Legends 22: Trickster Devils (ad-free)

Some of the most popular legends all feature the same central character. And in doing so, they tend to add both delight and fear in equal measures.

Narrated and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with writing by Harry Marks and research by Cassandra de Alba.

Sponsors:

1. Anderson, Sonja. “The Never-Ending Race to Build the World’s Tallest Structure.” Smithsonian Magazine. November 2023. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/race-to-the-sky-the-worlds-tallest-buildings-180983131
2. Atherton, Michelle, Alexandra Hill and Kevin MacLean. “Dealing with the Devil.” National Trust of Scotland. April 3, 2018. https://www.nts.org.uk/stories/dealing-with-the-devil
3. Barber, Chris. Mysterious Wales (David & Charles, 1982).
4. Barfield, Rose. “Tallest Buildings Throughout History.” Bricsys. February 17, 2019. https://www.bricsys.com/en-ke/blog/tallest-buildings-throughout-history
5. Beare, Beryl. Wales: Myths & Legends (Siena, 1996).
6. “‘Bloody Tam’ Dalyell and his card games with the devil.” The Scotsman. March 22, 2018. https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/bloody-tam-dalyell-and-his-card-games-with-the-devil-314103
7. Bord, Janet, and Colin Bord. Atlas of Magical Britain (Bracken, 1993).
8. Bourne, Jo, ed. The most haunted and mysterious places in Britain (Reader’s Digest, 2009).
9. “Chesterfield’s Crooked Spire.” Atlas Obscura. December 21, 2016. https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/chesterfields-crooked-spire
10. Dennison, W. Traill. “Orkney Folklore. Sea Myths.” In The Scottish Antiquary, or Northern Notes & Queries, ed. A.W. Cornelius Hallen (T. and A. Constable, 1891).
11. Evans, Zteve T. “Petrification Myths: Mischief, Mayhem and the Pesky Lincoln Imp.” Under the influence! May 9, 2017. https://ztevetevans.wordpress.com/tag/st-marys-church
12. Ford, Gregory. “The truth behind Grimsby's very own legendary imp.” GrimsbyLive. May 16, 2021. https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/news/grimsby-news/truth-behind-grimsbys-very-legendary-5393495
13. “History of the Usher Gallery.” The Collection. Accessed December 5, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20131029193334/http://www.thecollectionmuseum.com/?/about-us/history-of-the-usher-gallery
14. “House of the Binns.” Historic Environment Scotland. Accessed December 5, 2023. https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/GDL00216
15. “House of the Binns reopens for the first time since the pandemic.” History Scotland. March 31, 2023. https://www.historyscotland.com/exploring-scotland/house-of-the-binns-reopens-for-the-first-time-since-the-pandemic
16. Kaneko-James, Jon. “Who Was Jack O’Kent, The Welsh Doctor Faustus?” Spooky Isles. July 30, 2014. https://www.spookyisles.com/jack-okent-the-welsh-doctor-faustus
17. Leather, Ella May. The Folk-lore of Herefordshire (Jakeman & Carver, 1912).
18. “Legends of John O’Kent.” St. Mary’s Kentchurch. Accessed December 5, 2023. https://stmaryskentchurch.org/legends-of-john-okent
19. “The Lincoln Imp.” Atlas Obscura. April 24, 2019. https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-lincoln-imp
20. “The Lincoln Imp.” BBC. September 1, 2005. https://www.bbc.co.uk/lincolnshire/content/articles/2005/08/16/lincoln_imp_feature.shtml
21. “The Lincoln Imp.” House of Good Fortune. Accessed December 5, 2023. https://www.houseofgoodfortune.org/bonheur-blog/the-lincoln-imp
22. “The Lincoln Imp.” Visit Lincoln. Accessed December 5, 2023. https://www.visitlincoln.com/lincoln-cathedral/the-lincoln-imp
23. MacQueen, Douglas. “Nuckelavee - the malevolent creature that terrorised Scotland's Northern Isles.” Transceltic. March 8, 2018. https://www.transceltic.com/scottish/nuckelavee-malevolent-creature-terrorised-scotlands-northern-isles
24. Marwick, Ernest W. The Folklore of Orkney and Shetland (B.T. Batsford, 1986).
25. “The Nightmarish Nuckelavee: A Homicidal Orkney Unseelie.” EsoterX. April 25, 2013. https://esoterx.com/2013/04/25/the-nightmarish-nuckelavee-a-homicidal-orkney-unseelie
26. Pearce, Sophie. “Lincoln Imp Legend & How to Find it in Lincoln Cathedral!” Third Eye Traveller. November 18, 2022. https://thirdeyetraveller.com/lincoln-imp-legend-cathedral/
27. Phelps, David. Herefordshire Folk Tales (History Press, 2011).
28. Pinchess, Lynette. “The interesting story of how the Lincoln Imp became the symbol of the city.” LincolnshireLive. May 1, 2021. https://www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/interesting-story-how-lincoln-imp-5347350
29. Santos, Cory. “Tracking the mysterious origins of the Lincoln Imp.” The Lincolnite. April 19, 2013. https://thelincolnite.co.uk/2013/04/the-mysterious-origins-of-the-lincoln-imp
30. Santos, Cory. “When Lincoln Cathedral was the tallest building in the world.” The Lincolnite. November 6, 2013. https://thelincolnite.co.uk/2013/11/when-lincoln-cathedral-was-the-tallest-building-in-the-world
31. Seal, Graham. Encyclopedia of Folk Heroes (ABC-CLIO, 2001).
32. Sophie. “The House of The Binns.” CLAN. Accessed December 5, 2023. https://clan.com/blog/the-house-of-the-binns
33. Stockton, Chrissy. “17 Facts About The Nuckelavee, The Creepiest ‘Animal’ You’ve Never Heard Of.” Thought Catalog. April 16, 2021. https://thoughtcatalog.com/chrissy-stockton/2018/05/nuckelavee
34. “The terrifying myth of Orkney's horse demon, Nuckelavee.” The Scotsman. January 11, 2017. https://www.scotsman.com/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/the-terrifying-myth-of-orkneys-horse-demon-nuckelavee-607848
35. “Timeline.” Lincoln Cathedral. Accessed December 5, 2023. https://lincolncathedral.com/timeline/
36. Towrie, Sigurd. “Kelp Burning in Orkney.” Orkneyjar. Accessed December 5, 2023. http://www.orkneyjar.com/tradition/kelpburning.htm
37. Towrie, Sigurd. “The Mither o' the Sea.” Orkneyjar. Accessed December 5, 2023. http://www.orkneyjar.com/folklore/mither.htm
38. Towrie, Sigurd. “The Nuckelavee - Devil o’ the Sea.” Orkneyjar. Accessed December 5, 2023. http://www.orkneyjar.com/folklore/nuckle.htm
39. “Trust Ghosts.” VisitScotland.com. Accessed December 5, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20061105125358/http://www.visitscotland.com/aboutscotland/explorebymap/features/trustghosts