Were-Wolves & Will-O-The-Wisps: French Tales of Mackinac Retold

by Dirk Gringhuis

In 1959 Mackinac State Historic Parks began archaeological excavations on the site of Fort Michilimackinac in Mackinaw City, Michigan. Since then, the Parks have continued excavations, not only at Michilimackinac, Mackinac Island, and Mill Creek, but at other sites at the Straits as well. Over the years the highly respected Archaeological Completion Reports Series has presented significant interpretations of this archaeological research. The reports are now available through Michigan State University Press.The stories of ghosts, goblins, and other creatures come to life in the French legends brought to Mackinac by French-Canadian voyageurs during the days of the fur trade.

Genres: History

106 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1974

Reviews

[Megan]

I had a copy of this book when I was a kid, that I had bought at Fort Michilimackinac. I went back to Fort Michilimackinac as my first stop on my big solo trip to the UP in October and found another copy! I loved it. It's so fascinating to read about old Michigan times - Michigan does feel really special - and the French+Indigenous folklore and myths of their mixed populations from the south of Canada and the Upper Peninsula. I thought I remembered this book having a really good Wendigo story and a really good Loup-garou story and it had neither, but I remembered the illustrations and San Souci, still creepy! I think there are actually a few volumes of this so I'm going to try to hunt down the other ones and that amazing Wendigo tale!

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Copyright 1974, this was published for Mackinaw State Historical Parks.
The author has taken the history of the Straits area & some of Detroit & written down the legends & songs of the Voyageurs who were French Canadians who settled in the area, as far back as 1634!
You get some history, some paranormal legends, & songs the Voyageurs sang while paddling their big canoes across the Straits & beyond. Told in short stories, this was a favorite read back when I was a kid. We spent part of each year in the Mackinaw area, having family that lived there, so these stories were (& still are) interesting to me.
The book is illustrated by the author & I particularly liked the end drawing of a Voyageur seen from the back, portaging his canoe.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable take on French fairy tales merged with the folklore and history of the French Canadian areas of the Upper Peninsula (Yoop). I love reading about rougarous, les feu follets, and the devil waltzing about there!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful collection of stories! Some where kind of creepy and some were down right heartbreaking, while others left a smile on your face. I would recommend this book. I just wish I knew a bit more French so I could pronounce some of these names right :). 5 out of 5 stars.