Oxfordshire Folk Tales

''Day comes and the legends fade like mist in the sun, yet the wise know it is best to honour the Silent Ones''.

Continuing the journey to the folk tales of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, I found myself in beautiful Oxfordshire, a county that has played such an important part in the history of the realm, a place full of myths and legends and well-known historical figures. Was this journey as satisfying as the previous ones in London, Dublin and North Yorkshire? Well, yes and no.

What do we meet in Oxfordshire? Many fascinating creatures, places and people. The White Horse of Uffington, stories of dragons and ravens, enchanted caves hiding treasure and sleeping kings, sacred stones, spectres and headless terrors. The history of Mercia and Wessex provides plenty of material, we meet up with legendary kings, such as Alfred the Great and his victory over the Great Heathen Army, and Henry II with his passion over beautiful maidens. We learn the story of Geoffrey of Monmouth and the inspiration that created the Historia Regum Britanniae and witness some more of the Devil's shenanigans. It seems he loves roaming the UK counties and create havoc...

Despite all the beautiful myths and the interesting touch of the writer's personal thoughts at the end of each tale, his attempt to recreate the story of Saint George, the patron saint of England, and the Dragon wasn't funny or spirited. It was silly and, to my eyes, it was disrespectful. It may be entertaining to others, but not to me. I don't care whether the writer wanted to project his New Age theories or anything similar, I have zero tolerance for writers who ridicule what others may consider sacred, regardless of a particular religion. Not to mention the fact that he got the whole geographical aspect of the story completely wrong...So, three stars down for this.

Most of the tales are creations of Manwaring's imagination, based on the lore and traditions of the region and, unfortunately, it shows. He just doesn't seem to have the ‘‘pen'' of the storyteller and the majority of the tales are devoid of feeling and this special haunting quality associated with myths and legends. I believe that in the hands of a better writer, we would have a much more attractive result. Having said that, the thirty-eighth story ''The Angel of the Thames'' is a deeply moving text. Father Thames, the bearer of monarchs and criminals alike, is given a voice and narrates his story and his agony over the ill-doings of the humans who wound him deeply as time goes by. This is a beautiful piece and a solemn cry for the destruction of the environment.

And thus, the journey to the lore and myths of the Isles, will commence again soon...