The Bailiwick of Guernsey is a cluster of small islands in the English
Channel, the largest of which are Guernsey, Alderney, Sark and Herm.
With a history going right back to prehistoric times, Guernsey and its
neighbouring islands are rich in folklore, legends and customs. Small
island communities, by their very nature, tend to have a distinct
heritage based on storytelling and these tales are passed down from
generation to generation. The tales often originate from the truth, even
if they are altered so much over the centuries that they end up as fairy
stories, so the folklore of Guernsey reveals its history. It is also the
foundation of what makes the people and culture of the islands distinct
through their customs and their superstitions. What local people may
take for granted as ʻthe normʼ, may seem absolutely fascinating or
bewildering to a visitor. In this book local author Soo Wellfair
explores the folklore and legends of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, as well
as some of the things that could be considered ʻquintessentially
Guernseyʼ. These strange and fascinating stories are accompanied by
illustrations of places featured in the text, both present-day and
historical, in this hugely entertaining book.
