The Witch of Treva [Cornish Folk Tale]

2016-05-05

On tonight's podcast, we'll be looking at The Witch of Treva, a Cornish folk tale first brought to us by Robert Hunt. This version was published in 1881, in the third edition of, "Popular Romances of the West of England; or, The Drolls, Traditions, and Superstitions of Old Cornwall," and is -- like Little Red Cap -- actually two stories in one. Both relate the life and times of a not unkindly Witch. What makes this story a little different, is that instead of the Witch being a solitary figure, sitting around a hut somewhere h...

On tonight's podcast, we'll be looking at The Witch of Treva, a Cornish folk tale first brought to us by Robert Hunt.

This version was published in 1881, in the third edition of, "Popular Romances of the West of England; or, The Drolls, Traditions, and Superstitions of Old Cornwall," and is -- like Little Red Cap -- actually two stories in one. Both relate the life and times of a not unkindly Witch.

What makes this story a little different, is that instead of the Witch being a solitary figure, sitting around a hut somewhere hunting children to stew up in her pot -- the Witch of Treva is actually married, to a husband, who doesn't seem to give a whit about her powers.

He seems much more concerned about getting a good meal, than he is about having a necromancer for a wife.

I guess you take the good with the bad.

The second half of the story is my favorite though, because it reads like a documentary, and if you remove the thought of magic from the mix -- it's about a clutch of old men terrified of rabbits.

The Witch of Treva is a tale of marriage, meat, and a very clever hare.

I hope you enjoy.

Background music provided by: https://soundcloud.com/michel-escaillas/classik-electro

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