DOWN IN THE FOREST

Dee Dee Chainey and Willow Winsham. Treasury of Folklore: Woodlands and Forests: Wild Gods, World Trees and Werewolves. Batsford, 2021.

From time immemorial, the forest has been a liminal space for humankind. Onto this dark, sometimes dangerous environment has been projected many of the fears of our species. In the modern world we can be forgiven for forgetting just how dense and dark woodlands used to be and how much of a physical barrier they were, especially to travel. 

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Being enclosed, ringed in by a hostile, almost impenetrable thicket, sometimes with limited knowledge of what was there must have been an unnerving experience and it is no surprise that all manner of creatures were assumed to lurk in wait to interfere in people’s lives.

Dee Dee Chainey and Willow Winsham are the people behind the popular website and Twitter account Folklore Thursday. Chainey trained as an archaeologist. Winsham is a historian and author with emphases on folklore and witchcraft, who provided the illustrations. This book covers folklore from all around the globe.

There are four sections which are subdivided into chapters. Firstly 'Into The Trees', looking at trees from myth such as Yggdrasil, the World Tree and real ones like the strangling fig and the currently fashionable fungi in all of their different forms, The section 'Woodland Creatures' examines legendary beasts and tales of paranormal aspects of real animals; then 'Folk of the Forest', which covers anything humanoid from gods and elves to the protagonists of fairy tales and larger-than-life human characters. Finally there is 'The Forest as Otherworld', examining the religious and spiritual significance of woodlands and forests. This section also includes descriptions of the ways in which woodlands and forests have been used as places of worship and pilgrimage. The book has references in place of a bibliography, and an index, therefore making it useful to the more serious reader.

The Treasury is a fascinating and well-written book that will appeal to anyone interested in folklore, mythology, or the natural world. It is beautifully illustrated with black-and-white drawings. Another feature worth appreciating about the book is how it explores the different ways that woodlands and forests have been perceived throughout history. It shows how they have been seen as places of danger, mystery, beauty, and inspiration. This makes it a valuable resource for anyone who wants to understand the complex relationship between humans and the natural world.

Another important and enjoyable aspect of Treasury of Folklore: Woodlands and Forests is the way in which it brings together stories and traditions from different cultures. It includes stories from Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas, which makes it a great resource for anyone who wants to learn about the global diversity of folklore. The collection is put together with skill, enthusiasm and a deep empathy for folkloric tales, that shines through each chapter and page. Although everything is broken down logically via the chapter headings, the text flows and moves on effortlessly. There is no need for the reader to have any previous knowledge of folklore for them to benefit from the knowledge collected here.

• Trevor Payne