Folklore, Fairy Tales, Myths and Legends

WHY THE SEA IS SALT

2011-12-28T06:02:00.000Z

Why the Sea Is Salt

From “Popular Tales of the Norse” ISBN 978-1-907256-49-3

Once on a time, but it was a long, long time ago, there were two brothers, one rich and one poor. Now, one Christmas eve, the poor one hadn't so much as a crumb in the house, either of meat or bread, so he went to his brother to ask him for something to keep Christmas with, in God's name. It was not the first time his brother had been forced to help him, and you may fancy he wasn't very glad to see his face, but he said—

"If you will do what I ask you to do, I'll give you a whole flitch of bacon."

So the poor brother said he would do anything, and was full of thanks.

"Well, here is the flitch," said the rich brother, "and now go straight to Hell."

"What I have given my word to do, I must stick to," said the other; so he took the flitch and set off. He walked the whole day, and at dusk he came to a place where he saw a very bright light.

"Maybe this is the place," said the man to himself. So he turned aside, and the first thing he saw was an old, old man, with a long white beard, who stood in an outhouse, hewing wood for the Christmas fire.

"Good even," said the man with the flitch.

"The same to you; whither are you going so late?" said the man.

"Oh! I'm going to Hell, if I only knew the right way," answered the poor man.

"Well, you're not far wrong, for this is Hell," said the old man; "when you get inside they will be all for buying your flitch, for meat is scarce in Hell; but mind, you don't sell it unless you get the hand-quern which stands behind the door for it. When you come out, I'll teach you how to handle the quern, for it's good to grind almost anything."

So the man with the flitch thanked the other for his good advice, and gave a great knock at the Devil's door.

When he got in, everything went just as the old man had said. All the devils, great and small, came swarming up to him like ants round an anthill, and each tried to outbid the other for the flitch.

"Well!" said the man, "by rights my old dame and I ought to have this flitch for our Christmas dinner; but since you have all set your hearts on it, I suppose I must give it up to you; but if I sell it at all, I'll have for it that quern behind the door yonder."

At first the Devil wouldn't hear of such a bargain, and chaffered and haggled with the man; but he stuck to what he said, and at last the Devil had to part with his quern. When the man got out into the yard, he asked the old woodcutter how he was to handle the quern; and after he had learned how to use it, he thanked the old man and went off home as fast as he could, but still the clock had struck twelve on Christmas eve before he reached his own door.

"Wherever in the world have you been?" said his old dame; "here have I sat hour after hour waiting and watching, without so much as two sticks to lay together under the Christmas brose."

"Oh!" said the man, "I couldn't get back before, for I had to go a long way first for one thing, and then for another; but now you shall see what you shall see."

So he put the quern on the table, and bade it first of all grind lights, then a table-cloth, then meat, then ale, and so on till they had got everything that was nice for Christmas fare. He had only to speak the word, and the quern ground out what he wanted. The old dame stood by blessing her stars and kept on asking where he had got this wonderful quern, but he wouldn't tell her.

"It's all one where I got it from; you see the quern is a good one, and the mill-stream never freezes, that's enough."

So he ground meat and drink and dainties enough to last out till Twelfth Day, and on the third day he asked all his friends and kin to his house, and gave a great feast. Now, when his rich brother saw all that was on the table, and all that was behind in the larder, he grew quite spiteful and wild, for he couldn't bear that his brother should have anything.

" 'Twas only on Christmas eve," he said to the rest, "he was in such straits that he came and asked for a morsel of food in God's name, and now he gives a feast as if he were count or king;" and he turned to his brother and said—

"But whence, in Hell's name, have you got all this wealth?"

"From behind the door," answered the owner of the quern, for he didn't care to let the cat out of the bag. But later on the evening, when he had got a drop too much, he could keep his secret no longer, and brought out the quern and said—

"There, you see what has gotten me all this wealth;" and so he made the quern grind all kind of things. When his brother saw it, he set his heart on having the quern, and, after a deal of coaxing, he got it; but he had to pay three hundred dollars for it, and his brother bargained to keep it till hay-harvest, for he thought, if I keep it till then, I can make it grind meat and drink that will last for years. So you may fancy the quern didn't grow rusty for want of work, and when hay-harvest came, the rich brother got it, but the other took care not to teach him how to handle it.

It was evening when the rich brother got the quern home, and next morning he told his wife to go out into the hay-field and toss, while the mowers cut the grass, and he would stay at home and get the dinner ready. So, when dinner-time drew near, he put the quern on the kitchen table and said—

"Grind herrings and broth, and grind them good and fast."

So the quern began to grind herrings and broth; first of all, all the dishes full, then all the tubs full, and so on till the kitchen floor was quite covered. Then the man twisted and twirled at the quern to get it to stop, but for all his twisting and fingering the quern went on grinding, and in a little while the broth rose so high that the man was like to drown. So he threw open the kitchen door and ran into the parlour, but it wasn't long before the quern had ground the parlour full too, and it was only at the risk of his life that the man could get hold of the latch of the house door through the stream of broth. When he got the door open, he ran out and set off down the road, with the stream of herrings and broth at his heels, roaring like a waterfall over the whole farm.

Now, his old dame, who was in the field tossing hay, thought it a long time to dinner, and at last she said—

"Well! though the master doesn't call us home, we may as well go. Maybe he finds it hard work to boil the broth, and will be glad of my help."

The men were willing enough, so they sauntered homewards; but just as they had got a little way up the hill, what should they meet but herrings, and broth, and bread, all running and dashing, and splashing together in a stream, and the master himself running before them for his life, and as he passed them he bawled out,—"Would to heaven each of you had a hundred throats! but take care you're not drowned in the broth."

Away he went, as though the Evil One were at his heels, to his brother's house, and begged him for God's sake to take back the quern that instant; for, said he—

"If it grinds only one hour more, the whole parish will be swallowed up by herrings and broth."

But his brother wouldn't hear of taking it back till the other paid him down three hundred dollars more.

So the poor brother got both the money and the quern, and it wasn't long before he set up a farm-house far finer than the one in which his brother lived, and with the quern he ground so much gold that he covered it with plates of gold; and as the farm lay by the sea-side, the golden house gleamed and glistened far away over the sea. All who sailed by put ashore to see the rich man in the golden house, and to see the wonderful quern, the fame of which spread far and wide, till there was nobody who hadn't heard tell of it.

So one day there came a skipper who wanted to see the quern; and the first thing he asked was if it could grind salt.

"Grind salt!" said the owner; "I should just think it could. It can grind anything."

When the skipper heard that, he said he must have the quern, cost what it would; for if he only had it, he thought he should be rid of his long voyages across stormy seas for a lading of salt. Well, at first the man wouldn't hear of parting with the quern; but the skipper begged and prayed so hard, that at last he let him have it, but he had to pay many, many thousand dollars for it. Now, when the skipper had got the quern on his back, he soon made off with it, for he was afraid lest the man should change his mind; so he had no time to ask how to handle the quern, but got on board his ship as fast as he could, and set sail. When he had sailed a good way off, he brought the quern on deck and said—

"Grind salt, and grind both good and fast."

Well, the quern began to grind salt so that it poured out like water; and when the skipper had got the ship full, he wished to stop the quern, but whichever way he turned it, and however much he tried, it was no good; the quern kept grinding on, and the heap of salt grew higher and higher, and at last down sunk the ship.

There lies the quern at the bottom of the sea, and grinds away at this very day, and that's why the sea is salt.

