Stories by Subject
The Ankou (Death)
As in many other cultures, the Bretons personify Death as a fearsome being who takes people's lives. Known in Breton as ann Ankou, a skeletal being who drives a cart and carries a scythe, the actions, sightings, and sometimes cheating of Death are the subject of a number of Breton stories.
"The Ankou and the Father of his Godson," translated by Michelle Collins
"Carefree, or the Farrier and Death," translated by Michelle Collins
"A Just Man," translated by David Silvernail
"The Ankou and the Father of his Godson," translated by Michelle Collins
"Carefree, or the Farrier and Death," translated by Michelle Collins
"A Just Man," translated by David Silvernail
Cats
The City of Is
The Devil
While in many ways they superficially resemble the devil stories of other cultures of the West, unlike Faust, the heroes of Breton stories do not often lose their souls to the Prince of Darkness or his minions. In fact, the Devil often defeats himself through blunders on his own part. However, this does not mean that the heroes' struggles against the Devil and other demons are necessarily easy.
"The Brigand and his Brother, the Hermit," translated by Michelle Collins
"The Captain Protected by the Devil," translated by Michelle Collins
"Carefree, or the Farrier and Death," translated by Michelle Collins
"The Devil and the Dressmaker," translated by Michelle Collins
"The Devil's Son," translated by Michelle Collins
"The Devil Transformed into a Girl," translated by Michelle Collins
"The Diabolical Architect," translated by Michelle Collins
"The Diabolical Fiddler," translated by Michelle Collins
"The Magician and his Valet," translated by Michelle Collins
"The Marquis de Tromelin," translated by Michelle Collins
"Rodomont," translated by Michelle Collins
"The Brigand and his Brother, the Hermit," translated by Michelle Collins
"The Captain Protected by the Devil," translated by Michelle Collins
"Carefree, or the Farrier and Death," translated by Michelle Collins
"The Devil and the Dressmaker," translated by Michelle Collins
"The Devil's Son," translated by Michelle Collins
"The Devil Transformed into a Girl," translated by Michelle Collins
"The Diabolical Architect," translated by Michelle Collins
"The Diabolical Fiddler," translated by Michelle Collins
"The Magician and his Valet," translated by Michelle Collins
"The Marquis de Tromelin," translated by Michelle Collins
"Rodomont," translated by Michelle Collins
Fairies
It is said that, in the days of yore, fairies were a common sight in Brittany, especially around grottoes. However, in recent centuries, their numbers have decreased, and many, but not all, Bretons ceased to believe in them. In Breton stories, fairies often appear, frequently to assist the heroes and heroines or to serve as their godmothers.
"Cendrouse," translated by Michelle Collins
"The Child Who Would Seek Remedies," translated by Elianna Lisan
"The Death of the Fairies," translated by Elianna Lisan and Michelle Collins
"The Fairy's Present," translated by Michelle Collins
"Cendrouse," translated by Michelle Collins
"The Child Who Would Seek Remedies," translated by Elianna Lisan
"The Death of the Fairies," translated by Elianna Lisan and Michelle Collins
"The Fairy's Present," translated by Michelle Collins
Familiar Tales
If the plots of these stories seem familiar to you, it is probably because you have heard or read a similar story from another (possibly your own) culture. These are traditional Breton stories that are similar to well-known legends and fairy tales.
"Cendrouse," translated by Michelle Collins
"Rodomont," translated by Michelle Collins
"Cendrouse," translated by Michelle Collins
"Rodomont," translated by Michelle Collins
Gargantua
Fan fiction is nothing new to the Bretons. Quite a few original stories about Gargantua from the classic novel Gargantua and Pantagruel by François Rabelais exist in the Breton oral tradition.
