Frideswide
Fortea Morgana :) PeteByrdie certificated Princess
- Joined
- Jul 14, 2014
- Messages
- 16,318
- Location
- An Eochair
There is a strong case that she made things up. Which is fine! her fairy stories are brilliant But she seems to have been unable/unwilling to differentiate between evidence she collected from another source (eg she was told as a child or something) and imaginings she created in a mind steeped in folklore and creativity.
It is, in retrospect, unfortunate that Katherine Briggs (who I think was president of the Folklore Society at the time) was a personal friend and believed in totally in the genuine natures of Tongue's work. This gave Tongue an authority she perhaps didn't deserve - and normal critical scholarly attention didn't happen until both had died.
It doesn't take away from the delight and wonder of her tales IMNSHO. It /does/ mean that the waters are muddied for data collection and further research though.
Have a look at this @Ghost In The Machine
https://writinginmargins.weebly.com/ruth-tongue.html
It is, in retrospect, unfortunate that Katherine Briggs (who I think was president of the Folklore Society at the time) was a personal friend and believed in totally in the genuine natures of Tongue's work. This gave Tongue an authority she perhaps didn't deserve - and normal critical scholarly attention didn't happen until both had died.
It doesn't take away from the delight and wonder of her tales IMNSHO. It /does/ mean that the waters are muddied for data collection and further research though.
Have a look at this @Ghost In The Machine
https://writinginmargins.weebly.com/ruth-tongue.html