John Weeks

John Weeks has been listening to stories all his life. An early memory was sitting with his mother listening to the stories told on the radio programme, “Listen with Mother”. As an older child he loved to hear the tales his grandfather told of his travels.

John studied Classics and English at Oxford University. During a career in Social Work he spent much time listening to the stories people told, through which they sought to give meaning to their experiences.

On a visit to Oslo he saw Theodor Kittelsen’s painting, “The Castle of Soria Moria”. Intrigued, he did some research and discovered it was an illustration for a collection of Norwegian Folk Tales published in 1883. Reading that tale he decided to have a go at retelling it himself. Having enjoyed that, he looked for more tales to research and retell.

John has travelled widely around Europe. He has drawn upon those travels in describing the landscapes in which his folk tales are set. Like characters in them, he has walked the shore at Travemunde, he has skirted Lake Bracciano and he has explored the peat bogs of Connemara.

He has drawn too upon his wide reading of European Literature and history. Chaucer, Shakespeare and the Irish epic, “The Tain” are all referenced in the tales.

Asked what relevance old folk tales could have to today’s world, John responded:

                In these dark days there is something to be said for moments of escape. I admire the work

                of William Morris. In the introduction to a collection of his poems Morris acknowledged

                they would do nothing to banish peoples’ fears or relieve their cares. He presented himself 

instead as one:

                                “Who strives to build a shadowy isle of bliss

                                Midmost the beating of the steely sea”.

                It is in that spirit that I offer my retelling of folk tales