From “Popular Tales of the Norse” ISBN 978-1-907256-49-3

WHY WOMEN HAVE LONG HAIR - A West African Tale from the Yoruba People

2011-12-27T13:02:00.000Z

Here's a BONUS tale making up for not posting on Christmas Day :) .........

TWO women quarrelled, and one of them went out secretly at night and dug a deep pit in the middle of the path leading from her enemy’s house to the village well.

Early next morning, when all were going to the well for water with jars balanced on their heads, this woman fell into the pit and cried loudly for help.

Her friends ran to her and, seizing her by the hair, began to pull her out of the pit. To their surprise, her hair stretched as they pulled, and by the time she was safely on the path, her hair was as long as a man’s arm.

This made her very much ashamed, and she ran away and hid herself.

But after a while she realized that her long hair was beautiful, and then she felt very proud and scorned all the short-haired women, jeering at them. When they saw this, they were consumed with jealousy, and began to be ashamed of their short hair. “We have men’s hair,” they said to one another. “How beautiful it would be to have long hair!”

So one by one they jumped into the pit, and their friends pulled them out by the hair.

And in this way they, and all women after them, had long hair.

- – -

From Yoruba Legends by M.I. Ogumefu ISBN 978-1-907256-33-2

http://www.abelapublishing.com/cg_yor.html

The Legend of Beth Gellert

2011-12-27T08:03:00.000Z

The Legend of Beth Gellert

(from Celtic Fairy Tales - ISBN 978-1-907256-05-9)

PRINCE LLEWELYN had a favourite grey-hound named Gellert that had been given to him by his father-in-law, King John. He was as gentle as a lamb at home but a lion in the chase. One day Llewelyn went to the chase and blew his horn in front of his castle. All his other dogs came to the call but Gellert never answered it. so he blew a louder blast on his horn and called Gellert by name, but still the greyhound did not come. At last Prince Llewelyn could wait no longer and went off to the hunt without Gellert. He had little sport that day because Gellert was not there, the swiftest and boldest of his hounds.

He turned back in a rage to his castle, and as he came to the gate, who should he see but Gellert come bounding out to meet him. But when the hound came near him, the Prince was startled to see that his lips and fangs were dripping with blood. Llewelyn started back and the grey-hound crouched down at his feet as if surprised or afraid at the way his master greeted him.

Now Prince Llewelyn had a little son a year old with whom Gellert used to play, and a terrible thought crossed the Prince's mind that made him rush towards the child's nursery. And the nearer he came the more blood and disorder he found about the rooms. He rushed into it and found the child's cradle overturned and daubed with blood.

Prince Liewelyn grew more and more terrified, and sought for his little son everywhere. He could find him nowhere but only signs of some terrible conflict in which much blood had been shed. At last he felt sure the dog had destroyed his child, and shouting to Gellert, "Monster, thou hast devoured my child," he drew out his sword and plunged it in the greyhound's side, who fell with a deep yell and still gazing in his master's eyes.

As Gellert raised his dying yell, a little child's cry answered it from beneath the cradle, and there Llewelyn found his child unharmed and just awakened from sleep. But just beside him lay the body of a great gaunt wolf all torn to pieces and covered with blood. Too late, Llewelyn learned what had happened while he was away. Gellert had stayed behind to guard the child and had fought and slain the wolf that had tried to destroy Llewelyn's heir.

In vain was all Llewelyn's grief; he could not bring his faithful dog to life again. So he buried him outside the castle walls

within sight of the great mountain of Snowdon, where every passer-by might see his grave, and raised over it a great cairn of stones. And to this day the place is called Beth Gellert, or the Grave of Gellert.

NOTE: Beth Gellert is now known as Beddgelert

KAMER-TAJ - The Moon Horse

2011-12-26T09:05:00.000Z

KAMER-TAJ - The Moon Horse

(From Forty-Four Turkish Fairy Tales - ISBN 978-1-907256-37-0)

There was once a Padishah who one day found a little insect.

The Padishah called his lala and they both examined the tiny creature. What could it be? What could it feed on? Every day an animal was killed for its sustenance, and by thus living it grew and grew until it was as big as a cat. Then they killed it and skinned it, hanging up the skin on the palace gate. The Padishah now issued a proclamation that whoever could guess correctly to what animal the skin belonged should receive the Sultan's daughter in marriage.

A great crowd collected and examined the skin from all sides, but no one was found wise enough to answer the question. The story of the skin spread far and wide until it reached the ears of a Dew. "That is exceedingly fortunate for me," thought he to himself, "I have had nothing to eat for three days; now I shall be able to satisfy myself with the Princess." So he went to the Padishah, told him the name of the creature, and immediately demanded the maiden.

"Woe is me" groaned the Padishah, "how can I give this Dew my only daughter?" He offered him, in ransom for her, as many slaves as he liked, but all in vain! The Dew insisted on having the Sultan's daughter. Therefore the Padishah called the maiden and told her to prepare for the journey, as her kismet was the Dew. All weeping and wailing were fruitless. The maiden put on her clothes, while the Dew waited for her outside the palace.

The Padishah had a horse that drank attar of roses and ate grapes; Kamer-taj, or Moon-horse, was its name. This was the creature on which the Sultan's daughter was to accompany the Dew to his abode. A cavalcade escorted her a portion of the way and then, turning, rode back. Now the maiden offered up a prayer to Allah to deliver her from the fiend.

Suddenly the Moon-horse began to speak: "Lady, fear not! shut both your eyes and hold my mane firmly." Hardly had she shut her eyes when she felt the horse rise with her, and when she opened her eyes again she found herself in the garden of a lovely palace on an island in the midst of the sea.

The Dew was very angry at the disappearance of the maid. "Still, never mind!" he said, "I will soon find her," and went his way home alone.

Not far from the island a Prince sat in a canoe with his lala. The Prince, seeing on the calm surface of the water the reflection of the golden-hued steed, said to his lala that perhaps someone had arrived at his palace. They rode to the island, got out of the canoe, and entered the garden. Here the youth saw the beautiful Princess, who, however much she essayed to veil her face, could not succeed in hiding from him her loveliness.

"Oh, Peri!" said the Prince, "fear me not; I am not an enemy!" "I am only a Sultan's daughter, a child of man and no Peri," announced the Princess, and told the Prince how she had been delivered from the Dew. The Prince assured her that she could not have come to a better place. His father also was a Padishah; with her permission he would take her to him, and by the grace of Allah he would make her his wife. So they went to the Padishah, the Prince told him of the maiden's adventure, and in the end they were married, merriment and feasting lasting forty days and forty nights.

For a time they lived in undisturbed bliss, but war broke out with a neighbouring kingdom and, in accordance with the custom of that period, the Padishah also must set out for the campaign. Hearing of this the Prince went to his father and asked permission to go to the war. The Padishah was unwilling to consent, saying: "you are young, also you have a wife whom you must not forsake." But the son begged so assiduously that in the end the Padishah agreed to stay at home and let Prince go in his stead.

The Dew discovered that the Prince would be on the battlefield, and he also made the further discovery that during his absence a son and a daughter had been born to him.

At that time Tartars were employed as messengers and carried letters between the Padishah at home and the Prince at the seat of war. One of these messengers was intercepted by the Dew and invited into a coffee house. There the Dew entertained him so long that night came on. The messenger now wished to be off, but was persuaded that it would be better to remain till morning.

The Prince sees the reflection.

At midnight, while he was asleep, the Dew searched his letter-bag and found a letter from the Padishah to the Prince informing the latter that a baby son and daughter had come to the palace during his absence. Tearing up this letter, the Dew wrote another to the effect that a

couple of dogs had been born. "Shall we destroy them or keep them till your return?" wrote the Dew in the false letter. This missive he placed in the original envelope, and in the morning the Tartar arose, took his sack of letters, and went into the Prince's camp.

