple times, in his notes, he mentions how his father would tell some of these stories to him at night, accompanied by a trusty harp. A dear memory, clearly. So it's safe to say Crossley Holland has a deep connection to what he’s writing, and you can feel it In every word. There’s a love and respect there for even the smallest of tales (as seen with “Dathera Dad”).
While most of the time Crossley-Holland says he does little more than translate old English dialects into modern English (as he explains in “Sources and Notes” at the end of the book), sometimes he takes a story and transforms it into his own.
For example, Crossley-Holland tells “Butterfly Soul” through the point of view of your friend as they watch your sleeping soul fly around as a butterfly. By making it about you, he alters the story in a way that makes events more personal and consequently brings an immediacy to the wonder.
In fact, Crossley-Holland goes on to say, in his notes for “Butterfly Soul” : “...what the tales have to tell us is that there are wonders all around us every day and utter wonders if only we have the eyes to see them.”
After thinking about it, I now understand that that’s what his retellings / translations have that makes them stand out. Not only is the quality of writing there, but also an intimacy.
“Sea-Woman” is the classic love story between a man and a selkie (a seal that can transform into a woman) but told by a seashell to a little girl. This framed story mechanic (Crossley-Holland’s own addition), adds a more personal quality to the tale. It’s as if you’re the girl listening to the whispers of the seashell, and the story consequently becomes more real to you.
What I love about folk and fairy tales is that they may be simple or silly or unrealistic, but there’s something about them. They pare down the world to its most basic forms, so that its easier for you escape into something different. And the quality and intimacy of Crossley-Holland’s work makes it all that easier to escape into the wonder.
I won’t waste time going over in detail the odd and fanciful and unquestionably Celtic stories -- though a personification of the moon going down to the moors/bogs to see all the monsters she keeps at bay with her light, is kind of worth mentioning. An ethereal and creepy tale about the power of nature, “The Dead Moon” was one that really lingered in my mind. Something about how he described the monsters that lived in the dark:
“Harm and mishap and evil: bogles and dead things and crawling horrors: they all appear on the nights when the moon did not shine.”
You see, every story, from the nonsensical to the familiar to the original, is written with care and craft. Take the first two sentences of “Dathera Dad,” a strange little story about a fairy child popping out of a Christmas pudding, for example. This is a story with essentially no point and little plot, yet look at how much he cares about how he tells it:
“The kitchen was a magic box, full of light and dancing shadows. Shafts of winter sunlight lanced the range and the dresser and the pail of milk, and the hawthorn tree shivered outside the window.”
Doesn’t his words want to make you dive head first into the story?
A couple times, in his notes, he mentions how his father would tell some of these stories to him at night, accompanied by a trusty harp. A dear memory, clearly. So it's safe to say Crossley Holland has a deep connection to what he’s writing, and you can feel it In every word. There’s a love and respect there for even the smallest of tales (as seen with “Dathera Dad”).
While most of the time Crossley-Holland says he does little more than translate old English dialects into modern English (as he explains in “Sources and Notes” at the end of the book), sometimes he takes a story and transforms it into his own.
For example, Crossley-Holland tells “Butterfly Soul” through the point of view of your friend as they watch your sleeping soul fly around as a butterfly. By making it about you, he alters the story in a way that makes events more personal and consequently brings an immediacy to the wonder.
In fact, Crossley-Holland goes on to say, in his notes for “Butterfly Soul” : “...what the tales have to tell us is that there are wonders all around us every day and utter wonders if only we have the eyes to see them.”
After thinking about it, I now understand that that’s what his retellings / translations have that makes them stand out. Not only is the quality of writing there, but also an intimacy.
“Sea-Woman” is the classic love story between a man and a selkie (a seal that can transform into a woman) but told by a seashell to a little girl. This framed story mechanic (Crossley-Holland’s own addition), adds a more personal quality to the tale. It’s as if you’re the girl listening to the whispers of the seashell, and the story consequently becomes more real to you.
What I love about folk and fairy tales is that they may be simple or silly or unrealistic, but there’s something about them. They pare down the world to its most basic forms, so that its easier for you escape into something different. And the quality and intimacy of Crossley-Holland’s work makes it all that easier to escape into the wonder.
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