Traditions and Hearthside Stories of West Cornwall, Second Series

A lively anthology of West Cornwall’s oral heritage, this volume gathers the region’s most beloved legends, customs and seasonal rites, all illustrated with charming woodcuts that bring the old‑world atmosphere to life. The editor has drawn from generations of “hearthside” storytelling, preserving everything from whispered superstitions to bustling village festivities, and offering listeners a vivid picture of a community where myth and daily labor intertwined.

Among the pieces is an old Christmas play called “Duffy and the Devil,” a rib‑tickling dramatization of a local love story that once thrilled pen‑and‑paper audiences. Performed in barns or farmhouse kitchens, the production relied on improvised dialogue, bold verse and a flamboyant cast dressed in bright, makeshift costumes borrowed from the gentry. A mischievous jester kept the crowd’s laughter rolling, while Father Christmas narrated the action, giving a taste of the raucous, communal theater that marked festive evenings in historic Penwith.