author
Paul Sébillot
1843–1918
A tireless collector of tales, customs, and beliefs, he helped preserve the living folklore of Brittany and other regions of France. His books opened a window onto oral traditions at a time when many feared they were disappearing.
2 Audiobooks
Petite légende dorée de la Haute-Bretagne
by Paul Sébillot
Légendes et curiosités des métiers
by Paul Sébillot
About the author
Born in Matignon in Brittany on February 6, 1843, Paul Sébillot became one of France’s best-known folklorists, as well as a painter and writer. He is especially remembered for documenting popular traditions, legends, songs, and superstitions, with a lasting focus on his native Brittany.
He played an important role in organizing the study of folklore in France, helping found the Société des Traditions Populaires and editing the Revue des Traditions Populaires. An obituary published in Folk-Lore described him as a major figure in French folkloric studies, reflecting how widely his work was respected by fellow scholars.
Sébillot’s writings gathered material from everyday storytellers and local communities, preserving voices that might otherwise have been lost. He died in Paris on April 23, 1918, but his work remains valuable for readers interested in folk belief, oral storytelling, and the cultural history of France.