The Fairies in Tradition and Literature
by Katharine Briggs
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Description
Fairies fascinate young and old alike. To some they offer tantalizing glimpses of other worlds, to others a subversive counterpoint to human arrogance and weakness. Like no other author, Katharine Briggs throughout her work communicated the thrill and delight of the world of fairies, and in this book she articulated for the first time the history of that world in tradition and literature. From every period and every country, poets and storytellers have described a magical world inhabited by show more elfin spirits. Capricious and vengeful, or beautiful and generous, they've held us in thrall for generations. And on a summer's morn, as the dew dries softly on the grass, if you kneel and look under a toadstool, well ... show lessTags
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Member Reviews
This is one of Katharine Briggs' most important works. This is a book written by arguably the most important and learned contemporary scholar in the genre. It deserves a place in every serious collection of fairy literature. Briggs has become the springboard for virtually every serious later author/study in the field.
Extremely well researched book about the good folk within literature, lots of coverage of the folklore surrounding the sidhe, and some contemporary accounts.
A thorough scholarly study beginning with a full review of traditional fairies in folklore and going on to some examples of literary uses of fairies.
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Author Information
38+ Works 2,638 Members
Series
Belongs to Publisher Series
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The Fairies in Tradition and Literature
- Original publication date
- 2002
Classifications
- Genres
- Literature Studies and Criticism, Nonfiction
- DDC/MDS
- 809.93375 — Literature & rhetoric Literature, rhetoric & criticism History, description, critical appraisal of more than two literatures Literature displaying specific features, miscellaneous writings Literature displaying other aspects Literature dealing with specific themes and subjects Supernatural, mythological, legendary themes
- LCC
- GR550 .B685 — Geography, Anthropology and Recreation Folklore Folklore By subject Supernatural beings, demonology, fairies, ghosts,
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 217
- Popularity
- 149,879
- Reviews
- 3
- Rating
- (4.23)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 6
- ASINs
- 1