When the Prince had read his father's letter he wrote the following answer: "Shah and father, do not destroy the young dogs, but keep them until I return." This was given to the Tartar, who set out on his return journey.

He was again met by the Dew, who enticed him into a coffeehouse and detained him till next morning. During the night the Dew abstracted the letter and wrote another, which said: "Shah and father, take my wife and her two children and throw them down a precipice, and bind the Moon-horse with a fifty-ton chain."

In the evening of the day following the Tartar delivered the letter to the Padishah. When the Princess saw the Tartar she hastened joyfully to the monarch that he might show her her husband's letter. The Padishah, having read it, was astonished and dared not show it to the Princess, so he denied that any letter had arrived. The woman answered: "I have indeed seen the letter with my own eyes; perchance some misfortune has happened to him and you are keeping it from me." Then catching a glimpse of the letter she put forth her hand quickly and took it. Having read it the poor woman wept bitterly. The monarch did his best to comfort her, but she refused to remain longer in the palace. Taking her children she left the city and went forth into the wide world.

Days and weeks passed away and she was without food to appease her hunger or bed on which to rest her tired body, until worn out with fatigue she could go no step farther. "Let not my children die of hunger!" she prayed. Behold! instantly water gushed forth from the earth and flour fell from the skies, and making bread with these she fed her children.

In the meantime the Dew heard of the woman's fate and set out immediately to destroy the children. The Princess saw the Dew coming and in her terrible agony she cried: "Hasten, my Kamer-taj, or I die!" In the far-off land the magic horse heard this cry for help; he strained at his fifty-ton fetters but could not break them. The nearer the Dew came the more the poor Princess's anguish increased. Clasping her children to her breast, she sent up another despairing cry to the Moon-horse. The fettered steed strained still more at his chain, but it was of no avail. The Dew was now quite close upon her, and for the last time the poor mother shrieked with all her remaining strength. Kamer-taj, hearing it, put forth all the force he could muster, broke his chain, and appeared before the Princess. "Fear not, lady!" he said, "shut your eyes and grasp my mane," and immediately they were on the other side of the ocean. Thus the Dew went away hungry once more.

The Moon-horse took the Princess to his own country. He felt that his last hour had now come, and told his beloved mistress that he must die. She implored him not to leave her alone with her children. If he did, who would protect them from the evil designs of the Dew? "Fear not," the horse comforted her, "no evil will befall you here. When I am dead, off my head and set it in the earth. Slit up my stomach, and having done this, lay yourself and your children within it." Saying these words the magic horse breathed his last.

The Princess now cut off his head and stuck it in the ground, then opened his stomach and laid herself and her children in it. Here they fell fast asleep. When she awoke she saw that she was in a beautiful palace; one finer than either her father's or her husband's. She was lying in a lovely bed, and hardly had she risen when slaves appeared with water: one bathed her, others clothed her. The twins lay in a golden cradle, and nurses stood around them, soothing them with sweet songs. At dinnertime, gold and silver dishes appeared laden with delicious food. It was like a dream; but days and weeks passed away, weeks passed into months, and the months into a year, and still the dream--if dream it was--did not come to an end.

Meanwhile the war was over and the Prince hastened home. Seeing nothing of his wife he asked his father what had become of her and her children. The Padishah was astonished at this strange question. The letters were produced, and the Tartar messenger was sent for. Being closely questioned he related the account of his meeting with the Dew on both occasions. They now realized that the Dew had tampered with the messenger and the correspondence. There was no more thought of peace for the Prince until he had discovered his wife. With that intention he set out in the company of his lala.

They wandered on and on unceasingly. Six months had passed already, yet they-continued their way-over hill and down dale, never stopping to rest. One day they reached the foot of a mountain, whence they could see the palace of the Moon-horse. The Prince was entirely exhausted and said to his lala: "Go to that palace and beg a crust of bread and a little water, that we may-continue our journey.

When he reached the palace gate, the lala was met by two little children, who invited him in to rest. Entering, he found the floor of the apartment so beautiful that he hardly dared set his foot upon it. But the children pulled him to the divan and made him sit down while food and drink were set before him. The lala excused himself, saying that outside waited his tired son, to whom he wished to take the refreshment.

"Father Dervish," said the children, "eat first yourself, then you can take food to your son." So the lala ate, drank coffee, and smoked, and while he was preparing to return to the Prince, the children went to tell their mother about their guest.

Looking out of the window, the Princess recognised the Prince her husband. She took food with her own hands, and putting it in golden vessels sent it out by the lala. On receiving it the Prince was struck with the richness of the service. He lifted the cover of one of the dishes, set it on the ground, and it rolled back to the palace of its own accord. The same happened with the other dishes, and when the last had disappeared, a slave came to invite the stranger to take coffee in the palace.

While this was happening the Princess gave each of her children a wooden horse, and sent them to the gate to receive the guests. "When the dervish comes with his son," said their mother, "take them to such and such an apartment." The dervish and his son came up, the two children on their wooden horses greeted them with a salaam and escorted them to their apartments. Again the Princess took dishes of food and said to the children: "Take these to our guests and press them to eat. If they say they have already had sufficient and ask you to partake of the food, answer that you also are satisfied, but perhaps your horses are hungry, and put them to the table. They will then probably ask, how can wooden horses eat? And you must reply" (here she whispered something into the children's ears).

The children did as their mother had commanded them. The food was so delicious that the guests tried to eat a second time, but becoming satisfied very soon, they asked: "Will you not eat also, children?" "We cannot eat," answered the children, "but perhaps our horses are hungry," so saying they drew them up to the table. "Children," remonstrated the Prince, "wooden horses cannot eat." "That you seem to know," answered the children, "but apparently you do not know that it is impossible for little dogs to become human children such as we are." The Prince sprang up with a cry of joy, kissed and embraced both his children. His wife entering at the moment, he humbly begged her pardon for the suffering she had experienced. They related to each other all that had befallen them during the time of their separation, and their joy knew no bounds. Now the Princess and her children prepared to accompany the Prince back to his own kingdom. After they had gone some distance, they turned to take a farewell look at the palace, and lo! the windswept over the place as though no building had ever been there.

The Dew was lurking on the wayside, but the Prince caught him and killed him, and after that they arrived home without further adventure. Soon afterwards the old Padishah died, and the Prince became chief of the land.

Three apples have fallen from the sky. One belongs to the storyteller, the second to the listener, the third to me.

Twas the Night Before Christmas - Viking Style

2011-12-23T12:28:00.000Z

Most of us know the poem 'Twas the Night Before Christmas written by Clement Clarke Moore almost 190 years ago even if we are not American. But how would it fare if applied to another far older, culture - like the Vikings for instance? Just how would it translate? :-

- - -

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the Hall
Not a creature was stirring, not a warrior nor thrall.
And I in my armour, my shield and my helm
Was drunker than anyone else in the Realm.

I staggered upstairs and fell into bed
While four quarts of mead were ablaze in my head.
Then up from below came the sounds of a brawl
So I grabbed up my axe and ran down to the Hall.

I missed the last step and crashed down in a heap
Thinking, "Why can't those low-lifes downstairs go to sleep!"
When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But two brawny strangers, wielding mallet and spear.

I said to myself, "We'll soon have them beat!"
Then I noticed ten warriors laid out at their feet.
I gave out a yell and leapt into the fray...
I'll always regret my poor choice of that day.

