Tales of the British People

“Nine traditional stories from the annals of British folk-lore, each one taken from a particular segment of history, ending at the fourteenth century, form a delightful aperitif to the great era of English literature to follow. Miss Picard retells popular legends and obscure ones, each preceded by a short history of its origin. The Celts are represented first with a Goidelic and Brythonic tale, then the story of a Roman Emperor and his British Empress, followed by such epic heroes as the great Viking, Ragnar Lodbrok, Beowulf, Hereward the Wake, the Anglo-Norman hero, Sir Bevis of Hampton. Two tales are set in the Forest of Inglewood, a domain not unlike Sherwood Forest. In all, this is a rich compendium from the pen of an astute and informed writer.” KIRKUS REVIEW