Fairy Lore

Fairy lore concerns beliefs about elves, dwarfs, gnomes, trolls, mermaids, brownies, pixies, leprechauns, and many other beings found in world folklore. Written for students and general readers, this book is an introduction to fairy lore from around the world. The handbook defines and classifies types of fairies, provides numerous examples and texts, overviews scholarship, and discusses the role of fairies in art, film, and popular culture. It closes with a glossary and a bibliography of print and electronic resources.

Monsters, mystery, and magic abound in this stunning, illustrated collection of original fairy tales from the World of Warcraft universe, as told by an all-star cast of bestselling, award-winning storytellers. The power of stories is felt and known in every corner of Azeroth. From the windswept fields of the Eastern Kingdoms to the bustling city of Gadgetzan, differences were bridged by common tales of average people overcoming incredible odds. Lessons learned from cautionary tales tempered many brave heroes and brought them safely home, while stories of adventure spurred history's most remarkable actors to greatness. Now you too can settle in, lay down your armor, and listen to the wonderous tales of adventure and peril in the Folk and Fairy Tales of Azeroth. Brimming with gorgeous artwork and twelve inspired stories crafted by fantasy's brightest authors including Garth Nix, Catherynne M. Valente, Kami Garcia, and more, this enchanting anthology brings new voices, new meaning, and new wonder to World of Warcraft.

This vintage book contains a collection of 34 fantastic stories from Japanese folklore. These magical stories full of wit, pun, myth, and riddle will appeal to lovers of Japanese literature and culture, and they would make for fantastic additions to collections of allied literature. Contents include: "The Travels of Two Frogs", "The Child of the Thunder", "The Tongue-cut Sparrow", "The Fire-fly's Lovers", "The Battle of the Ape and the Crab", "The Wonderful Tea-Kettle", "Peach-Prince and the Treasure Island", "The Fox and the Badger", "The Seven Patrons of Happiness", "Daikoku and the Oni", "Benkei and the Bell", "Little Silver's Dream of the Shoji", et cetera. Many vintage books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive. We are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern edition complete with a specially commissioned new introduction. This book was first published in 1887.

“The Study of Imagination” is a brand new collection of classic essays written by various authors on the subject of fairy tales, mythology, and folk-Lore. Contents include: “Fairy Tales, by G. K. Chesterton”, “The Fantastic Imagination, by George Macdonald”, “The Worth of Fairy Tales, by Laura F. Kready”, “Storyology, by Benjamin Taylor”, “A Harvest of Irish Folk-Lore, by John Fiske”, “On the Philosophy of Mythology, by F. Max Müller”, “Folk-Lore of the Northern Counties, by William Henderson”, “The Science of Folk-Lore, by Edwin Sidney Hartland”, “The Modern Origin of Fairy-Tales, by Moses Gaster”, etc. These fascinating essays will appeal to all with a love of fantasy and folklore, and they are not to be missed by collectors of allied literature. Read & Co. Great Essays is publishing this brand new collection of classic essays now for the enjoyment of a new generation of readers.

Don’t be fooled by Tinkerbell and her pixie dust—the real fairies were dangerous. In the late seventeenth century, they could still scare people to death. Little wonder, as they were thought to be descended from the Fallen Angels and to have the power to destroy the world itself. Despite their modern image as gauzy playmates, fairies caused ordinary people to flee their homes out of fear, to revere fairy trees and paths, and to abuse or even kill infants or adults held to be fairy changelings. Such beliefs, along with some remarkably detailed sightings, lingered on in places well into the twentieth century. Often associated with witchcraft and black magic, fairies were also closely involved with reports of ghosts and poltergeists. In literature and art, the fairies still retained this edge of danger. From the wild magic of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, through the dark glamour of Keats, Christina Rosetti’s improbably erotic poem “Goblin Market,” or the paintings inspired by opium dreams, the amoral otherness of the fairies ran side-by-side with the newly delicate or feminized creations of the Victorian world. In the past thirty years, the enduring link between fairies and nature has been robustly exploited by eco-warriors and conservationists, from Ireland to Iceland. As changeable as changelings themselves, fairies have transformed over time like no other supernatural beings. And in this book, Richard Sugg tells the story of how the fairies went from terror to Tink.

An enchanting treasury of fairy lore! Around the corner, behind the bushes, and just out of sight...fairies have spent hundreds of years weaving their way in and out of our homes and gardens to spread their magic. Featuring folklore, mythology, and poetry from around the world, this lovely collection reveals these ethereal spirits' extraordinary powers and the history behind their existence. From the case of the Cottingley fairies in the early twentieth century, whose photographs fooled thousands (including Arthur Conan Doyle), to the mischievous fairies found in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, the fascinating stories surrounding these magical sprites are sure to captivate anyone who has ever dreamed of catching one hiding deep within her flowerbed. Whether you're interested in exploring the history and culture or just want to learn more about fairies' powers and trickery, you'll love plunging into the enchanting tales that bring these whimsical creatures to life. Complete with hundreds of lovely illustrations, Fairies reveals the magnificent beauty of these mesmerizing sprites as well as their knack for causing mischief.

Draws from folklore, mythology, and poetry from around the world--including the Irish, Slavic, African, and Persian traditions--to examine the history, culture, characteristics, and behavior of fairies.