For the one laid his hammer to the side of my nose
And up, up, up to the rafters I rose.
Then came a lone frightened voice from the floor,
"Those are no mortal warriors -- that's Odin and Thor!"

Then they looked at each other and they said, "Battle's done.
Now they know who we are, it no longer is fun."
Then Thor raised his hammer, and his elbow he bent,
And with a loud crash, through the ceiling they went.

I crawled through the Hall and flung open the door,
Not really sure that I'd seen them before.
The snow bathed in starlight, the moon like a glede,
I saw them ride off on an eight-legged steed.
And I heard them exclaim, 'ere they flew out of sight,
"TO 'HALLA WITH CHRISTMAS,
WE JUST LOVE A GOOD FIGHT!"

- - -

Clement Clarke Moore (1779 - 1863) wrote the poem Twas the night before Christmas (also called "A Visit from St. Nicholas") in 1822. It is now the tradition in many American families to read the poem every Christmas Eve. The poem has redefined our image of Christmas and Santa Claus. It could also be argued that exports of sentimental Christmas movies from Hollywood have also done their bit to popularise this poem. It is important to note that prior to the creation of the story of 'Twas the night before Christmas' St. Nicholas, the patron saint of children, had never been associated with a sleigh or reindeers!
Clement Moore was a reticent man and it is believed that a family friend, Miss H. Butler, sent a copy of the poem to the New York Sentinel who published the poem. The condition of publication was that the author of Twas the night before Christmas was to remain anonymous. The first publication date was 23rd December 1823 and it was an immediate success.
It was not until 1844 that Clement Clarke Moore claimed ownership when the work was included in a book of his poetry.
Would Clement have approved of this "translation" of his classic poem? Maybe he would, maybe he wouldn't?

Wishing all my blog readers and subscribers a very merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

Twas the Night Before Christmas (Viking Style) can be found in Tiivistelmä (ISBN 978-0-956558-44-7) a book of Viking poetry and mythology for Viking Skalds and tellers of Viking tales

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LAWKAMERCYME

2011-12-23T09:03:00.001Z

LAWKAMERCYME
(from More English Fairy Tales - ISBN 978-1-907256-09-7)

There was an old woman, as I've heard tell,
She went to the market her eggs for to sell;
She went to the market, all on a market-day,
And she fell asleep on the king's highway.

There came by a pedlar, whose name was Stout,
He cut her petticoats round about;
He cut her petticoats up to the knees,
Which made the old woman to shiver and freeze.

When this old woman first did wake,
She began to shiver, and she began to shake;
She began to wonder, and she began to cry --
'Lawkamercyme, this is none of I!

'But if it bet, as I do hope it be,
I've a little dog at home, and he'll know me;
If it be I, he'll wag his little tail,
And if it be not I, he'll loudly bark and wail.'

Home went the little woman, all in the dark;
Up got the little dog, and he began to bark;
He began to bark, so she began to cry --
'Lawkamercyme, this is none of I !'

Lawkamercyme is local slang for "Lord Have Mercy on Me". Exactly which part of England it was taken from is unfortunately unknown.

When Joseph Jacobs recorded these tales in the late 1890's, there was no digital media available and he had to go "into the field" and visit storytellers in their villages. Many of the tales and stories he recorded we in the vernacular i.e. as they were said and to retain their "authenticity" he published them as such.

Needless to say the Folklore Society of the day, considered this to be vulgar and unsuitable. Yet Jacobs, Campbell and Lang all chose to do this and put their publications to the test letting the public decide who was correct. Fortunately for us they decided for the folklorists and not the society.

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Joshua Talks to God - COMING SOON

2011-08-29T17:09:00.000+01:00

Synopsis:

Joshua trips and falls and upon waking he seemingly enters an unseen world. While in this enchanting world, he encounters a gigantic orangey-purple Sun with spectacular dark and light blue rings spinning around in a sky of pink and vanilla. Around him are red and green rocks and divinely golden glowing meadows.

On the horizon is breath taking scenery of turquoise and violet mountains. Joshua can only wonder what secrets and wonders are hidden there?

Joshua faces his ultimate challenge when he tries to find his way home, whilst following an ever-changing path he is taught to fly and urged to take a leap of faith over the mountains with a little help from his friends.

This is a world where there is only one King and where Joshua is sure that God has spoken to him.

To register your interest or to pre-order this book, go to http://www.abelapublishing.com/joshua.html

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The Drainpipe Gang - The first of the many Chris and Andy Smythe Adventures

2011-08-21T16:33:00.000+01:00

A new children’s Action and Adventure story written and illustrated by new children's author Theresa Sargeant.

In the genre of “the Famous Five” and“the Secret Seven”, this is the first of the

many adventures of Chris and Andy Smythe.

Synopsis:
Chris and Andy Smythe are ten year old twins. They live in a small village called Kingstanton in West Cornwall where they live with their mum & dad.

It is the school summer holidays and the two brothers are hanging out with their friends Callum and Tom. Their days are spent building and riding go-carts and playing at the secret camp deep in the local woods.
Strange happenings and discoveries! lead Chris and Andy and their dog Blackie, into their first of many adventures.

---------

ISBN: 978-1-907256-80-6

Format: Paperback

Size: 5" x 8" or 12.7cm x 20.3cm

Pages: 112

RRP: £4.99, €5.99, US$6.99, CA$6.99, AU$9.99

or buy online using this link @ 10% discount

Young readers are invited to ask the author questions at:

theauthor@chisandandysmythe.co.uk

So whats up with UNICEF UK?

2011-08-19T16:02:00.000+01:00

Lets see now.........

I have published / republished 28 books from which I freely donate 33% of my, the Publisher's profit, to Unicef UK.
Now, you would think they would be grateful, but OH NO, its just "Give us the money mate and bugger off! We're not interested in anything else!"

Why do I write this? Well, republishing 28 books (I have republished a lot more) takes an awful lot of time and money - £121 per book to be exact, or £3,388, US$5,627 at todays exchange rate. Wanting to use the skills I have learned to benefit my fellow man, I have done from the goodness of my heart and in my spare time.

The books are printed commercially by one of the worlds foremost Print on Demand printers (Lightning Source) to an ecological template, reducing carbon emissions. In short the quality of the finished product is of the highest standard.

From each sale of these 28 books, I donate 33% of my profit to UNICEF, which is about £1 per book for an online sale via the Abela website or £0.48p for books sold via the retail network. But this is not good enough for UNICEF UK.
They are not in the least bit interested. In fact they have told me in no uncertain terms what I can do with my books - and, oh, to give them the money when I have done whatever it is I am supposed to do with them - and myself.

So, do you think UNICEF are justified in their stance, or is this just a big charity chasing the big "dollars" and running rough-shod all over the small guys who really want to help? I would really appreciate your feedback.

PROJECT PERU

2011-06-03T12:18:00.000+01:00

Can you believe that there are only 8 bookshops in the whole of Peru? Even worse there are no public libraries!The few libraries that do exist are privately owned with little or no access to the public.

Of the 29 million people in Peru, 11 million live in poverty. Project Peru, a UK based charity, supports a refuge at Zapallal near Lima. Their latest objective is to create a library for the disadvantaged people they support teaching them to read, write and speak English.

Bill Clinton said of the Hay-on-Wye book and literature festival that it is "The Woodstock of the Mind".

The biggest draw-back to education in many countries is that it is not free. In their prospectus, Unicef state "Every child has the right to an education which develops their personality, talents and abilities to the full. Primary education must be free for all children." Despite this over 100million children world-wide are denied a basic, primary school education. Countries which do not invest in an education for their children are not investing in the future of that country, never mind the future of their people.

