The press release of the current book I’m reading makes reference to the Faust legend, for anyone who’s not aware of it the basic legend is essentially a deal with the devil. It’s not the first time I’ve come across stories that are either based on the legend or use similar ideas on film or in books.

The first time I came across the Faust legend I didn’t even know it was a legend – it was in the comedy film Bedazzled which I caught completely by accident on Channel 4 years ago. It’s a film where a geeky guy meets the devil as an attractive woman and trades his soul for 3 wishes – this being a comedy interpretation of the legend all hell breaks loose in terms of the interpretation of the wishes. Anyhoo, it’s one of the few films that has stuck with me for ages.

I met the legend again when I read the play Dr. Faustus by Christopher Malowe – again a similar set up (but still with it’s comedy moments and no wishes), it’s a much darker telling of the legend (featuring necromancy or dark magic) but you can see the essentials of the legend are there.

I’m currently reading Advent and it’s cropped up again (though I’ve only just started it so I’m not sure how well the comparison will stand up) and the idea of trading a soul for something crops in book 2 of the Soul Screamers series (which I still need to read ).

It got me thinking why are authors and storytellers attracted to legends? Is it because they want to retell the legend giving it there own twist (a bit like the fairy tell retellings we’re seeing lately)? Maybe to bring the legend to a new generation and to give it a new lease of life?

And what is it about certain legends and myths that attract a storytellers attention? Arthur and the Faust legend are the two that spring to my mind (but I’m sure there are others) what is it about them the draws us and authors into them?