The Fabled Coast

Overview

Pirates and smugglers, ghost ships and sea-serpents, fishermen’s prayers and sailors’ rituals—the coastline of the British Isles plays host to an astonishingly rich variety of local legends, customs, and superstitions. In The Fabled Coast, renowned folklorists Sophia Kingshill and Jennifer Westwood gather together the most enthralling tales and traditions, tracing their origins and examining the facts behind the legends. Was there ever such a beast as the monstrous Kraken? Did a Welsh prince discover America, centuries before Columbus? What happened to the missing crew of the Mary Celeste? Along the way, they recount the stories that are an integral part of the coastal heritage, such as the tale of Drake’s Drum, said to be heard when England was in peril, and the mythical island of Hy Brazil, which for centuries appeared on sea charts and maps to the west of Ireland. The result is an endlessly fascinating, often surprising journey through Britain's island history.

Author Biography

Sophia Kingshill is the author of a previous book with Jennifer Westwood, The Lore of Scotland. She also writes for the theater, and her plays have been performed in Scotland, England, and Norway. Jennifer Westwood served as editor of FLS Books and also the journal Folklore. Her books include Albion: A Guide to Legendary Britain, Gothick Cornwall, The Lore of the Land, The Lore of Scotland, Lost Atlantis, and On Pilgrimage.