Tales for Troubled Times
~ Folktale Archive ~
Tom's original greeting from what has become the Tales for Troubled Times folklore archive:
"In these surreal days of illness and self-isolation due to COVID-19 I found myself wondering what more I can do to help people get through the long days. If ever there was a need for stories, then this is it.
I'm recording rough, one-take stories of favourite folk tales. I must admit, they are rougher than I would normally do. All the stumbles are left in. This is not about showcasing my storytelling skills. It's not about 'me', it's about us.
These are stories that I don't normally tell, as well as old favourites. The lack of an audience is a great miss. It is just me, alone in an attic bedroom with a small recording device on a cushion.
I hope you find some tales that help to get you through the day and imagine better days. Please take care and stay safe.
Love, Tom."
(Tales especially for the bairns are here.)
~ Tales for everyone ~
Oisin and Niamh
A Celtic myth from Ireland
The City Under the Sea
A mermaid folktale from the Orkney island of Sanday
Robbie Haa and the Black Laird
A Scottish Traveller story of an evil ghost's revenge
* NOT suitable for children or anyone of a sensitive nature
The Suitor from the Sea
An Orkney tale from the island of South Ronaldsay, South Parish
The Watch
A ghost story from the Orkney island of Hoy
For our friend, Jo Jones
Illustration by another dear friend, Sheila Faichney
The Tomten
Sometimes helpful farm spirits can be a nuisance
The Gypsy's Ghost
A Swedish story of a girl who is being courted by a ghost
Prince Lindworm
A classic Nordic tale
For Tom's wife, Rhonda
Boray Isle
An unusual selkie tale from Orkney
How the Fin Folk Lost Eynhallow
An Orkney story about how a man had his revenge on the mythical Fin Folk
Illustration by Bryce Wilson
The Buried Moon
This story shows how the Moon helps to drive away evil
The Nurse who Broke Her Promise
A Cornish tale of a midwife who delivers a pisky (pixie) child ... and the consequences
Da Slokkit Koli
A spooky Shetland tale
Thomas the Rhymer
A Scottish tale, dedicated to Tom's Slovenian sister Kat
Two Orkney Shipwrecks
Two true stories of shipwrecks in Orkney
The Giant Who had no Heart in His Body
A classic fairy tale from Norway
The Book of the Black Arts
A chilling Orkney folk tale about an evil book
The Stolen Winding Sheet
A ghost story from the island of Sanday about the dire consequences of stealing from the dead
Illustration by Bryce Wilson
The Lord's Prayer
A Scottish Travellers' tale of how a tramp tricked a minister into giving charity
The Girl who Kissed a Knight out of Necessity
In which a knight learns a lesson in humility
The Shetlander and the Polar Bear
A tale that Tom heard from the great Shetland storyteller Lawrence Tulloch
The Pickpocket
A tale about a talented family
Some of these stories are also available in Tom's folklore books.
~ Tales especially for the bairns ~
The King of the Birds
Find out who gets to be the king of the birds
The Three Dogs
A German fairy tale
Ash Lad and His Companions
How the Ash Lad was helped by some strange companions
- a Norwegian tale
Sturdy Hans
How strength and courage save a princess from a dragon
The Three Wishes
This tale shows that you must be careful what you wish for.
The Three Oranges
A French fairytale
The Sun
A Slavic folktale in the Luck Child tradition
Butterball
Find out how a small boy defeated an evil troll
The Boy who Went to the North Wind
A story about the time the North Wind had to compensate a boy for his lost flour
Tom Fitzpatrick and the Leprechaun
In which Tom finds out how tricksy a leprechaun can be
Mr Vinegar
An English folktale - how Mr Vinegar found a fortune and lost it again
The Golden Fish
A Russian folktale about being content with what you have
The Golden Cradle
A Scottish folk tale for the bairns
The Sleeping Beauty of the Woods
The classic tale
Rapunzel
A classic fairy tale from Germany
The Frog Prince
A German fairy tale
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
The original version of this classic fairy tale - be warned, it's rather gruesome and not like Disney.
Beauty and the Beast
The original version of this classic French fairy tale, which is quite a lengthy story - settle in for a long one!
Puss in Boots
The classic tale
Hansel and Gretel
The old German folktale collected by the brothers Grimm
Mermaid image (Rhonda's pages) and storyteller image (Tom's pages), and all other illustrations except where noted are here by the courtesy of our dear friend - Stromness author, artist and historian, Bryce Wilson MBE, who owns all copyrights. Thanks, Bryce!
The long-awaited 25th anniversary edition of Tom Muir's The Mermaid Bride is out! With new stories and illustrations added, and at the originl price, this book is a real bargain. Buy it here.
If you enjoy what we do please consider encouraging us through Ko-fi. It's a quick, simple and safe way for you to support our work and help preserve the stories and lore of Orkney. Thank you!
Click below to hear a welcome message from Tom Muir.
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~ Next issue:
Spring 2024
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