a less whimsical illustration that encapsulates the fun of searching an archive of over 15

The Archive...

Have a wander through the Fireside folktale archive below, and see what you stumble into. Use the filters to narrow the world down, or fling the doors wide and browse by country, region, theme, collector, or whatever takes your fancy, then let the table do the rest. A few clicks can carry you from storm-tossed coasts to mountain villages, from clever tricksters to quiet miracles, and you will often find that the story you meant to read is not the one that chooses you.

Archive under construction...

Structured Filters

Use these drop down lists to choose one or more filters to select groups of tales to investigate in more detail

Other than my own versions of tales (as indicated), the stories in this archive are in the public domain

Stories in this view:

3988

Title	Book	Author / Collector	Country	Subject	Year
The Spectral Cat	Goblin Tales of Lancashire	James Bowker	England	The Spectral Cat: animal apparition, fear, and a haunting by night.	1883
The Skriker	Goblin Tales of Lancashire	James Bowker	England	The Skriker: death omen, terror, and the mind undone by fear.	1883
The Captured Fairies	Goblin Tales of Lancashire	James Bowker	England	The Captured Fairies: human greed, fairy captivity, and threatened supernatural revenge.	1883
The Fairy's Spade	Goblin Tales of Lancashire	James Bowker	England	The Fairy’s Spade: fairy labour, buried treasure, and traces of enchantment.	1883
The Earthenware Goose	Goblin Tales of Lancashire	James Bowker	England	The Earthenware Goose: comic trickery, deception, and uncanny rural folklore.	1883
Mother And Child	Goblin Tales of Lancashire	James Bowker	England	Mother And Child: maternal haunting, grief, memory, and spectral domestic sorrow.	1883
The Phantom Of The Fell	Goblin Tales of Lancashire	James Bowker	England	The Phantom Of The Fell: lonely landscape, haunting, and spectral persistence.	1883
The Black Cock	Goblin Tales of Lancashire	James Bowker	England	The Black Cock: satanic omen, dread, and uncanny animal manifestation.	1883
The Babe Herakles	Herakles, the Hero of Thebes, and Other Heroes of the Myth	Mary E. Burt	Greece	The Babe Herakles: infancy, strength, destiny, danger, wonder, heroism, divine lineage, courage, omen, precocity	1900
Herakles Is Doomed To Serve Eurystheus	Herakles, the Hero of Thebes, and Other Heroes of the Myth	Mary E. Burt	Greece	Herakles Is Doomed To Serve Eurystheus: fate, servitude, humiliation, heroism, atonement, command, endurance, divine will, trial, obedience	1900
The First Labor--The Nemean Lion	Herakles, the Hero of Thebes, and Other Heroes of the Myth	Mary E. Burt	Greece	The First Labor–The Nemean Lion: strength, courage, monster-slaying, invulnerability, endurance, combat, heroism, labour, triumph, ferocity	1900
The Second Labor--Herakles Kills The Water-Snake Of Lake Lerna	Herakles, the Hero of Thebes, and Other Heroes of the Myth	Mary E. Burt	Greece	The Second Labor–Herakles Kills The Water-Snake Of Lake Lerna: monstrosity, regeneration, courage, battle, persistence, danger, cunning, labour, heroism, victory	1900
The Third Labor--The Golden-Horned Hind	Herakles, the Hero of Thebes, and Other Heroes of the Myth	Mary E. Burt	Greece	The Third Labor–The Golden-Horned Hind: pursuit, patience, sacredness, restraint, endurance, obedience, wilderness, labour, reverence, capture	1900
The Fourth Labor--The Erymanthian Boar	Herakles, the Hero of Thebes, and Other Heroes of the Myth	Mary E. Burt	Greece	The Fourth Labor–The Erymanthian Boar: capture, strength, wildness, endurance, pursuit, courage, mountain hunt, labour, mastery, triumph	1900
The Fifth Labor--Herakles Cleans The Augeian Stables	Herakles, the Hero of Thebes, and Other Heroes of the Myth	Mary E. Burt	Greece	The Fifth Labor–Herakles Cleans The Augeian Stables: ingenuity, labour, cleansing, humiliation, strength, problem-solving, perseverance, corruption, triumph, resourcefulness	1900
The Sixth Labor--The Birds Of Stymphalos	Herakles, the Hero of Thebes, and Other Heroes of the Myth	Mary E. Burt	Greece	The Sixth Labor–The Birds Of Stymphalos: menace, cleansing, archery, courage, monstrous creatures, noise, danger, labour, ingenuity, victory	1900
