Welcome to our first book review here on Folklore Favourites – Literary Lore Edition! Earlier this month, we were sent our very first book in exchange for a review. It was such a wonderful surprise! We read it amidst cosy quilts and warm brews on a stormy Summer afternoon… Thank you, Batsford Books and Willow Winsham!
There’s no mail like book mail, am I right? That tingle rushing through your brain when of a sudden, the letterbox opens and instead of the sneaky whir of yet another bill, you hear the most satisfying of plops. No doubt, similar to the absolute rush of coming back home and feeling the door catch on a small parcel. A book, a book! At least, that’s how it was for me, when I received the latest in the Treasury of Folklore series in my post.
Out for delivery on August 17th, Treasury of Folklore: Stars and Skies is the third star in this constellation published by Batsford Books, from the minds of the #FolkloreThursday nonpareil phenomenon. Preceded by Treasury of Folklore: Seas & Rivers (March 2021) and Treasury of Folklore: Woodlands & Forests (August 2021), Stars & Skies has just consolidated a trilogy — with this issue authored exclusively by Willow Winsham, with encouragement from her fellow folklorist, Dee Dee Chainey.
But, lo! Stars & Skies is just as stunning. The first thing that might strike you as you pick it up for the first time will likely be the cover, with its resplendent silver over blue, depicting the fabled Pegasus and the Orion constellation. What’s more, the book is shaped and sized exactly like its forerunners, which is total bliss — if, like me, you die a little inside when books in a series differ without notice, which is simply disastrous for my Lawful Neutral bookshelf arrangement!
Like its predecessors, Stars & Skies was illustrated by Joe McLaren, an adept at the black-and-white linocut illustrations present inside, with my personal favourites going to “Raising Up A Storm” on page 124, and “Punxsutawney Phil” on page 118. The first, with a witch raising the winds, is an outstanding ode to detail and the capabilities of this design technique, while the second, with a groundhog looking at its shadow, is just too darn cute!
The book is divided into two sensical parts: lore of “The Stars and Heavens” on the first half, and myths of “Sumptuous Skies” for the second. The opening section deals with the obvious Sun, Moon and Stars, loosely following a formula of folktale plus deity myths for each of these heavenly bodies, tied with superstitions at the end. A fantastic choice, if I do say so myself. Part two is somewhat similar, with highlights going to Birds, Weather Events, and some flying Cryptids for good measure. I personally would have preferred that weather came first, then birds and finally cryptids, but these details doesn’t phase me too much. I wish the Owl Man of Mawnan Smith in Cornwall had made an appearance as well, but it was still a very enjoyable and cosy read nonetheless!
For me, the most noteworthy aspect of the Treasury of Folklore series, as well as Folklore Thursday itself, has always been how much attention and care its author(s) put towards sharing the tales of as many cultures as possible, while upholding values of respect and sincere admiration — from the featured Navajo creation myth that kickstarts this book, to the small magical lore of ‘fox fires’ from Finland. As a further example, in the Introduction, Willow Winsham highlights how folklore may be characterised as an interest in things far greater than our ‘selves’ — and how the vastness of space may be the perfect analogy for this matter. A space that is so void, so gargantuan, and yet, is still able to connect us through a tight-knit tapestry of stars and stories. “Who has not paused for at least one moment in their lives to gaze upwards in awe at the vastness of the skies above?” is the question asked. And who, indeed! No matter where you are, the sky is that same constant for everyone — a notion that becomes even stronger towards the ending of the book, when Winsham found that one researcher was able to track down up to 124 cultures across the globe sharing the belief of pointing at rainbows!
Although this was already mentioned in previous books, in Stars & Skies there was also the acknowledgement that, just like the immenseness of space, creating a book compiling all the folklore of the entire world would be quite impossible to write. This is an important statement that is never a bore to include. For instance, I was a bit sad to discover that there was no mention of Portugal at all in this volume, but that’s fine. There are other places and cultures that should be heard. And there can always be more Treasury of Folklore books, right?
At last, to end this review, I will share my favourite parts, which were: the tidbit on Groundhog Day, and the legend of The Westray Storm Witch. Not because they are my favourite folklore of all time, but because they were so illustrative of the core essence of the study of folklore. With Groundhog Day, Winsham displayed her careful labour of analysing potential origins, as well as poignant comparisons between animals and countries sharing similar tales. It’s always a joy to ponder on how much folklore can travel, as well as how many people might have added their own experiences to it in the process. In total contrast, the tale of The Westray Storm Witch pointed out the loneliness and unfairness of being the target of ‘bad’ storytelling — the disparity between what was said of Janet and what might have actually happened. It just shows, stories can indeed be a wonderful thing, but they can also be corrupted. It is up to all of us to do our best to transmit them faithfully and humbly.
And that’s why I’m such a big fan of the work of Willow Winsham, and Dee Dee Chainey. More of these, please! Whenever that’s possible! 😊
Superstition Sam 
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