The Land of the Green Man

Great Britain is full of interesting stories, that are still told. This book tells those stories in an engaging way, starting in the area where Carolyne lives - making the writing more personal that way. 

I'll probably re-read parts of this book during the next couple of weeks!

Well written, good easy read

Larrington  explores the Great Britain of myth and legend. She illustrates how locals explained such mysteries as birth and death, the weather and terrain by creating giants, selkies, fairies and other mythical creatures. A delightful and entertaining read.

Disclaimer: ARC via Netgalley.

	There is one thing wrong with this book.  Let’s get it out of the way first.  How can you write a book that deals with English Folklore, that mentions the influence on modern writers, and yet not mention, even in passing, Terry Pratchett?  It’s true that there is already a book about Discworld and folklore, but still.  It’s like this huge turtle hanging over the book.
	That aside, this book is pretty good.  Larrington details various folklore and legends of the countryside.  The book is more than just the Green Man, but also fairies, selkies, and ghostly dogs.  Larrington’s retelling of the various tales is solid, and she includes varieties.  What is particularly interesting is her analysis of various tales.
	She is able to connect selkie tales to marriage stories and how a woman might view marriage.  In fact, if you have read Gould’s Spinning Straw Into Gold, Larrington’s book makes an good companion read.  Larrington’s anaylsis adds another level to the idea of the Beauty and the Beast as tale preparing women for marriage.  Additionally, her reading of the Finn saga, and in particular Sadb, is actually pretty mind blowing.  It made me want to re-read the stories with her analysis in mind.  
	Larrington also connects the stories to modern work.  If you are fan of Neil Gaiman, this book is worth reading for her gets several pages.  Less popular authors and works get credit too, and there is a good chance that you will want to track down a newspaper article or two.
	All in all, this is a good book about folklore connected to the landscape.

An excellent introduction to British folklore and its influence on modern fantasy, The land of the Green Man traces the root of ancient (and modern) legends to the British landscape.
Standing stones, lakes and barrows become the source of stories about giants and ogres, while forests hide elves and other creatures, once strange, now familiar through literature.
Fast paced, clear and amusing, The Land of the Green Man is at the same time an inspiration for the exploration of the country, and the library.
Highly recommended.

Today’s book is one of those that most people wouldn’t pick up for light reading, but it is a thumping good choice for anyone planning to write a fantasy book set in England, Ireland, Scotland or Wales.  The Land of the Green Man – A Journey through the Supernatural Landscapes of the British Isles by Carolyne Larrington does exactly what it says on the metaphorical tin – and it does so in a super-accessible fashion.  I requested, somewhat warily, this book from the publisher via Netgalley and was pleased and surprised to discover a comprehensive yet not overwhelming overview of the context behind the legends that feature in many a modern fantasy novel.

Here’s the blurb from Goodreads:

The folklore of Britain abounds with local tales about the activities of one sort of supernatural being or another giants, elves, hobs, boggarts, dragons or shape-changing witches. The stories are vivid, dramatic and often humorous. Carolyne Larrington has made a representative selection, which she re-tells in a simple, direct way which is completely faithful to the style and spirit of her sources. 

Most collectors of local legends have been content merely to note how they may serve to explain some feature of the landscape or to warn of some supernatural danger, but Carolyne Larrington probes more deeply. By perceptive and delicate analysis, she explores their inner meanings. She shows how, through lightly coded metaphors, they deal with the relations of man and woman, master and servant, the living and the dead, the outer semblance and the inner self, mankind and the natural environment. Her fascinating book gives us a fuller insight into the value of our traditional tales.

the land of the green man

I could actually feel my neurons connecting and reinforcing pathways as I read, so here are Five Things I’ve Learned From…

The Land of the Green Man – A Journey through the Supernatural Landscapes of the British Isles

“  1. If you are walking along the moors/near a church/down a back alley/across a marsh and you see a black dog, the outlook is not likely to be good. Unless of course, you are in one of the few localities in which black dogs are portents of luck and protection, rather than death.

2. If you are walking along the moors/near a church/down a back alley/across a marsh and you see a PACK of black dogs, I have no advice for you, except to say that I hope your will is in order.

3. While a shady tree may look like a promising place under which to have a noontime nap, under no circumstances should you succumb to this incredibly poor idea.  

4. If you happen to be propositioned by a beautiful suitor who you suspect is out of your league, you should probably decline the offer on the grounds that said suitor could well be a hag in disguise, hoping to ensnare you for nefarious purposes.  If, on the other hand, you are propositioned by  someone who would be lucky to make the cover of “Hag Fancier’s Monthly”, you should probably accept on the grounds that your suitor is likely to be a member of fairy royalty under some kind of curse, waiting to reward you with magical bounty aplenty.

5. Never, under any circumstances, piss off a mythical creature.

As I mentioned earlier, this book should be essential reading for anyone planning to draw on British myth and legend in their writing.  Larrington manages to deeply explore the origins of a whole range of myths and legends within the context of various localities.  She notes how certain landscapes and the people who dwell in these have put different spins on similar myths – black dogs, for instance, could be lucky or dangerous, depending on where you hang out; and the part of the country in which you live could see you with giant neighbours who are violent, or cheerfully disinterested in the lives on puny humans.

The content is divided into categories that link legends of a similar vein.  The author also notes how modern authors such as JK Rowling, Susan Cooper and Tolkien have used certain legends in their works.  Sirius Black (or Padfoot, to his friends) has obvious connections to the Black Dog stories of various regions, while The Dark is Rising sequence (among other works) makes use of a reworking of the Sleepers under the Hill legends.

Even if you’re not planning to write the next fantasy bestseller, this is a very involving read for lovers of fantasy who would like to know more about the popular legends and mythical beings that call the British Isles home.  I’m sure other readers will have a few “A-ha!” moments, as I did, upon discovering some snippet of information that showed aspects of some recent reads in a new light.

Carolyne Larrington's book explores, in a well informed way, the richness of the folklore of Great Britain. There is an effective informative introduction as to what the book is about and what will be covered. This book is literary ranging very widely from Tolkien to Game of Thrones & Harry Potter with many in between. It takes a deep look into the myth and legends of mostly the British Isles, though touching on other areas, frequently comparing with literature ancient & modern.

Taking the chapter "Black Dog" as an example, Essex, East Anglia, Winston Churchill, Nick Drake, a local folk group, Jersey, Conan-Doyle, Dartmoor, the Welsh borders, Mark Gatiss,  Harry Potter all manage to get into the early part of the chapter.  After that the author ranges far more widely on the general topic and related topics. My copy was a prepublication copy however the index seemed to be pretty comprehensive as would be essential and very useful in such a book. 

This was a delightful read for anyone interested in the folklore of Great Britain and also the use of that folklore in literature. My feeling having finished the book is that I need to start it again and allow myself a deeper immersion in it.

The Land of the Green Man was extremely informative- I learned about countless new myths and faerie tales that originate in the British Isles. I can see this being a great supplemental text for literature or even history courses. It's not really what I would read for fun, but there is a wealth of information.

A well-written and useful compendium for those interested in folk and fairy tales of the British Isles. This is definitely a book I'd buy for my own library, as it provides a good blend for research purposes for authors.

An intriguing look at the Green Man and the myths/folklore of the British Isles. Especially love all the literary references!