The Seventh Labor--Herakles Catches The Mad Bull Of Crete	Herakles, the Hero of Thebes, and Other Heroes of the Myth	Mary E. Burt	Greece	The Seventh Labor–Herakles Catches The Mad Bull Of Crete: strength, capture, madness, danger, endurance, mastery, labour, courage, wild power, triumph	1900
The Eighth Labor--The Horses Of Diomedes	Herakles, the Hero of Thebes, and Other Heroes of the Myth	Mary E. Burt	Greece	The Eighth Labor–The Horses Of Diomedes: savagery, conquest, danger, monstrous beasts, strength, taming, violence, courage, labour, triumph	1900
The Ninth Labor--The Girdle Of Hippolyte	Herakles, the Hero of Thebes, and Other Heroes of the Myth	Mary E. Burt	Greece	The Ninth Labor–The Girdle Of Hippolyte: quest, Amazons, warfare, misunderstanding, courage, honour, conflict, desire, labour, conquest	1900
The Tenth Labor--The Cattle Of Geryon	Herakles, the Hero of Thebes, and Other Heroes of the Myth	Mary E. Burt	Greece	The Tenth Labor–The Cattle Of Geryon: journey, distance, endurance, monster-slaying, cattle, conquest, perseverance, labour, strength, triumph	1900
The Eleventh Labor--The Golden Apples Of Hesperides	Herakles, the Hero of Thebes, and Other Heroes of the Myth	Mary E. Burt	Greece	The Eleventh Labor–The Golden Apples Of Hesperides: quest, immortality, cunning, endurance, paradise, guardianship, desire, strength, wonder, triumph	1900
The Twelfth Labor--Herakles Fetches Cerberus Out Of Hades	Herakles, the Hero of Thebes, and Other Heroes of the Myth	Mary E. Burt	Greece	The Twelfth Labor–Herakles Fetches Cerberus Out Of Hades: underworld, death, descent, courage, strength, impossible task, return, labour, dread, triumph	1900
Theseus, The Hero Of Athens	Herakles, the Hero of Thebes, and Other Heroes of the Myth	Mary E. Burt	Greece	Theseus, The Hero Of Athens: heroism, kingship, civic duty, courage, identity, justice, leadership, adventure, Athens, destiny	1900
The First Exploits Of Theseus He Finds His Father	Herakles, the Hero of Thebes, and Other Heroes of the Myth	Mary E. Burt	Greece	The First Exploits Of Theseus He Finds His Father: identity, journey, initiation, courage, recognition, lineage, adventure, maturity, belonging, destiny	1900
The Adventures Of Theseus	Herakles, the Hero of Thebes, and Other Heroes of the Myth	Mary E. Burt	Greece	The Adventures Of Theseus: heroism, adventure, courage, monsters, journey, justice, cunning, kingship, youthful valour, triumph	1900
Jason, The Hero Of Thessaly	Herakles, the Hero of Thebes, and Other Heroes of the Myth	Mary E. Burt	Greece	Jason, The Hero Of Thessaly: heroism, destiny, youth, leadership, exile, identity, courage, promise, adventure, nobility	1900
Jason Claims His Throne	Herakles, the Hero of Thebes, and Other Heroes of the Myth	Mary E. Burt	Greece	Jason Claims His Throne: kingship, justice, inheritance, usurpation, courage, destiny, leadership, rightful rule, challenge, restoration	1900
The Expedition	Herakles, the Hero of Thebes, and Other Heroes of the Myth	Mary E. Burt	Greece	The Expedition: voyage, fellowship, quest, danger, leadership, adventure, courage, teamwork, destiny, exploration	1900
Jason Finds The Golden Fleece	Herakles, the Hero of Thebes, and Other Heroes of the Myth	Mary E. Burt	Greece	Jason Finds The Golden Fleece: quest, adventure, courage, kingship, magic, perseverance, peril, divine aid, treasure, triumph	1900
Orpheus, The Hero Of The Lyre	Herakles, the Hero of Thebes, and Other Heroes of the Myth	Mary E. Burt	Greece	Orpheus, The Hero Of The Lyre: music, poetry, enchantment, love, loss, art, descent, longing, grief, inspiration	1900
Pelops, The Hero Of The Peloponnesos	Herakles, the Hero of Thebes, and Other Heroes of the Myth	Mary E. Burt	Greece	Pelops, The Hero Of The Peloponnesos: kingship, chariot-race, ambition, courtship, deceit, victory, dynasty, fate, power, foundation	1900
Perseus, The Hero Of Argos	Herakles, the Hero of Thebes, and Other Heroes of the Myth	Mary E. Burt	Greece	Perseus, The Hero Of Argos: heroism, destiny, lineage, courage, kingship, prophecy, adventure, divine favour, honour, triumph	1900
