Ari Berk

Using a camera illegally borrowed from the basement of the Cottington Archive, Brian Froud did something remarkable. He slightly altered the valuable artefact for the purposes of photographing dairymaids in a dimly lit barn. When no dairymaids were available he took a photo regardless and inadvertently captured a blurry and obscure image. With his second photo he discovered that this indecipherable image was in reality a goblin.

Here enters Ari Berk and the Codex Goblinensis, an ancient show more goblin text part historical document, part phone book, part fish sandwich. With this codex and the goblin Gargle, whom these two noble and inquisitive fools have trapped in the downstairs toilet, the study and analysis of these irksome and troublemaking creatures and their disgusting and chaotic kingdom has now been made possible. However there will be consequences for this terrible knowledge.

Goblins! A nonsensical and inconsequential study into the Goblin World, containing photographs taken by Brian Froud, sketches drawn in a frenzied haste, and notes put together by Ari Berk from the Goblin Codex itself. Beware, letting these pesky little creatures into your home will only bring you trouble. A quirky and dangerous book that will either have you laughing at these creatures eccentric antics or curled up in fear at their terrorising ways. show less

All of Brian Froud's books are filled with whimsical magic, and Lady Cottington's collection of letters (displayed alongside another selection of her trademark faeries) is not exception. The faeries, even in their squished forms, display lovely artistic techniques, as Froud is a master of the watercolour medium and the human (fey) form which brings each subject to life. Well, maybe not life, but you know what I mean. Ostensibly the book is not meant to be another collection of faeries, and show more is meant to be a book of letters collected for the writer's sister as she searches for a way to contact her ghost, btut in true Cottington fashion the faeries refuse to leaver her alone and must therefore be squashed! This plotline, as such, is not very successful in terms of providing a real narrative, but the letters themselves are still a great read. Lady Cottington corresponds with the who's who in Victorian (and occasionally earlier) folklore and fantasists, from William Shakespeare to J.M. Barrie, so it was great fun imaging the friendship amongst this fictional group. Each letter is carefully crafted in terms of content to showcase the unique personalities' voice and opinions on the subject of faeries, and Froud's innovative design work integrates the letters into the illustrated pages with style. I definitely wish that they had made this book longer or written a sequel, because we're barely given a taste of what could have been a far more developed narrative. But, like many historical archives, there are pieces of the story missing, so instead maybe we should use this as an opportunity to continue the story on our own! show less

Angelica Cottington's fairy pressing exploits have become widely known thanks to the work of the newly established Cottington Archive. But what is not so widely known is that throughout her life, Angelica conducted numerous correspondences on the subject, that is if this newly acquired and highly suspicious scrapbook of letters is to be believed. But believe it I do and when reading through these letters one thing becomes abundantly clear, Angelica is searching for more than just show more conformation that these pesky fairies exist outside of her imagination, she is searching for the truth, but one she may not yet be ready to hear.

Lady Cottington's Pressed Fairy Letters have been lovingly reproduced and reprinted, pressed fairies and all, despite their unauthenticated and questionable origins. Who can say for sure if Annie Oakley, J. M. Barrie, Carl Jung or Queen Victoria herself did not actually write these letters to Angelica Cottington? A handwriting expert could perhaps, but thankfully none were ever allowed near this unique collection. Although it is evident the fairies themselves have had their influence stamped and squashed all over this scrapbook, these letters are a fascinating and at times illegible read into the most intriguing and elusive character of Lady Cottington. show less

Goblins is probably one of the most delightful and witty Froud books I have yet to have fall into my hands. It seems to be presented as a book similar to Good Faeries, Bad Faeries, except the Goblins stole the manuscript before it was delivered to the publisher, and notes and opinions of the Goblins have been written throughout.