"The Birth of Gargantua and his Voyages," translated by Michelle Collins
"Gargantua, Godson of the Fairies," translated by Michelle Collins
"The Birth of Gargantua and his Voyages," translated by Michelle Collins
"Gargantua, Godson of the Fairies," translated by Michelle Collins
Grottoes
"The Death of the Fairies," translated by Elianna Lisan and Michelle Collins
"The Flower of the Rock," translated by Marjorie Stump
"The Flower of the Rock," translated by Marjorie Stump
Hauntings
"Fearless Jean," translated by Marjorie Stump
"Some Short Legends on the City of Is," translated by Michelle Collins
"Some Short Legends on the City of Is," translated by Michelle Collins
Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory
Like other traditionally Christian cultures, the Bretons have their own stories about the realms of the Christian afterlife. Some stories seek to explain who will be saved or damned through the storyteller's interpretation of Roman Catholic doctrine, while others depict Bretons who end up in Heaven or Hell in unexpected ways. Brigands and hermits are common stock characters in these stories.
"The Brigand and his Brother, the Hermit," translated by Michelle Collins
"Carefree, or the Farrier and Death," translated by Michelle Collins
"He Who Went to Carry a Letter to Heaven," translated by Michelle Collins
"Pope Innocent," translated by Michelle Collins
"The Brigand and his Brother, the Hermit," translated by Michelle Collins
"Carefree, or the Farrier and Death," translated by Michelle Collins
"He Who Went to Carry a Letter to Heaven," translated by Michelle Collins
"Pope Innocent," translated by Michelle Collins
Korrigans
Korrigans are small, humanoid creatures similar to leprechauns.
"The Korrigan Groom," translated by Michelle Collins
"The Korrigans and the Horses," translated by Susan Oldrieve
"The Korrigans and the Young Girl," translated by Michelle Collins
"The Tree and the Birds," translated by Michelle Collins
"The Korrigan Groom," translated by Michelle Collins
"The Korrigans and the Horses," translated by Susan Oldrieve
"The Korrigans and the Young Girl," translated by Michelle Collins
"The Tree and the Birds," translated by Michelle Collins
Revenants
Menhirs (Standing Stones) and Dolmen
Throughout Brittany as well as in other Celtic lands, there are a number of large standing stones scattered across Brittany, which have inspired a number of stories. Some of these stories explain their still uncertain origins, while others describe the uses and even actions of the stones themselves.
"The Birth of Gargantua and his Voyages," translated by Michelle Collins
"Gargantua, Godson of the Fairies," translated by Michelle Collins
"St. Cornély's Soldiers," translated by Susan Oldrieve
"The Stones of Plouhinec," translated by Susan Oldrieve
"The Birth of Gargantua and his Voyages," translated by Michelle Collins
"Gargantua, Godson of the Fairies," translated by Michelle Collins
"St. Cornély's Soldiers," translated by Susan Oldrieve
"The Stones of Plouhinec," translated by Susan Oldrieve
Mermaids
"The Mermaid and the Gar," translated by Michelle Collins
"The Mermaid's Child," translated by Michelle Collins
"The Mermaid's Child," translated by Michelle Collins
Morgans
Similar to sirens or mermaids, Morgans are sprites said to live along the coast of Brittany. These fantastically beautiful creatures live in their own society deep underwater and sometimes prey on the humans of the land.
"The Morgans of the Isle of Ushant," translated by Elianna Lisan
"The Morgans of the Isle of Ushant," translated by Elianna Lisan
Princesses
"The Beauty of the Golden Keys," translated by Marjorie Stump
"The Blue Bird," translated by Marjorie Stump
"The Captain Protected by the Devil," translated by Michelle Collins
"Fearless Jean," translated by Marjorie Stump
"The Morgans of the Isle of Ushant," translated by Elianna Lisan
"The Shepherd Who Married the King's Daughter," translated by Michelle Collins
"The Blue Bird," translated by Marjorie Stump
"The Captain Protected by the Devil," translated by Michelle Collins
"Fearless Jean," translated by Marjorie Stump
"The Morgans of the Isle of Ushant," translated by Elianna Lisan
"The Shepherd Who Married the King's Daughter," translated by Michelle Collins