Fear is a primordial instinct, from humans to the most basic sentient animals. Fear kept our ancestors alive. It trains us to recognise universal threats and instructs our bodies to respond accordingly. For the vast majority of human evolution, the things that we fear have been simple and consistent - predatory or poisonous animals; the dark, and the things that may lurk in it... However, as writer Benjamin Myers points out in the introduction, fear has, very recently and very rapidly, changed. We are now living in a polished, technological, sterile world that our ancestors - even a couple of centuries ago, could not have begun to fathom. The fears that we face now- climate collapse, dystopian futures, going viral in a compromising video, are a million miles away from the homely fears we used to tackle.
Is it any wonder that traditional folk horror is enjoying a resurgence? From the explosion of ghost tours round historic cities to mainstream films like The VVitch (2015) and Midsommar (2019), it makes sense that we would want to seek out more familiar horrors, fears that feel natural, almost comforting, in comparison. Folk horror captures the eeriness inherent in nature and rural life. The gnarled tree standing alone on a moor; the ancient traditions and folklore of those isolated villages that doesn't welcome strangers; that feeling of being watched you just can't shake when you walk through the woods at night. I'm not going to dive too much into what truly makes folk horror right now, but if you're interested there's a good introduction to it here: https://strandmag.com/so-what-actually-is-folk-horror/
I first came across Damnable Tales over a year ago on the Unbound platform (think Kickstarter for books), and I didn't think twice about contributing. Ever since the time I stumbled upon a late night BBC4 showing of The Wicker Man (1973) as an already pretty macabre young teenager, I've been fascinated by folk horror. Something about those animal masks and the lilting yet sinister soundtrack stuck with me long after the film ended. I loved the mix of fear, discomfort and feeling somehow more connected to nature and simpler times. Even now, I like to seek out local folk traditions and rituals wherever I live (if you've never been wassailing apples, I definitely recommend it), and I'm a sucker for every film that announces itself as folk horror.
Months passed following my contribution, and I followed the progress of compiler and illustrator Richard Wells with mounting excitement. When it finally landed on my doormat last month I literally could not wait to get stuck into it. Damnable Tales is an anthology of classic folk horror short stories, from both masters of the genre, lesser known gems, and even literary greats not usually associated with horror, such as Thomas Hardy. The 23 tales span nearly 100 years of folk tales, diving into worlds of witches, ancient spirits, sinister rituals and wild beasts, and are best enjoyed by candlelight on a chilly autumn night. As with any short story collection, not every instalment is going to be a winner. Some fables I got completely immersed in, while others had me surreptitiously checking how many more pages I had to get through. I won't name and shame the ones I didn't enjoy so much - everyone's tastes are different, but I will highlight my faves. There were so many that I really enjoyed, but these four stood out to me, to a point where I'll certainly be seeking out their other folk horror stories -short or otherwise.
The Withered Arm - Thomas Hardy: The beautiful young bride of a wealthy yeoman becomes afflicted with a mysterious disease, and in her desperation to cure it, turns to witchcraft, lore and unknowingly, her new husband's ex-lover
Out Of The Sea - A.C. Benson: By one of the lesser known authors in the collection, this tells the tale of an unfortunate family in an isolated coastal village haunted by a horrifying apparition that arises (you guessed it) out of the sea.
How Pan Came To Little Ingleton: Margery Lawrence: A self-righteous minister on a mission to sanctify his flock learns first-hand that the old gods need to be respected toox.
The First Sheaf - H.R. Wakefield: A old man recounts the tale of how he lost his arm after he and his father moved to a hostile, unwelcoming village intent on following the old rituals to prevent a poor harvest.
Regardless of the quality of the tales, I can't fault the presentation. Richard Wells' lino cut prints depicting each story are wonderful, and capture the essence of each fable, and the bookplate that came with my copy was a delight. If you like to walk down country lanes alone in the dark, if you love the feeling you get when you walk through an abandoned village green surrounded by squat stone cottages, if you've ever thought you heard ethereal music on the wind on the night of a new moon, then these damnable tales are definitely for you.
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