Introduction

My guest today is Diane Purkiss, Professor of English Literature at the University of Oxford and author of many books, including 'Fairies and Fairy Stories', 'The Witch in History', and 'English Food: A People's History.'

We spoke about witches and fairies in British folklore, and in particular why these stories are so often associated with childbirth, children, and motherhood. We also spoke about the psychological and practical functions of these stories, and why they are so culturally sticky.