People may think they know what fairies are, what a fairy looks like, and how a fairy is expected to behave—but the truth about these mysterious beings is far stranger than the familiar images of delicate winged figures. Historian and folklorist Francis Young traces the deep roots of fairy belief across Europe, from ancient folklore to the Middle Ages and beyond.
Before the rise of the cliched “small, winged fairy” in the 19th century, fairies encompassed a vast range of supernatural, human-like creatures—from the elves of Scandinavia and the aos sí of Ireland to the vilas of the Balkans and the fadas of Iberia.
Young explores how belief in these beings adapted to the rise of Christianity, flourished in medieval Europe, and survived upheavals including the Reformation, the Enlightenment, and European colonial expansion, which helped make fairies a global phenomenon. He also considers the surprising ways these beliefs endure today, revealing how fairy lore continues to shape culture.
Young’s book, Fairies: A History (Polity), is available for purchase.
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