Land of Mist and Magic: The Myths and Legends that Shaped Britain

Britain is a land steeped in legend. From the Scottish Islands to the valleys of Wales, or the coves and inlets of Cornwall, scarcely a hillock, spring or churchyard is without its own story of mythical creatures, magical adventures or glimpses into another world.

Land of Mist and Magic collects and retells these stories of ghosts, fairy changelings and demon dogs deeply embedded in the landscape, together with those of more familiar heroes such as King Arthur, Beowulf and Robin Hood, that lie at the very threshold of recorded history.

With introductory sections setting out the historical background and origin of the myths, the book is composed of beautiful retellings of the stories, illustrated from the British Library’s unparalleled collection of manuscripts and printed books. Visually stunning and packed with stirring and surprising tales, Land of Mist and Magic is a treasure-house of the stories that shaped our nation.