Cornish Tales

Having just returned from a lovely week in Cornwall, I have been reminded not only of how beautiful it is, but also how rich in folklore and legend. From Zennor to Mousehole, from Port Isaac to Fowey, it is steeped in stories. This collection of Cornish tales was first published by Andersen Press in 1986 under the name ‘The Magic Ointment’, this edition is beautifully illustrated and offers a real treasure trove of Cornish stories.

In the introduction, Eric Quayle acknowledges the role of Robert Hunt in the collecting of the Cornish folklore retold in this collection. Hunt was responsible for ‘Popular Romances of the West of England’, two volumes of stories which he edited and compiled, published in 1865 and this work was Quayle’s main source. Although born in Devon, Hunt spent most of his life in Cornwall where he gathered these tales of oral tradition and recorded them for posterity.

My copy is about 10 years old, having been purchased at what is now Shrew Books (then Bookends) in Fowey on one of our many trips to that part of the world, but I was delighted to see that it is still widely available in (book)shops across Cornwall today. Perfectly illustrated by the amazingly talented Michael Foreman, this is a book to be treasured and returned to again and again.

Through these stories, the reader learns about Jack the Giant-Killer who slew Cormoran, the giant of St Michael’s Mount, discover the fate of the witch of Fraddam and find out how Flora took the spriggans’ treasure and bought herself her dream cottage in St Ives. These tellings retain a feel of the oral tradition, capturing the sense of wonder and magic that must have been felt by those listening, wide-eyed, around the firesides of days gone by. A visit to Zennor in all its rugged beauty breathes truth into the tale of the Mermaid whose likeness is immortalised on the side of a bench in the church. Michael Foreman’s stunning illustrations capture the essence of each tale, adding much to their enjoyment.

For those interested in traditional tales, there is also the fascination of how stories told in different parts of the world- or even the same country - can be so similar and yet so different. ‘Duffy and the Devil’ has elements in common with Rumpelstiltskin or Tom Tit Tot and yet has a distinctive Cornish flavour in both setting and telling.

An absolute must-have for anyone interested in folklore, Cornwall or an excellent story!

Cornish Tales

Eric Quayle, illustrated by Michael Foreman

Mabecron Books ISBN: 978-0956435095

Please Write Soon

When asked to present a project in school, Solly -Solomon- tells his classmates about his Polish cousin, Bernie. He shares a series of letters which he wrote to Bernie and those he received in return over the course of the war. Through these letters, Solly tells Bernie about his evacuation to the countryside and his experiences there whilst Bernie writes of being sent by his parents from his home in west Poland to the east of the country where they hope he will be safer. As events build, the cousins share their experiences, worries and hopes until Sonny is able to tell his class what happened to Bernie and his family.

Inspired by the true experiences of the cousin of Michael Rosen’s father who was in the Anders Army, ‘Please Write Soon’ is a poignant story which introduces its readers to many events of the Second World War. A photo of Michael Rechnic (the inspiration for Bernie’s story) is included at the beginning of the book, encouraging the reader to remember those who experienced great hardship, fought and sacrificed so much for us today and perhaps inspire those who read this story to find out more about these events - and perhaps explore how they affected members of their own family.

Reading the story helps the reader to understand something of the impact of the war on the lives of real people. For Londoners like Solly, this included evacuation, the fear of air raids, rationing and the destruction of bombing. Solly also writes of the Bethnal Green Tube Station tragedy which took the lives of so many who were trying to get to safety. Solly’s letters are also brimming with little details of his daily life- playing marbles, watching badgers as well as his fears and troubles. Bernie’s letters tell of being sent to a work camp in Russia before becoming a soldier and fighting in Persia and Italy. When his letters are less frequent, Solly worries about what might have happened to his cousin, but continues to send his letters.

There is so much to reflect on and absorb from this poignant story and it would make an excellent text to use in school. The letter format makes the boys’ experiences very vivid, encouraging empathy and understanding in the reader. Events from the war are clearly explained and are sure to encourage children to investigate further. Michael Foreman’s illustrations complement the text perfectly. Using only shades of grey with touches of red, he captures scenes from the boys’ letters beautifully.

The afterword also makes an important read, adding much to the story and exploring Remembrance and its significance today, a very fitting conclusion to the book.

An excellent addition to any library or book collection.

Please Write Soon: An Unforgettable Story of Two Cousins in World War II

Michael Rosen, illustrated by Michael Foreman

Scholastic ISBN: 978-0702303180