Dark Folklore

Dark Folklore examines the darker edges of British belief and custom, bringing together accounts of folk ghosts, historic witchcraft, folk horror and superstition. Its subjects include the Old Hag tradition and the ways demons were once used to explain sleep paralysis.

The book also considers dark church lore, including the meanings attached to carvings found in church buildings, before turning to urban legends and the darker side of storytelling. A final strand looks at dark tourism and legend tripping, where people visit places associated with disturbing tales or reported events. Mark Norman and Tracey Norman combine cultural history with folklore research to show how sinister traditions, local stories and modern legends continue to shape popular ideas about the past and present.