Hampshire and Isle of Wight Folk Tales

These beautifully told folk tales, brought vividly to life by Marcel O'Leary's graphic illustrations, have been collected by the author over his years of working as a greenkeeper, gardener, teacher and storyteller in Hampshire. Many are published here for the first time, and others have evolved through countless retellings in Hampshire schools, festivals, fetes and events. Featuring dark tales of muderous kings and commoners, wild women, screaming skulls, galloping plague coaches, dragons dancing themselves to death, giants, and wandering corpses, combined with humorous stories and evocative tales of love, lust and passion, this book takes the reader beyond the written page and reveals the wonders that lie within the Hampshire landscape. These beautifully told folk tales, brought vividly to life by Marcel O'Leary's graphic illustrations, have been collected by the author over his years of working as a greenkeeper, gardener, teacher and storyteller in Hampshire. Many are published here for the first time, and others have evolved through countless retellings in Hampshire schools, festivals, fêtes and events. Featuring dark tales of murderous kings and commoners, wild women, screaming skulls, galloping plague coaches, dragons dancing themselves to death, giants, and wandering corpses, combined with humorous stories and evocative tales of love, lust and passion, this book takes the reader beyond the written page and reveals the wonders that lie within the Hampshire landscape. Mike O’Leary is a professional storyteller who has constantly been asked if he has written any of his stories down. Well, now he has, and here they are! These beautifully told folk tales represent the diversity of the area—from densely populated Portsmouth to the rural New Forest. With dark tales of ghosts and madmen, witches and wise women, gibbering rats and dragons dancing themselves to death, yet also with humour, silliness, and evocative tales of love, lust, and passion, this book takes the reader beyond the written page and shows the wonders that lie within the Hampshire landscape. Also covering the rich storytelling heritage of the Isle of Wight, Hampshire Folk Tales will delight residents and visitors alike.