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For hundreds of years, fairies have enchanted imaginations, inspired awe and fear, and left in their wake a treasure trove of wonderful stories. Legends of fairy creatures--ranging from tiny winged sprites to giants to elves to brownies to tree spirits--can be found in every corner of the world. Filled with hundreds of exquisite illustrations, this comprehensive directory provides a global, multi-ethnic, multicultural overview of fairies. Nearly 3,000 entries, arranged alphabetically offer glimpses into other worlds and times. There are items from Celtic and Scandinavian traditions, Greek and Norse mythology, Native American culture, the Far East, Africa, Eastern Europe, and more. Cross-referencing makes it easy to explore the themes that span the globe. An extensive introduction explores the origins of fairy folklore and provides general background on common beliefs. A Selection of the One Spirit Book Club.
Pagan News Review by Mike Gleason
I have seen some of the illustrations, including the one on the dust cover,
previously (in the "Fairy Ring" card set). At that time I thought they were
good. Seeing them in a larger format only raises my level of appreciation
of the work that went into creating them.
This is one of the most comprehensive fairy encyclopedias I have ever seen,
with nearly 3,000 entries from around the world. There are fairies here
from every inhabited continent and the islands of the world, without
concentrating overly on Europe. There are entries ranging from Abapansi (a
fairy from southern Africa) to Zwezda (a Slavonic mother goddess).
There are more than 100 illustrations throughout the book (one-third of them
in color), many of them full page. The color illustrations alone are worth
the price of the book, in my opinion.
It is, obviously, not designed to be read straight through. The
cross-referencing makes it easy to learn as much as you wish about most of
the topics contained within the covers.
There are more than 350 specialized references and an extensive bibliography
to help you find more information, some of which are current and some of
which are older. Most of the books in the bibliography are in Enchlish.
There are a few errors in the book ("Orisnici" should come before "Osenja"
for example) and a few omissions ("loa" is included but not the equivalent
"orisha"), but overall it is an excellent reference work.
The price is certainly affordable. It will make an excellent addition to
anyone's library.
