Britain's Living Folklore

Roy Palmer examines the customs, beliefs and informal traditions that have shaped everyday life across Britain. The book ranges from older rural practices and local celebrations to more recent forms of behaviour, showing folklore as something maintained, adapted and sometimes reinvented by ordinary communities.

Examples include Widecombe Fair, motorcycle etiquette, homeopathic cures and traditional nicknames. Alongside myths and customary beliefs, Palmer considers the persistence of folklore in modern settings, placing familiar habits beside older ceremonies and popular traditions. The result is a broad account of British folk culture, linking the past with practices that were still recognisable in the late 20th century.