Legends & Romances of Brittany

Brittany exists at the edge of Europe, where Celtic fog meets Atlantic stone and ancient monuments rise from the earth like frozen magic. This is the world Lewis Spence captures: a treasury of Breton folklore that includes tales of fairies who dwell in menhirs, Arthurian romances that predate the French tradition, and the haunting lays of Marie de France. Here are stories of saints who wrested the land from demons, of the black arts practiced in hidden villages, of sprites and changelings and the enormous megalithic tombs that Breton peasants once believed were the work of giants. Spence provides essential context on the region's distinct Celtic identity, its language, costumes, and customs, making this more than a collection of tales. It is an act of cultural preservation, rendering the enchantments of a province that has always straddled the line between the real and the legendary. Otway Cannell's atmospheric illustrations complete the spell. For readers who have ever stood among the stones at Carnac and wondered what stories they could tell.