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WOSAS : F981 WOSAS/CD314/track1
R1041.wav

Blacksmith at the Bridge of Bones, The
a Jack Tale story

Sound recording, story and saying, A West African saying and a European wonder tale, transformation tale and Jack tale, told by Ben Haggarty, at Aachen International Storytelling Festival, Aachen, Germany, November 2000.

Introduction by Ben Haggarty including reference to a West African tradition of identifying the 4 different people in the world, followed by story told by Ben Haggarty.

Jack goes to be apprenticed with the blacksmith at the bridge of bones, depsite the death of the seven previous apprentices. Jack proves that he has strength, skill and courage. Jack discovers the blacksmith's secrets - that at night he becomes an otter; that he can bring the dead back to life; that he has a daughter who is a serpent, to whom the blacksmith offers Jack as a husband. Jack works with the blacksmith for seven years and becomes an expertly skilled blacksmith. Jack falls in love with and promises to marry one of the King's daughters, for whom he makes a magical dress. The blacksmith becomes envious of Jack's skill and tells Jack that he may either become his slave, or he is to marry his daughter. Jack refuses and is captured as a slave. Meanwhile the magical dress tells the King's daughter of Jack's plight. Eventually Jack manages to kill the blacksmith's daughter, he then escapes and tricks the blacksmith into remaining an otter forever. Jack goes to find the King's daughter and marries her.

audience:- adult
    recording quality
condition:- good
completeness:- complete
duration:- 0 hours, 51 minutes, 32 seconds

storytelling:- storyteller: Ben Haggarty
male / British / born 30.11.1958

origin:- Africa, West Europe


storytelling:- Aachen, Germany
Nov 2000
public performance
festival: Aachen International Storytelling Festival


gift from:- storyteller: Ben Haggarty


©  The London Centre for International Storytelling: 2007
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