Books worth reading #11 - 'The English Year' by Steve Roud

Steve Roud will be a very familiar name to anyone interested in British folklore or traditional music. And this, I firmly believe, is one of his best books.

The book is exactly what you'd expect it to be - a day by day walk through the English year explaining the saints days and traditional events and customs associated with each date. It does only feature England - if he'd included Wales and Scotland too it would be an immense paperback. As it is, it's nearly two inches thick.

Steve Roud has been researching British folklore for over thirty years and has written many books. One other I'd mention is the excellent New Penguin Book of English Folk Songs, which he edited with Julia Bishop.

Both books are well worth a read.