Unriddling the World
Fifty Wonder Tales
Published on 6. November 2025
Book
Hardback
352 pages
978-1-80677-016-8 (ISBN)
Description
'A landmark in the modern storytelling revival' Professor Ronald Hutton
For more than forty years, Hugh Lupton has been one of Britain's most celebrated storytellers, bringing myths, legends and folktales from around the world to audiences of all ages. In Unriddling the World, he gathers fifty of the stories that have stayed with him throughout his career: tales of tricksters and heroes, transformations and journeys, wisdom and wonder.
Drawn from traditions across Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas, these are stories that have travelled through centuries, carried from voice to voice and generation to generation. Adapted for the spoken word, Lupton's retellings capture the rhythm, energy and immediacy of live storytelling.
A rich treasury of traditional tales and a celebration of the stories that connect us, Unriddling the World is both an invitation to read and an invitation to tell.
For more than forty years, Hugh Lupton has been one of Britain's most celebrated storytellers, bringing myths, legends and folktales from around the world to audiences of all ages. In Unriddling the World, he gathers fifty of the stories that have stayed with him throughout his career: tales of tricksters and heroes, transformations and journeys, wisdom and wonder.
Drawn from traditions across Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas, these are stories that have travelled through centuries, carried from voice to voice and generation to generation. Adapted for the spoken word, Lupton's retellings capture the rhythm, energy and immediacy of live storytelling.
A rich treasury of traditional tales and a celebration of the stories that connect us, Unriddling the World is both an invitation to read and an invitation to tell.
Reviews / Votes
'Not only a superbly rich anthology of stories, but a score for performance. These are tales that are orchestrated for the living voice, and the interaction of teller and hearer' -- Rowan Williams, bishop, theologian and poet 'Finding a voice as convincing when read as when heard is akin to walking a tightrope. Hugh Lupton is our finest British storyteller, and this marvellous worldwide anthology abounds with tales of endurance and compassion, friendship and wit. It's his outstanding and lasting legacy. Unriddling the World is my Desert Island book' -- Kevin Crossley-Holland, Carnegie Medalist, author of the 'Arthur' trilogy 'A landmark in the modern storytelling revival' -- Professor Ronald Hutton 'Read and be enraptured by the deepest magic of all: the absolute truth of the mythworld that binds us beyond time, across cultures' -- Erica WagnerMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Product notice
Cloth over boards
Dimensions
Height: 236 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 30 mm
Weight
522 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-80677-016-8 (9781806770168)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
11/2025
Wilton Square Books
€11.99
Available for download
Person
Hugh Lupton's interest in traditional music, in street theatre, in live poetry and in myth, resulted in him becoming a professional storyteller in 1981. He was a founder member of 'The Company of Storytellers' and has been a major figure in the revival of oral storytelling in Britain and Europe. Hugh tells stories from many cultures, but his particular passion is for the hidden layers of the British landscape and the stories and ballads that give voice to them. He has published several collections of folk tales for children and two acclaimed novels, The Ballad of John Clare and The Assembly of the Severed Head. Hugh lives in Norfolk.