This is Zoinks!, the critically-acclaimed book about Scooby-Doo by well-known folklorist and podcaster Mark Norman. Recognised internationally for his expertise in folklore and known by many for his Folklore Podcast, Mark is the perfect guide for a tour through the myths and legends that have inspired the iconic cartoon. For over half a century, a gang of teens - Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy - and their dog, Scooby, have captivated audiences with their supernatural sleuthing, operating unde...

Hallowed Ground examines the surprising traditions, customs, superstitions, and secular imagery found in Christian churches and churchyards, with a particular emphasis on the traditional rural protestant church.Beginning with stories associated with the construction of church buildings themselves and the role that they played in the community, the book moves through a number of subjects where everything might not be as it would seem it should be in the Christian church and...

Requested for the Wolfson History Prize 2024.Devon has a long and rich folkloric heritage which has been extensively collected over many years. This book consolidates more than a century of research by eminent Devon folklorists into one valuable study and builds on the vital work that was undertaken by the Devonshire Association, providing insightful analysis of the subject matter and drawing comparisons with folklore traditions beyond the county.The first ...

When Hank Morgan is cracked on the head by a crowbar in 19th-century Connecticut, one of literature's most extraordinary fantasy tales begins to unfold. Humorous, devilishly insightful, and resoundingly contemporary, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court remains one of the most celebrated stories in the canon of American writing. Awakening to find himself in the England of King Arthur, Morgan discovers a world of fear, injustice, and ignorance hiding behind a Utopian mirage. The toug...

As featured in The New York Times...Throughout the history of civilisation, traditional crafts have been passed down from hand to skilled hand. Blacksmithing, brewing, beekeeping, baking, milling, spinning, knitting and weaving: these skills held societies together, and so too shaped their folklore and mythology.Exploring the folklore connected with these rural crafts, Telling the Bees examines the customs, superstitions and stories woven ...

It is hard to find an island on the map more central than Sicily. Located at the crossroads between Europe and Africa, and between the Eastern and Western Mediterranean, Sicily has rarely been governed as an independent, unified state. Nonetheless, the island has always occupied a front-row seat to some of the most important events in history, and nowhere is this more obvious than during antiquity.Very fertile in ancient times, Sicily was especially prized for its grain production....

It is hard to find an island on the map more central than Sicily. Located at the crossroads between Europe and Africa, and between the Eastern and Western Mediterranean, Sicily has rarely been governed as an independent, unified state. Nonetheless, the island has always occupied a front-row seat to some of the most important events in history, and nowhere is this more obvious than during antiquity.After the Punic Wars, Sicily would remain a Roman domain until the end of antiquity, ...

The Australasian region is home to the greatest diversity of cephalopods — squid, cuttlefish, octopuses — in the world. Yet, we know very little about these fascinating marine animals. This book provides insights into the biology and behaviour of more than 60 species. From the Giant Squid to the deadly Blue-ringed Octopus, the secret lives of cephalopods are revealed in a highly readable form with outstanding colour images and informative text. For each species there is a distribution map and...

How did our ancestors use the concept of demons to explain sleep paralysis? Is that carving in the porch of your local church really what you think it is? And what's that tapping noise on the roof of your car..?The fields of folklore have never been more popular – a recent resurgence of interest in traditional beliefs and customs, coupled with morbid curiosities in folk horror, historic witchcraft cases and our superstitious past, have led to an intersection of ide...

Ben and Leila wanted to be parents for so long, but the beautiful little girl that they brought in the world is no ordinary girl. Phoenix sees children that aren’t there, appears in places that she couldn’t possibly be, and seems to know things that she shouldn’t. As the years go by, her unique destiny is revealed.Phoenix Kassim is destined to be the protector of the human race. The fate of the human world and all benevolent Jinn, are in the hands of this young child, the direct de...

Like other secretive groups, the mystery surrounding the Teutonic Knights has helped their legacy endure. While some conspiracy theorists attempt to tie the group to other alleged secret societies like the Illuminati, other groups have tried to assert connections with the Teutonic Knights to bolster their own credentials. Who they were and what they had in their possession continue to be a source of great intrigue even among non-historical circles.Although many have heard of the Cr...

In the second book of The Hakima’s Tale trilogy, Dedra L. Stevenson offers a mystical fantasy straight from Middle Eastern mythology and folk tales like no other. This best-selling trilogy steams onward to the training years of Phoenix Kassim, as she studies under a wise woman in the desert and learns the ways of a supernatural warrior.Her mentor, Sophia, teaches her how to harness her power and her magical creatures of the desert, the oceans and the forests assist her in gathering...