Product Description

This remarkable book explores the history of fairies in literature and tradtion.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #152653 in Books
• Published on: 2002-06-20
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 352 pages

Review
'Required reading for anyone seeking to take a first step into the wondrous realm of fairy tales.' - Jack Zipes

From the Back Cover

‘Required reading for anyone seeking to take a first step into the wondrous realm of fairy tales.’ – Jack Zipes

This remarkable book explores the history of these wondrous creatures, the most powerful and enchanting denizens of this enchanted place the Little People. Capricious and vengeful, or beautiful and generous, they’ve held us in thrall for generations. And on a summer’s morn, as the dew dries softly on the grass, if you kneel and look under a toadstool, well… First published: 1967.

About the Author
Katharine Briggs (1898-1980). Eminent folklorist and former president of the Folklore Society.

Customer Reviews

Magnificent subject, and a great read
Katharine M.Briggs was THE specialist in British fairylore. None of her works should be out of print-sadly some of them are, or very hard to find. If you want it dispelled once and for all that fairies are twee little creatures with gossamer wings, come here-Ms Briggs will introduce you to hags, monsters, goblins and boggarts you never knew existed. It's also good to have a book that is totally free of New Age flim-flam about this fascinating subject. Briggs is a scholar allright, but nowhere does she commit the sins of obscurantism, dry prose or tedious footnotes.

I have only one criticism-the book's cover is so boring, and it could so easily have had wonderful and enthralling images on it. Still, I'm giving maximum points because this book is such a treat.