Abela Publishing has partnered with Project Peru to help create the library for the disadvantaged people of Zapallal. Buy an Abela book online now at www.AbelaPublishing.com, append "-PP" to your name and we'll make sure the book is delivered to the new library in Zapallal with your compliments.

Lets bring Woodstock to Zapallal.......!

Abela Publishing

Yesterday's Books for Today's Charities

Buy your book by clicking here

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Why We Publish Fairy Tales and Folklore

2011-05-24T18:40:00.000+01:00

The other day I was asked why I chose to publish Fairy Tales and Folklore and not mainstream novels and other works of fiction?

My answer was quite simple. All people in the world tell fairytales to their children. The Japanese tell them, the Chinese, the American Indians and the Eskimos to pass the long wintry nights. Native South Africans tell them, Greeks, as did the old Egyptians, when Moses had not long been rescued out of the bulrushes. The Germans, French, Spanish, Italians, Danes, Koryaks and Kalmykians tell them, and the stories are apt to be like each other everywhere. However much nations and politicians differ over policy and ideology, all their children agree to liking fairy tales. Maybe there’s a lesson for adults in this somewhere? That is not to say I always expect a fairy tale ending. But I do expect good to always trump evil. Am I naive? Maybe so.

EXACTLY what is a FAIRY TALE or why call them FAIRY STORIES? Well, can you imagine a child saying, 'Tell me a folk-tale', or 'Another nursery tale, please, grandma'. Its somehow doesnt ring true. Fairy tales are stories in which something 'fairy' occurs, something extraordinary–fairies, giants, dwarfs, speaking animals, or the remarkable stupidity of some of the characters.

In Victorian times, many of the Folk-Lorists of the day, Joseph Jacobs, Andrew Lang, John Campbell (better known as “John of Islay”) and others, flouted the Florklorist’s creed, choosing to present stories that would fill children's imaginations “with bright trains of images”. Vividly painted princesses, Pied Pipers, pots of gold, giants, speaking cats, Kings, Hoybahs, wise men, Knights in Shining Armour, washerwomen, fools and their follies and more. All these overflow from these the tales of the Victorian books, all bound by the common threads of basic moral lessons.

Many of the tales were recorded verbatim from storytellers in the field. They are by no means in an authorised form, and even touch on the “vulgar” using archaic and colloquial English. In the times, the literary establishment objected to the use of such archaic colloquialisms. These tales were told for generations in a form that used these dialects and ”vulgar” words for effect. However, we believe the traditional form makes these stories all the richer in a modern setting.

On our site, you will find these classic tales re-published in their original form with the same vibrancy and vividity (if there is such a word) that captured the imaginations of thousands of children almost century ago. And its even better that they are being used to raise funds for charities around the world.

Abela Publishing

Yesterday's Books for Today's Charities

www.AbelaPublishing.com

or try our alternative site

Fairytales 'n Folklore

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Joshua Talks to God

2011-05-14T07:12:00.003+01:00

A New Children's Book

by Christaina Alberichi

and exquisitely illustrated by Terry Kole.

Published by Abela Publishing

Joshua trips and falls and enters an unseen world.While in his surreal world, he encounters a gigantic orangey-purple Sun with mysterious dark and light blue rings spinning around and a sky of pink and vanilla.Around him are red and green rocks and golden grass. In the distance he sees turquoise and violet mountains, and can only wonder what treasures lie there.
But this is a world without adults and only one King.A world in which Joshua learns how to fly.
Due for release in late summer 2011.

Let us tell you as soon as the book is released.
Register your interest by emailing us at Joshua@AbelaPublishing.com

Blog Directory

PRODIGIUM is COMING

2011-05-09T08:07:00.000+01:00

PRODIGIUM (latin) - prodigy: a sign about the future, a portent sent from the gods.

PRODIGIUM is the brainchild of the Abela Publishing CEO, John Halsted and is part of the Abela Social Enterprise. John established Abela Publishing in 2009 as a Social Enterprise. Through Abela Publishing he republishes old and forgotten Folklore, Fairy Tales, Myths and Legends and donates 33% of the profit from book sales to charities around the world.
Appropriately Abela is the Zulu word for “to share”.
To date 86 titles have been published and the century mark is fast approaching. John sees the raising and distribution of these funds as a natural extension of his Christian tithing principles.

WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT
Many of the books and children’s stories Abela republishes are 100 years old, or older, and in the majority of cases while the text remains, the original artwork has been lost. But what are children’s stories without pictures? To a child they are merely an uninteresting jumble of letters. Add illustrations and the stories spring into life.

HOW WILL THIS BE DONE?
Illustrators and artists are invited to illustrate any of stories from the titles published by Abela Publishing. Submissions will be made through an online submission system and the top contestants will be invited to take part in a Reality Television competition in a similar format to a now, well-known, Reality TV, talent show. Except this time the contestants will be artists and illustrators - not singers. The result will be books, in particular, illustrated books for children. It is our hope that this project get children interested in reading again and will reinvigorate the interest in libraries wherever they may be.
Negotiations are currently underway with TV production companies and studios in the UK and the USA for the production of shows in these two countries. In the meantime illustrators are encouraged to start researching the stories so they start designing, creating their illustrations.

Artists and illustrators are invited to register their interest at http://www.prodigium.tv/update_me.html

TV production compies outside the UK and the USA are invited to apply for licenses to run PRODIGIUM in their own countries. Email us at international@prodigium.tv for more info.

THE PRIZE
The winning illustrator will be given the option to fully illustrate two Abela titles of their choice, including new cover designs, and will also receive a generous royalty from each book. In addition a book of his, or her, illustrations from the series will be published generating a 45% royalty for the winning illustrator.

WHERE CAN THE ABELA BOOKS BE FOUND?
A list of the Abela books, their ISBNs, and URLs at which they can be ordered can be found by going to the PRODIGIUM WEBSITE (www.Prodigium.tv) and then by clicking on “Approved Titles” in the menu bar or by cutting and pasting the following link into your web browser - http://www.prodigium.tv/approved_titles.html

More information, a description, a table of contents, bibliographic data and the option to order can be found by following the URL links to each book. A downloadable list of approved titles is also available in PDF format at this URL.

All the Abela books can be ordered online at Abela Publishing or at the Abela sub site Folkore ‘n Fairytales. They are also available from any of the major online retailers, like Amazon, Waterstones, Tescos, Blackwells, WH Smith, the Book Depsoitory, ABE Books and many other online bookstores.
Books ordered via either of the Abela websites will be shipped HOT OFF THE PRESS direct to customers and will see MORE being donated to charities – if only because we don’t have to pay the retailers their 30% take.

Where potential entrants are unable to afford books, we recommend they approach their local libraries to source copies. Most UK libraries have received a communique about the project so should know what you mean when you ask. If they dont, direct them to the Prodigium website at www.Prodigium.tv

RESOURCES
We have produced a number of posters in PDF and JPEG format in A3 and A4 sizes for bookshops, libraries and schools. These are available at http://www.prodigium.tv/resources.html

Through PRODIGIUM John and Abela Publishing plan to bring these old and forgotten tales and stories back to life for children with fresh and exciting illustrations. In his 1894 book “More English Fairy Tales” a reviewer wrote Joseph Jacobs flouted the Florklorist’s creed, choosing to present stories that would fill children's imaginations “with bright trains of images”. Vividly painted princesses, Pied Pipers, pots of gold, giants, speaking cats, Kings, Hoybahs, wise men and even washerwomen.

