Published in 2023
192 pages
Icy Sedgwick is a writer based in the north east of England. She writes Gothic-tinged not-quite-YA fantasy novels and Gothic short stories. Icy is also working on a series of experiments in historical fiction with Australian composer AJ Moon, combining spoken word stories with originally composed music. When she’s not writing fiction, she’s blogging about folklore and the supernatural.
Elsewhere, she’s working on a PhD in Film Studies, looking at the use of set design in contemporary supernatural films. She also knits up a storm, enjoys poking around old buildings, and takes more photographs than she probably should.
What is this book about?
Rebel Folklore gathers 50 of the darkest and most complicated folktale characters from around the world, showing readers why we should care about the rebels and misfits of ancient stories.
Folktales were humble stories, passed down generations by those on the fringes of women, peasants, outcast groups. Across the world, these ancient stories are filled with strange characters, complicated figures who hold up a mirror to the world that dreamt them up. From outspoken women cast as witches to anti-authority figures denounced as criminals, flawed heroes to relatable villains, Rebel Folklore celebrates 50 of these misfits and what they mean for us today.
Whether it’s Muma Padurii, the Romanian forest witch who terrorizes trespassers to protect the environment, the Churel, who stalks unfaithful men on her backwards feet, or Robin Hood, everyone’s favorite lawless activist, we can learn a lot from the rebels of days gone how to speak out, embrace our flaws, and be unashamedly ourselves – even if that means being a cannibalistic swamp witch.
