Folk Tales of the Peak

In the mid to late 1800’s, before the art of storytelling died out, antiquarians trawled the Peak District for its folk tales, collecting and publishing them. These days, storytelling is an interactive art, and, as an organised dramatic production is thriving, breathing new life and relevance into old tales. Of the collected tales, many give an insight into the country ways and superstitions of previous generations and include local beliefs and traditions such a Well Dressing. The themes of temptation and the supernatural are common threads and the Devil makes more than one appearance. Written for the most part in modern English, Richard has also introduced a more contemporary vocabulary to a couple of the tales that brings them up to date for the 21st Century reader or audience