Following in Jacob’s footsteps John wants to revitalise storytelling, children’s books and re-introduce a whole swathe of exquisitely illustrated forgotten fairy tales and folklore to the children of the 21st C. In doing so he also hopes to revitalise interest in reading and in libraries not to mention giving illustrators and artists a wider audience.

ENOUGH OF THE SINGING ALREADY!"

Legend of the Last Vikings - Taklamakan - The Viking Sagas BBC FOUR

2011-04-30T11:51:00.003+01:00

Finalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Award
Replace Indiana Jones' Fedora with a Helmet

and swap his bull-whip for a sword

but keep the leather Jacket

then add a dash of Romance

and you have

VIKING ACTION and ADVENTURE
from Norway along the Silk Route
into China's notorious Taklamakan desert
in the genre of Indiana Jones!

Synopsis: As the Viking age is brought to an end in 1066 with ignominious defeat at the battle of Stamford Bridge, a rag-..tag group of Vikings conclude the quiet life is not for them and they decide to go-..a-..Viking one last time.

They retrace a journey of their youth across the European Steppe and down the mighty Dniepr river Heading for Byzantium. A chance discovery in a Kiev library leads them to venture even further afield - to Astrakhan, across the Caspian sea, up the mighty Oxus river, through Parthia and Bactria and along the ancient Silk Route into Asia and Tian Xia (China) and the notorious Taklamakan desert -.. so called by local inhabitants because those who venture in, seldom venture out.

Engaged in a battle not of their choosing, they inflict fatalities on the sinister and evil Black Scorpions who want to exact their revenge. Pursued, they flee by night across the Roof of the World and meet the remnants of the "lost" European tribe of Asia, the Hepthalites, who offer them protection in their city, hidden in the Tien Shan -.. the Celestial Mountains. A place where romance is kindled and love unexpectedly blossoms.

During their winter sojourn in the Hidden City they gather more clues, and in the spring continue with their quest, on into the Taklamakan desert. More danger and peril lies in wait for this rag-..tag Viking crew as they travel along the Silk Route, the world's first super-..highway.

At the eastern end of their journey they meet the Lang Ren, the Wolf people of Lou Lan, outcasts thieves and criminals living in an abandoned city in the desert. A city without water. A city about to die. A city in which the final clue to their quest is uncovered.

What fate awaits this rejected element of Asian society? Can this motley crew intercede on their behalf? What will the outcome be?

Beautifully bound, this book is available in paperback and hardback with dustjacket.

US$1 from every copy sold will be donated to the Tearfund.

For more information, a sample of the text or to order
go to
Legend of the Last Vikings
or to
http://www.fairytales-n-folklore.com/VikingLegend.html

--o0o--

To see all the Sagas and books in the Norse and Viking Tales collection,

go to

http://www.fairytales-n-folklore.com/VikingandIcelandicTales.html

or go to

http://www.abelapublishing.com/VikingandIcelandicTales.html

--o0o—

Published by Abela Publishing

www.AbelaPublishing.com

to raise funds for charities

ERIC BRIGHTEYES - The Viking Sagas BBC FOUR

2011-04-30T11:28:00.003+01:00

ERIC Thorgrimursson (nicknamed 'Brighteyes' for his most notable trait), strives to win the hand of his beloved, Gudruda the Fair. Her father Asmund, a priest of the old Norse gods, opposes the match, thinking Eric a man without prospects. But deadlier by far are the intrigues of Swanhild, Gudruda's half-sister, a sorceress, who desires Eric for herself. She persuades the chieftain Ospakar Blacktooth to woo Gudrida, making the two men enemies. Battles, intrigues, and treachery follow.

From the pen of the master of Victorian action and adventure this novel actually seems rather less dated in the early 21st century than Haggard's other work or the general run of Victorian adventure fiction. Improvements in our understanding of the Viking period have done surprisingly little to falsify Haggard's imagination of its setting, and the book should still hold appeal to any reader interested in the period.

Clearly influenced of the pioneering saga translations by William Morris and Eirikr Magnusson in the late 1860s ERIC BRIGHTEYES set a standard of quality and fidelity to the saga style that remained unmatched until Poul Anderson's novel The Broken Sword 60 years later.

33% of the publisher's profit from the sale of this book will be donated to UNICEF

For more information, a table of contents or to order,
go to
http://www.fairytales-n-folklore.com/brighteyes.html
or to
http://www.abelapublishing.com/brighteyes.html

--o0o--

To see all the Sagas and books in the Norse and Viking Tales collection,

go to

http://www.fairytales-n-folklore.com/VikingandIcelandicTales.html

or go to

http://www.abelapublishing.com/VikingandIcelandicTales.html

--o0o—

Published by Abela Publishing

www.AbelaPublishing.com

to raise funds for charities

NORTHLAND HEROES - two Norse Sagas rewritten especially for children and young adults - The Viking Sagas BBC FOUR

2011-04-30T11:12:00.003+01:00

For centuries the songs of Homer, the blind poet of Greece, recounting the heroic deeds of the great Hector and lion-hearted Achilles, have delighted the children, young and old, of many lands. But part of our own heritage, and nearer to us in race and time, are these stories of Beowulf and Frithiof (Fridtjhof) rewritten in a simpler format for children and Young Adults.

The records of lives nobly lived are an inspiration to noble living. With the hope that the courage, truth, endurance, reverence, and patriotism shown by these heroes of the Northland will arouse interest and emulation. This little book is offered to our young adults and children. "The Story of Frithiof" is based upon Holcomb's translation of Bishop Tegnér's poem, "The Saga of Frithiof" which charts Frithiof's and Ingeborg's undying love for each other and the lengths Frithiof had to go to, to eventually win her hand. If ever a story was to teach the young about perseverance and endurance, this is it.

The epic Beowulf was written in England, but is set in Scandinavia. It has variously been dated to between the 8th and the early 11th centuries. The original is an epic poem told in historical perspective; a story of epic events and of great people of a heroic past. It follows the life of Beowulf, his rites of passage and his maturing from boy to man through facing and overcoming adversity and evil. This was the time when men were knighted for achieving great feats, and great their feats were. A time when the successful application of brain and brawn gained a man high standing in the community and possibly even higher office in the land.

33% of the publisher's profit from the sale of this book will be donated to UNICEF

For more information, a table of contents or to order,
go to
http://www.fairytales-n-folklore.com/heroes.html
or to
http://www.abelapublishing.com/heroes.html

--o0o--

To see all the Sagas and books in the Norse and Viking Tales collection,

go to

http://www.fairytales-n-folklore.com/VikingandIcelandicTales.html

or go to

http://www.abelapublishing.com/VikingandIcelandicTales.html

--o0o—

Published by Abela Publishing

www.AbelaPublishing.com

to raise funds for charities

THE SAGA OF VIGA GLUM - An Ancient Viking Saga - The Viking Sagas BBC FOUR

2011-04-30T11:03:00.002+01:00

The Sagas, of which this tale is one, were composed for the men who have left their mark in every corner of Europe. There is no page of modern history in which the influence of the Vikings and their conquests have not had an effect--Russia, Constantinople, Greece, Palestine, Sicily, the coasts of Africa, Southern Italy, France, the Spanish Peninsula, England, Scotland, Ireland, and every rock and island round them, have been visited at one time or another by the men of Scandinavia, and their influence is still being felt today.

