Cloven Country: The Devil and the English Landscape

'An authoritative guide . . . Harte takes his reader on a devilishly entertaining tour of England and its richly storied landscape.' - The Guardian

'This is my favourite book of the year so far. It is immaculately researched, superbly written and . . . genuinely breaks new ground in folklore studies.' - Ronald Hutton, author of Pagan Britain

According to legend, the English landscape - so calm on the surface - is really the Devil's work. Cloven Country tells of rocks hurled into place and valleys carved out by infernal labour. The Devil's hideous strength laid down great roads in one night, and left scars everywhere as the hard stone melted like wax under those burning feet.

With roots in medieval folklore, this is not the Satan of prayer, but a clumsy ogre, easily fooled by humankind. When a smart cobbler or cunning young wife outwitted him, they struck a blow for the underdog. Only the wicked squire and grasping merchant were beyond redemption, carried off by a black huntsman in the storm.