Denham Tracts
A collection of folklore pamphlets by Michael Aislabie Denham.
The Denham Tracts are a collection of fifty-four pamphlets and jottings on folklore, gathered between 1846 and 1859 by Michael Aislabie Denham, a Yorkshire tradesman. Most of the original tracts were printed in very limited editions of fifty copies, with some as few as twenty-five or even thirteen copies. The tracts were later re-edited by James Hardy for the Folklore Society and published in two volumes in 1892 and 1895. They are notable for containing a long list of spirits, fairies, and other creatures, which may have influenced J. R. R. Tolkien's use of the word 'hobbit'.
- full_title
- Denham Tracts
- compiler
- Michael Aislabie Denham
- compiler_occupation
- Yorkshire tradesman
- period_of_collection
- 1846–1859
- number_of_tracts
- 54
- re_editor
- James Hardy
- publication_dates_of_re_edition
- 1892 and 1895
Lore & Background
Michael Aislabie Denham, a Yorkshire tradesman, collected fifty-four pamphlets and jottings on folklore between 1846 and 1859. Most of the original tracts were printed in very small runs: fifty copies for most, but some had only twenty-five or even thirteen copies. The tracts cover a wide range of folkloric material, including proverbs, sayings, rhymes, and lists of supernatural beings. After Denham's work, the tracts were re-edited by James Hardy for the Folklore Society and issued in two volumes in 1892 and 1895.
Reader's Guide
The Denham Tracts are significant as a record of 19th-century folklore collecting, preserving material that might otherwise have been lost. The tracts include a long list of spirits, fairies, and other creatures, based on an older list from the 1584 work 'Discoverie of Witchcraft', with many additions. Some creatures in the list appear nowhere else, which could indicate Denham's thorough research, though a lack of other sources makes some scholars doubt this, despite Denham being regarded as a trustworthy source. The tracts are also of interest because it is possible that J. R. R. Tolkien took the word 'hobbit' from the list of fairies in the Denham Tracts. The limited original print runs make the original pamphlets rare, but the 1892–1895 re-edition is more widely available.
Did You Know?
- Most of the original Denham Tracts were printed in editions of only fifty copies, with some as few as thirteen.
- The list of spirits and fairies in the tracts is based on an older list from the 1584 book 'Discoverie of Witchcraft'.
- It is possible that J. R. R. Tolkien took the word 'hobbit' from the list of fairies in the Denham Tracts.
- The tracts were re-edited by James Hardy for the Folklore Society and published in two volumes in 1892 and 1895.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Denham Tracts?
They are a set of fifty-four small pamphlets and jottings on English folklore, assembled by a Yorkshire tradesman named Michael Aislabie Denham over roughly thirteen years in the mid-nineteenth century. The collection covers a wide range of local supernatural traditions and creature lore.
Who compiled the Denham Tracts and when were they gathered?
Michael Aislabie Denham, a tradesman from Yorkshire, collected the material between 1846 and 1859. He was not a scholar but a working man with a keen interest in the folk beliefs of his region.
How rare are the original Denham Tract pamphlets today?
Most were printed in runs of only about fifty copies, and some editions numbered as few as thirteen or twenty-five. This makes surviving individual tracts genuinely scarce items for collectors and researchers.
How did the Denham Tracts reach a wider audience?
James Hardy re-edited the collection for the Folklore Society, and the result was published in two bound volumes in 1892 and 1895. Without that editorial work, many of the pamphlets might have stayed locked in private hands.
What is the link between the Denham Tracts and Tolkien's word 'hobbit'?
The tracts contain a long catalogue of spirits, fairies, and other small folk creatures, and it is widely suggested that this list may have nudged J. R. R. Tolkien toward coining 'hobbit' for his Middle-earth legendarium. The precise degree of influence is debated, but the textual connection is well known among folklore scholars.
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