Faeries

Faeries offers a captivating exploration of the history and mythology of faeries across time and cultures, highlighting their significance in art, poetry, and more. This lushly illustrated volume features more than 100 reproductions of artistic masterpieces.

Faeries have captured the collective imagination throughout time and across cultures. Unexplained occurrences and natural phenomena have often been attributed to these beautiful, mysterious, and sometimes mischievous creatures. They vary in disposition; sometimes helpful and kindly like the brownies of Britain, the menehune of Hawai'i, and the domovoi of Russia. However, they are just as often seen as a threat, as we transform natural phenomena into capricious and frequently frightening creatures. The wind becomes a sylph, trees house dryads, and thunderbirds call down storms. They are to be feared and respected, appeased and dreaded in turn.

In this striking book, author Nikki Van De Car introduces readers to faeries of all types—helpful and unhelpful, related to the four elements, animal, and shape-shifting—as well as some of the most famous figures from history, lore, and literature, from Puck to Ariel. Arranged through wondrous paintings and illustrations by legendary artists including Ruben, Turner, Rodin, Blake, and Millais, this guide showcases the beautiful evidence of fairies' influence on our world. Written folklore from Shakespeare and oral storytelling provide context to more than 50 creatures, complete with tips on finding, summoning, and gaining protection from sparklingly clever fairies.