Frank Carlson Library

Strong, regal, and dazzling, there is no more romantic a creature in both folklore and pop culture than the majestic unicorn. Known for its preference for solitary living in the depths of enchanted and perfumed forests, the unicorn will only occasionally reveal itself to virginal ladies and/or save the day with its magical horn, which is said to neutralize poison when dipped into food or drink. In medieval times, unicorns were a symbol of chivalry...

Retells the story of how the young Arthur became High King of all Britain and assembled his Knights of the Round Table.

"The follow-up to T. Kingfisher's bestselling gothic novella, What Moves the Dead. Retired soldier, Alex Easton, returns in a horrifying new adventure. After their terrifying ordeal at the Usher manor, Alex Easton feels as if they just survived another war. All they crave is rest, routine, and sunshine, but instead, as a favor to Angus and Miss Potter, they find themself heading to their family hunting lodge, deep in the cold, damp forests of their...

These lively and entertaining folk tales from one of Britain's most diverse counties are vividly retold by writer, storyteller and poe t Jennie Bailey and storyteller, writer,psychotherapist and shamanic guide David England. Take a fantasy journey around Lancashire, the Phantom Voice at Southport, the Leprechauns of Liverpool and the famous hanging of Pendle Witches at Lancaster,to the infamous Miss Whiplash at Clitheroe. Enjoy a rich feast of local...

Ever hear the one about the man who wakes up after a chance sexual encounter to discover he's been involuntarily relieved of one of his kidneys? Or the tiny gift-wrapped box from a recently departed lover that reveals a horrible secret? Everyone knows contemporary legends, those barely believable, often lurid, cautionary tales, always told as though they happened to the friend of a friend. Sometimes we pass them on to others unsure of their truthfulness,...

Four fantastical stories filled with wit and wisdom, humor and heart In this wonderful collection of fairy tales, John Gardner turns a timeless tradition into a topsy-turvy whirlwind. In the title story, a kindly simpleton unwittingly becomes sovereign of an avian race. A wicked witch seeks a new profession - and, thus, identity - in "The Witch's Wish." In "The Pear Tree," a sweet young boy is rewarded for his good deeds. And "The Gnome and the Dragon"...

The Highlands of Scotland are rich in traditional stories. Even today, in the modern world of internet and supermarkets, old legends dating as far back as the times of the Gaels, Picts and Vikings are still told at night around the fireside. They are tales of the sidh – the fairy people – and their homes in the green hills; of great and gory battles, and of encounters with the last wolves in Britain; of solitary ghosts, and of supernatural creatures...

Excerpt: "Since the childhood of the races, certain old-world stories have appeared in different form in the folklore of different nations, all bearing the stamp of the same source; the interest of primitive people in attributing human impulses and human lines of conduct to the animal world. Perhaps the earliest of all is The Kid Who Would Not Go, which corresponds to the old New England nursery tale of the Old Woman and Her Pig, and which, in its...

Excerpt: "The Governor descended the steps of the Capitol slowly and with pauses, lifting a list frequently to his eye. He had intermittently pencilled it between stages of the forenoon's public business, and his gait grew absent as he recurred now to his jottings in their accumulation, with a slight pain at their number, and the definite fear that they would be more in seasons to come. They were the names of his friends' children to whom his excellent...

In this delightful story, Ellie is a small magic fairy who visits lonely children to help them smile. She helps animals who live in a magic forest, when they are lost, sad or frightened. Ellie finds a friend in a lovely mermaid, who lives in a pool deep within the forest.