River Folk Tales of Britain and Ireland

River Folk Tales of Britain and Ireland gathers traditional stories associated with the rivers, lakes and streams of Britain and Ireland. Lisa Schneidau follows waterways from mountain sources towards estuaries and the sea, bringing together tales shaped by the landscapes and communities beside them.

The collection includes accounts of danger and transformation, river goddesses, ghosts and mysterious creatures said to inhabit these waters. Alongside the storytelling, it considers rivers as sources of water and food, routes for trade and transport, and enduring features of local history. Schneidau’s background as an ecologist and professional storyteller places these traditions within a close relationship between folklore, nature and the changing waterways of the islands.