Perseus Finds The Gorgons	Herakles, the Hero of Thebes, and Other Heroes of the Myth	Mary E. Burt	Greece	Perseus Finds The Gorgons: quest, courage, monsters, divine aid, cunning, danger, prophecy, adventure, stealth, victory	1900
Perseus Rescues Andromeda	Herakles, the Hero of Thebes, and Other Heroes of the Myth	Mary E. Burt	Greece	Perseus Rescues Andromeda: rescue, heroism, love, sacrifice, monster, courage, deliverance, marriage, peril, triumph	1900
Perseus Becomes King Of Tiryns	Herakles, the Hero of Thebes, and Other Heroes of the Myth	Mary E. Burt	Greece	Perseus Becomes King Of Tiryns: kingship, destiny, homecoming, legitimacy, triumph, inheritance, leadership, restoration, heroism, rule	1900
Triptolemos, The Hero Of Eleusis, And Demeter, The Earth-Mother	Herakles, the Hero of Thebes, and Other Heroes of the Myth	Mary E. Burt	Greece	Triptolemos, The Hero Of Eleusis, And Demeter, The Earth-Mother: agriculture, initiation, divine favour, earth, fertility, teaching, motherhood, sacred knowledge, harvest, civilisation	1900
Demeter's Grief	Herakles, the Hero of Thebes, and Other Heroes of the Myth	Mary E. Burt	Greece	Demeter’s Grief: loss, mourning, motherhood, separation, famine, search, divine sorrow, seasonal death, devotion, earth	1900
Demeter's Joy	Herakles, the Hero of Thebes, and Other Heroes of the Myth	Mary E. Burt	Greece	Demeter’s Joy: reunion, renewal, motherhood, harvest, fertility, return, divine blessing, seasonal rebirth, abundance, hope	1900
Triptolemos Becomes A Hero Demeter's Gift	Herakles, the Hero of Thebes, and Other Heroes of the Myth	Mary E. Burt	Greece	Triptolemos Becomes A Hero Demeter’s Gift: agriculture, civilisation, divine gift, teaching, harvest, renewal, fertility, gratitude, mission, blessing	1900
Prometheus, The Champion Of Mankind	Herakles, the Hero of Thebes, and Other Heroes of the Myth	Mary E. Burt	Greece	Prometheus, The Champion Of Mankind: fire, rebellion, sacrifice, humanity, civilisation, suffering, benefaction, foresight, defiance, progress	1900
Prometheus Unbound	Herakles, the Hero of Thebes, and Other Heroes of the Myth	Mary E. Burt	Greece	Prometheus Unbound: liberation, endurance, justice, suffering, defiance, release, reconciliation, hope, immortality, resilience	1900
Deukalion, The Champion Of A New Race	Herakles, the Hero of Thebes, and Other Heroes of the Myth	Mary E. Burt	Greece	Deukalion, The Champion Of A New Race: flood, survival, renewal, humanity, rebirth, endurance, divine judgement, beginnings, resilience, restoration	1900
Dædalos, A Hero Of Invention	Herakles, the Hero of Thebes, and Other Heroes of the Myth	Mary E. Burt	Greece	Dædalos, A Hero Of Invention: ingenuity, craftsmanship, invention, ambition, skill, escape, intellect, creativity, danger, legacy	1900
Phaethon, A Hero Of Bad Fortune	Herakles, the Hero of Thebes, and Other Heroes of the Myth	Mary E. Burt	Greece	Phaethon, A Hero Of Bad Fortune: pride, youth, recklessness, identity, ambition, misfortune, downfall, divine power, hubris, tragedy	1900
The Death Of Phaethon	Herakles, the Hero of Thebes, and Other Heroes of the Myth	Mary E. Burt	Greece	The Death Of Phaethon: hubris, catastrophe, downfall, grief, divine punishment, fire, mortality, recklessness, tragedy, loss	1900
The Compassion Of Constantine	Hero-Myths & Legends of the British Race	M. I. Ebbutt	England	The Compassion Of Constantine: mercy, kingship, sacrifice, and Christian moral awakening.	1910
The Story Of Constantine And Elene	Hero-Myths & Legends of the British Race	M. I. Ebbutt	England	The Story Of Constantine And Elene: imperial destiny, faith, motherhood, and sacred discovery.	1910
Robin Hood	Hero-Myths & Legends of the British Race	M. I. Ebbutt	England	Robin Hood: justice, generosity, fellowship, and rebellion against oppression.	1910
Black Colin Of Loch Awe	Hero-Myths & Legends of the British Race	M. I. Ebbutt	Scotland	Black Colin Of Loch Awe: clan loyalty, boldness, vengeance, and Highland heroism.	1910
Cuchulain, The Champion Of Ireland	Hero-Myths & Legends of the British Race	M. I. Ebbutt	England	Cuchulain, The Champion Of Ireland: heroic prowess, fate, loyalty, and tragic warrior glory.	1910

Page 1 of 1