Lore of the Deep: Folklore & Wisdom from the Watery Wilds

Ages 6 to 12, Grades 1 to 7

The Lore of the Deep dives beneath the surface of world folklore, myth and tradition, in search of our mystical relationship with the sea and its depths.

Discover the world beneath the waves with this magically illustrated treasury of folklore from the ocean deeps.

Do you know the story of the ghost ship Mary Celeste? Or the myths behind seaquakes and tsunamis? Have you heard of Nanaue, the Hawaiian King of the Sharks?

For millennia, humans have lived on and around the sea, relying on it for food, trade, and exploration. The myths, folktales, and lore that have washed up from that relationship are as mysterious as they are varied—here, they're set down in a diverse and engaging format for readers 6-12 years old. Lore of the Deep takes readers out to sea and onto the tides of time to discover the myriad answers to our most ancient questions.

Divided into six chapters: Mythical Seas & OceansCreatures of the Seas & OceansSeafarersStormy WatersOcean LandscapesOminous Oceans You will uncover the ancient traditions of sailors, shapeshifting underwater spirits, stories that explain the origin of the world’s oceans, and the gods and goddesses believed to rule over the deep.

Also in the series: Lore of the Wild: Folklore and Wisdom from NatureLore of the Land: Folklore and Wisdom from the Wild EarthLore of the Stars: Folklore and Wisdom from the Skies Above

About the Author

Claire Cock-Starkey is an author who worked with Ben Schott on his hugely successful Miscellanies and Almanacs. She has worked for BBC Radio 4 and written many other miscellanies and fact-filled books on history, libraries, words, books, and museums, including: Penguins, Pineapples and Pangolins (British Library, 2016), The Book Lovers’ Miscellany (Bodleian Library Publishing, 2017). She is happiest perched in the British Library reading rooms surrounded by a pile of obscure and fascinating books, researching her next book.