This saga paints a picture of Icelandic society. But the society presented is not one of pastoral simplicity and repose. The actors within were real men and women and the events portrayed actually occurred - for this is a true story. Bloodshed and violence are common and Viga-Glum, or "Murdering Glum," the hero of this story, is not by any means a perfect character, even when measured by the standards of the time in which he lived. A time when a man's standing in the community was dictated by courage and his wealth, the author tells us that for twenty years he was the first man in Eyjafirth, and for twenty years more there was no better man there.

Viga-Glum is described as one who was naturally indolent, shy, and moody; but when he could be brought to act, his courage and determination were indomitable. When he had to achieve a purpose he was thoroughly unscrupulous; neither blood nor false oaths stood in his way - just what one would expect from a Viking. The finishing touch to this part of his character is added by the peculiarity, that whenever he was intent on slaying a man, he was apt to be seized with a fit of uncontrollable laughter which ended in tears.

So join us in this ancient tale of love, lust, honour, murder, Beserkers, romance and damsels in distress.

33% of the publisher's profit from the sale of this book will be donated to UNICEF

For more information, a table of contents or to order,
go to
http://www.fairytales-n-folklore.com/VigaGlum.html
or to
http://www.abelapublishing.com/VigaGlum.html

--o0o--

To see all the Sagas and books in the Norse and Viking Tales collection,

go to

http://www.fairytales-n-folklore.com/VikingandIcelandicTales.html

or go to

http://www.abelapublishing.com/VikingandIcelandicTales.html

--o0o—

Published by Abela Publishing

www.AbelaPublishing.com

to raise funds for charities

THE LIFE AND DEATH OF CORMAK THE SKALD - The Viking Sagas BBC FOUR

2011-04-30T10:53:00.003+01:00

This is the story of a poet, poor and proud, with all the strength of a Viking and all the weakness of genius. He loves a fine lady, a spoiled child; who bewitches him, and jilts him, and jilts him again.

In true Viking style he fights for her, kills for her, writes verse for her, and rises, for her sake, to the height of all that a man in his age could achieve.
Then, after years, he has her at his feet, and learns of her heartlessness and worthlessness. He bids her farewell; but in the end dies with her name on his lips.

The motive of the book is very modern, yet at the same time as ancient as the human race itself. It is dramatic and imaginative in the sense that it is told by one who was an artist in his craft of saga-telling. The diction is of the simplest and there is no fine writing, but the plot is balanced like a Greek play and the action drives along to its close.

The result is conveyed without a word of moralizing. The characters are broadly drawn, and their types are still valid today. Without needless detail, there are touches enough of realism. It reads like a novel, and yet it is a true story.

33% of the publisher's profit from the sale of this book will be donated to UNICEF.

For more information, a table of contents or to order,
go to
http://www.fairytales-n-folklore.com/Cormac.html
or to
http://www.abelapublishing.com/Cormac.html

--o0o--

To see all the Sagas and books in the Norse and Viking Tales collection,

go to

http://www.fairytales-n-folklore.com/VikingandIcelandicTales.html

or go to

http://www.abelapublishing.com/VikingandIcelandicTales.html

--o0o—

Published by Abela Publishing

www.AbelaPublishing.com

to raise funds for charities

The Saga of Gisli the Outlaw - an Ancient Norse Saga - The Viking Sagas BBC FOUR

2011-04-30T10:34:00.003+01:00

THE EVENTS described in the saga of Gisli the Soursop reach from about the year AD930 to AD980. In a time when the law of Iceland had not yet been established, when men were ruled by their conscience, Gisli, a champion of Iceland, was outlawed for murder by the Chieftain Bork at the Thorsness Thing (council).

But besides his sentence he was doomed, even before his birth. He and his kin were under a curse, for they had kept the broken bits of "Graysteel", the thrall's good sword, which came with a withering spaedom. So under sentence and under a curse Gisli went on the run. For fourteen years with the help of family, friends and those who really knew the truth, he managed to evade Bork's men and bounty hunters alike.

As with many champions through the ages, Gisli was also a true poet and his verses have genuine thought and feeling lying underneath, as you will frequently find in this volume. To the end Gisli fought hard, taking with him eight of the fourteen who eventually cornered him one snowy night on the crags. It has been said by many that there never was a more famous and honourable defence made by one man in times of which the truth is known. Even as death approached Gisli managed to compose and sing one final verse to his wife who stood nearby.

It has also been said that this is one of the finest, if it be not the very finest, of the lesser Sagas. When translating it is difficult to grasp the full spirit of the story, but here it has been accomplished with the detail of scenery and costume thoroughly mastered.

33% of the publisher's profit from the sale of this book will be donated to UNICEF

For more information, a table of contents or to order,
go to
http://www.fairytales-n-folklore.com/Gisli.html
or to
http://www.abelapublishing.com/Gisli.html

--o0o--

To see all the Sagas and books in the Norse and Viking Tales collection,

go to

http://www.fairytales-n-folklore.com/VikingandIcelandicTales.html

or go to

http://www.abelapublishing.com/VikingandIcelandicTales.html

--o0o—

Published by Abela Publishing

www.AbelaPublishing.com

to raise funds for charities

The Saga of Beowulf - an Ancient Norse Saga rewritten especially for Children - The Viking Sagas BBC FOUR

2011-04-30T10:25:00.003+01:00

f you ever just wanted to know the story of Beowulf without having to plough through the 3,182 lines of the epic poem, then this book is for you. This is the story of Beowulf as retold by Strafford Riggs.

Beowulf was written in England, but is set in Scandinavia. It has variously been dated to between the 8th and the early 11th centuries. It is an epic saga told in historical perspective; a story of epic events and of great people of a heroic past.

This was the time when men were knighted for achieving great feats, and great the feats of Beowulf were. Dismissed by the King's Earls as clumsy, lazy and a sluggard, he was also shunned by his peers for his strength and prowess with the sword and spear. On hearing of the monster, Grendel, he announced his intention to sail for the Daneland to prove his worth and prove his accusers wrong. And this he did, killing not only the monster Grendel but also it's evil moster-mother.

On his return home he was proclaimed the greatest hero of the North by the very same who condemned him (sic). In time he becomes king of Geatsland and an extended period of prosperity follows, ended only by a flame-breathing, steam belching dragon. Once again our hero sallies
forth. The dragon is defeated but this time so is our hero.

In a time when the young servicemen of the western nations are heroically laying down their lives in the seemingly endless battle against terror in order that we may live safely in our homes, £1.30 from the sale of this book will be donated to Help for Heroes a UK charity providing practical and direct support for the UK's wounded servicemen.

For more information, a table of contents or to order,
go to
http://www.fairytales-n-folklore.com/Beowulf.html
or to
http://www.abelapublishing.com/Beowulf.html

--o0o—

To see all the Sagas and books in the Norse and Viking Tales collection,

go to

http://www.fairytales-n-folklore.com/VikingandIcelandicTales.html

or go to

http://www.abelapublishing.com/VikingandIcelandicTales.html

--o0o—

Published by Abela Publishing

www.AbelaPublishing.com

to raise funds for charities

The Saga of Burnt Njal - an Ancient Norse Saga - The Viking Sagas BBC FOUR

2011-04-30T10:17:00.003+01:00

What is a Saga? A Saga is a story, or telling in prose, sometimes mixed with verse. There are many kinds of Sagas with varying degrees of truth. There are the mythical Sagas, the historical Sagas of the kings of Norway, and then there are Sagas relating to Iceland narrating the lives, the feuds and the ends of mighty chiefs who dwelt in the districts of the island. These were told by men who lived on the very spot, and told with an exactness as to time and place. The Saga of Njal is one of these.

