A History of Irish Fairies [Paperback]

Carolyn White (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 10, 2005

In this lovely and informative book, Carolyn White delves into one of the most intriguing aspects of Irish folklore, the otherworld of fairies. Whether you're a true believer or not, it's impossible not to be seduced by the details of their universe, as White covers everything from the central question of the numerous varieties of fairies to more detailed inquiries about what they eat, where they live, and what happens when a fairy and a mortal fall in love. This is the ultimate guide to the Wee People, from cluricauns and leprechauns, to Silkies, Banshees, and Pookas. Chapters include: Fairies and the Devil, Fairy Clothes and Appearance, Immortality of Fairies, and How to Provoke a Fairy. Filled with entertaining stories and interesting details, A History of Irish Fairies will delight any reader who has ever been curious about this whimsical facet of Irish culture.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Carroll & Graf (April 10, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786715391
• ISBN-13: 978-0786715398
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #249,880 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Field Guide to Fairies, March 1, 2008

By 

Jeremy McGuire "Author of 'O'Shaughnessey: ... (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A History of Irish Fairies (Paperback)

One is most reminded of those Field Guides to insects, flowers or birds written for those who engage in bird-watching, amateur entomology, or hiking. This is nothing less than a Field Guide to the World of Fairy, one that is small enough to be spirited away in a bush-jacket pocket, just in case one desires to get a binocular and go fairy-watching. However, I would not advise taking a butterfly net; one must always approach the fairies with respect.
The book is divided into the general history of fairies, touching upon manifestations of the wee folk in most cultures, then settles down to the race of fairies that are specific to Ireland. She provides accounts of the nature of the fairy folk, the most dominant trait of which is living entirely in the present with no care for either past or future, and a devotion to the pleasures of their immortal lives.
Treating the world of faerie in so serious a fashion, as if one were discussing the genetic structure of the mushroom is perhaps the greatest achievement of Carolyn White's A History of Irish Fairies. Ms. White, a Ph.D in Literature, manages to treat the subject with respect and scholarship without ever once putting tongue to cheek. The tone of the book throughout is academic, but not dry or tiresomely detailed.
What is most helpful is her listing of what to do when one encounters the fairies (Putting a steel needle in your collar is always a good protection.) again quite without anything that would suggest that she is taking the subject anything but seriously. A whole section of the book is a guide to relations between fairies and mortals in which she states," To disbelieve in them is the worst offense of all. Modern man lacks the leisure time to encounter fairies; absorbed in his own affairs, he moves too fast to discover the immortal languor of the good people. It is understandable that mortals infrequently meet fairies ... but it is inexcusable for mortals to be so arrogant as to believe they do not exist."
The faeries are divided, as Yeats did, into the Trooping Faeries and the Solitaries, with most of the book devoted to the former although not labeled as such. She describes traits that unite each type, describes their individual denizens. Among the solitaries are the Ban-Shee, the Pucka and of course the ubiquitous Leprechaun.
So, if you are of a mind to step in to a fairy circle or sit on a fairy mound seeking a vision, A History of Irish Fairies would be a good, if not a necessary companion.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Starting Point for Faerie Research, September 30, 2005

By 

Brian D. Tuttle "Brian Tuttle" (NY, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A History of Irish Fairies (Paperback)

Although I wouldn't call this book "scholarly" due to its lack of citations, the author is quite knowledgable and holds a PhD in Comparative Literature. She provides an excellent starting point for those who would like to know more about faeries, whether it be for mystical or mundane purpose (I highly recommend it for Faery Seekers.) This book is an easy to read and a wonderful overview of Irish faerie lore which can provide direction for more study.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating survey of the fairy world of Irish folklore, mythology, and legend, November 10, 2005

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A History of Irish Fairies (Paperback)

Both informed and informative, Carolyn White's A History Of Irish Fairies takes the reader on a fascinating survey of the fairy world of Irish folklore, mythology, and legend. Readers will learn just exactly what a fairy is, the meaning of fairy names, the diverse variety of fairies, fairy locations, what they eat, where they live, the fairy celebrations of May Eve, Midsummer's Eve, November Eve, and Tir-na-n-Og, as well as just what happens when a fairy and a mortal fall in love. A History Of Irish Fairies is especially commended for both personal and academic Metaphysical and Mythology library collections.