Norfolk Folklore Society February 2024 talk announcement
Our next Norfolk Folklore Society Talk
Helen JR Bruce: Black Shuck, Gytrash and Grim, the Folkloric Black Dog as Death Omen and Guide
Wednesday 21 February 2024
Ticket options: Pay what you want + Eventbrite booking fee / £5 fixed price + booking fee
Doors open 7pm / talk starts promptly at 7.30pm
Venue: The American Library (on the ground floor, lefthand side of the Millennium Library)
This talk is part of the ‘Fantasy: Realms of Imagination’ exhibition from the British Library’s Living Knowledge Network. This talk is subsided by Anguish’s Educational Foundation and Arts Council England so tickets are pay what you want.
Hello folklore friends!
Join the Norfolk Folklore Society as we introduce author, illustrator and folklorist Helen JR Bruce who will be diving into the rich folklore and mythology surrounding Black Dogs.
This is the final instalment of our programme of events for The British Library’s Living Knowledge Network’s Fantasy: Realms of Imagination exhibition which has been funded by Anguish’s Educational Foundation and Arts Council England.
And we’re delighted to bow out with a talk about our most beloved Black Dogs! (Siofra has her own beloved Black Dog, who is most definitely a guardian and soul guide).
Helen was born and raised in Brentwood in Essex but now writes in Somerset. She writes regularly for a range of magazines and journals and the first two books in her fantasy folklore Heat of the Hunt trilogy are available now. She recently appeared on the BBC’s Mythical Creatures podcast.
The Black Dog is a recurring figure in both traditional folklore and urban myth across the world, with many appearing in the UK. Sightings have been recorded for centuries, including our very own Black Shuck in Bungay in 1577.
Helen will be exploring the Black Dog’s role as guardian and soul guide in addition to the depiction of them as monstrous hellhounds and cursed souls who cannot find rest.
We will find out why the Church Grim is bound to protect the people buried in his graveyard and discover the names of many of the dogs that have been spotted across Britain.
She says: “A great deal of what I write about is inspired by real life experiences. Ever since I was a small child, I have been accompanied by a black dog spirit, and over time I have come to be grateful for his companionship.
“I used to wake up in the night and see it sitting in the doorway to my room, the soft yellow of the landing light framing its silhouette. At first, I was frightened. But, as I grew up I came to realise that the dog was more active and present in difficult times of my life, and I understood it was a guardian and guide.
“Black dogs get a lot of bad press in folklore, often being named as portents of death, but I like to remind people that some tales tell of helpful black dogs, such as the Gurt Dog of Somerset, who guides lost travellers on the Mendip hills.”
It has been a privilege and a joy to be involved in the wonderful Fantasy: Realms of Imagination exhibition and we hope you have enjoyed the talks and the podcasts which we have presented!
Love from Siofra and Stacia
Find out more about Helen here:
Facebook: facebook.com/heatofthehunt
Facebook Groups: Dark Fae, Black Dogs and Wild Hunters
Twitter: @HelenJRBruce1
Instagram: author_helenjrbruce