Of all the Sagas relating to Iceland, this tragic story bears away the palm for truthfulness and beauty. To use the words of one well qualified to judge, it is, when compared with all similar
compositions, as gold to brass. In this Saga we learn of the sad story of Njal's fate, Gunnar's peerlessness and Hallgerda's infamy, of Bergthora's helpfulness, of Skarphedinn's hastiness, of Flosi's foul deed, and Kari's stern revenge.

To tell a story truthfully was what was looked for from all men in those days; but to tell it properly and gracefully, and to clothe the facts in fitting diction, was given to few, and of those few the Saga-teller who first threw Njal into its present shape, was one of the first and foremost. As for truthfulness, there are many other Sagas relating to the same period in which the actors in our Saga are mentioned by name and in which their deeds are corroborated.

But, of all the Sagas, none were so interesting as Njal, whether as regarding the length of the story, the number of ranking chiefs who appeared in it as actors and the graphic way in which the tragic tale is told.

33% of the publisher's profit from the sale of this book will be donated to UNICEF

For more information, a table of contents or to order, go to
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To see all the Sagas and books in the Norse and Viking Tales collection,

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Published by Abela Publishing

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to raise funds for charities

The Saga of Grettir the Strong - Grettis Saga - An Ancient Norse Saga - The Viking Sagas BBC FOUR

2011-04-28T19:35:00.004+01:00

In this saga, Grettir's life is told from beginning to end. As a child, he is rebellious and bad-tempered. He is described as red haired, freckled, and broad around the eyes. But he is also courageous. He takes on and defeats a draugr, a walking corpse or Norse equivalent of a zombie. But in doing so he is cursed, and this is thought to be the cause of his later misfortunes.

At times Grettir falls into the role of a bona fide hero, but he is blamed for setting fire to a hall, killing many men, and is condemned by the Thing (assembly) to outlawry (although many suspect the validity of this sentence). This means that anyone may attempt to kill him without legal penalty and citizens are forbidden to help in any way. Many attempts are made but none succeed. This is not dissimilar to the Saga of Gisli (also republished by Abela Publishing).

Grettir eventually becomes the longest surviving outlaw in Icelandic history. When he has completed nearly 20 years as an outlaw, his friends and family ask for his outlawry to be lifted, arguing that a man may not spend more than 20 years as an outlaw (in reality there was no such law in medieval Iceland). After a debate at the assembly, it is decided that the outlawry will be lifted when he has truly completed the 20 years, but not before.

His enemies make one last effort, using sorcery causing him to wound himself and finally defeat him in the lonely, fortress-like Drangey off the northern tip of Iceland where he was staying with his brother Illugi, and slave Glaumur.

Later, in Constantinople, where the Norse served as the Varangian Guard to the Byzantine Emperor, Grettir’s half brother, Thorsteinn of Dromund, avenges his murder.

33% of the publisher's profit from the sale of this book will be donated to UNICEF

For more information, a table of contents, a sample of the text or to order,

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To see the books and Sagas in our Norse and Viking Tales collection,

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Published by Abela Publishing

http://www.AbelaPublishing.com

The THRALL of LEIF the LUCKY - An Ancient Viking Saga - The Viking Sagas BBC FOUR

2011-04-28T19:27:00.003+01:00

THE Anglo-Saxon race was in its boyhood in the days when the Vikings lived. For every heroic vice, the Vikings laid upon the opposite scale an heroic virtue. They plundered and robbed, as most men did in the times when Might made Right. Yet the heaven-sent instinct of hospitality was in the marrow of their bones. No beggar went from their doors without alms; no traveller asked in vain for shelter. As cunningly false as they were to their foes, just so superbly true were they to their friends. Above all, they were a race of conquerors, whose knee bent only to its proved superior. Their allegiance was not given to the man who was king-born, but to the man who showed himself their leader in courage and their master in skill.

Leif Ericsson, also known as “Leif the Lucky”, was the second son of Erik the Red and certainly displayed the Viking spirit of adventure and exploration. As a young man Leif Ericsson visited Norway, where he converted to Christianity. He was charged with returning to Greenland to convert the populace, but instead sailed further west and is believed to have landed somewhere in Nova Scotia. He spent a year in North America before returning home to Greenland, where he served as governor.

The film The Viking (1928) was based on this novel, which has, to some extent, been based on Viking history.

33% of the publisher's profit from the sale of this book will be donated to UNICEF

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To see the books and Sagas in our Norse and Viking Tales collection,

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--o0o--

Published by Abela Publishing

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The Saga of Olaf the Glorious - only a Viking could have led a life like this! - The Viking Sagas BBC FOUR

2011-04-28T19:18:00.003+01:00

The hero in this volume is not an imaginary one; he was a real flesh and blood man who reigned as King of Norway just over a thousand years ago. The main facts of his adventurous career -- his boyhood of slavery in Estonia, his life at the court of King Valdemar, his wanderings as a Viking, the many battles he fought, his conversion to Christianity in England, and his ultimate return to his native land -- are set forth in the various Icelandic sagas dealing with the period in which he lived. The author made free use of these old time records, and added only such probable incidents as were necessary to give a continuous thread of interest to the narrative.

For the convenience of readers who may wish for greater exactness it may be as well to state here that Olaf Triggvison was born A.D. 963, that he started on his wanderings as a Viking in the year A.D. 981, that the sea fight between the Vikings of Jomsburg and the Norwegians took place in A.D. 986, and the battle of Maldon in the year A.D. 991. Olaf reigned only five years as King of Norway, being crowned in 995, and ending his reign with his death in the glorious defeat at Svold in the year A.D. 1000.

33% of the publisher's profit from the sale of this book will be donated to UNICEF

For more information, a table of contents, a sample of the text or to order,

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To see the books and Sagas in our Norse and Viking Tales collection,

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--o0o--

Published by Abela Publishing

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Fridtjhof's Saga - also known as Friedthof's Saga - An Ancient Norse Saga - The Viking Sagas BBC FOUR

2011-04-28T19:06:00.003+01:00

King Bele of Sogn had two sons, Helgi and Halfdan, and a daughter named Ingeborg. Across the fjord, lived the king's friend Thorstein Víkingsson whose son Fridthjof (Friðþjófr), called "the bold", was the bravest among men. Fridthjof had been raised with Ingeborg by their foster-father Hilding.

Both Bele and Thorsteinn died in war whereupon Helgi and Halfdan ruled the kingdom. They were jealous of Fridthjof's excellent qualities and denied Fridthjof Ingeborg's hand. They took her to Balder's sacred enclosure where no one dared touch her. Still, Fridthjof visited Ingeborg and their love for each other continued to grow.

This angered Helgi and Halfdan and Fridthjof was banished to Orkney. They also demanded tribute. While he was away they burnt down his homestead and married Ingeborg to the aged king Ring of Ringerike. When Frithjof returned with the tribute, he burnt down Balder's temple and left to live as a viking. After three years he wintered with king Ring. Fridthjof's identity became apparent and the dying king appointed Fridthjof earl and made him the care-taker of Ring's and Ingeborg's child. After Ring’s death, Fridthjof and Ingeborg married and he became the king of Ringerike. He declared war on Ingeborg's brothers, killed one and made the second his vassal.

Tegne'r's poem, "Fridthjof's Saga," has been printed in Sweden in many editions and in almost every possible style. It has been illustrated and it has been set to music most famously by Heinrich Hofmann but also by Bruch and Johan Wagenaar. Moreover it has been rendered into English by eighteen different translators, and has been translated into nearly all the modern European languages.

33% of the publisher's profit from the sale of this book will be donated to UNICEF

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--o0o--

Published by Abela Publishing

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