Lady Cottington's Pressed Fairy Book [Hardcover]

Terry Jones (Author), Brian Froud (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 13, 1994

This is a reproduction of the diary of Lady Angelica Cottingham, which features pressed garden fairies. Or rather the psychic images of the fairies, who quickly turned it into a game, where they leapt between the closing pages in an effort to outdo each other to produce the most outrageous poses. The book claims to be the facsimile edition of the notebook of Lady Cottington who, it is said, took the infamous photograph of a group of fairies that was authenticated by Conan Doyle, but later discredited. She was determined to prove the existence of fairies and began to capture them between the pages of her notebook, in which she had previously pressed wild flowers. This is a record of the fairies she caught, and of the disruptive influence they had on her otherwise sheltered life.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Terry Jones is a writer, actor and director best known for his membership of the Monty Python team. He has also written a number of children's books for Pavilion, including Fantastic Stories, which won the children's vote in the 1992 Smarties Prize, and The Knight and the Squire. He lives in London. Brian Froud is a popular and highly acclaimed artist whose imaginative portrayals of fantasy worlds and people in particular are recognized He lives in Devon. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 64 pages
• Publisher: Pavilion Books (October 13, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1857933362
• ISBN-13: 978-1857933369
• Product Dimensions: 12 x 9.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (103 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #781,465 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Faeries Beware! September 1, 2000

By MistressOfDoom

Format:Hardcover

Brian Froud is my favorite fantasy illustrator to start with. I fell in love with his book 'Faeries' back in the 70's...I am very fond of the work of his co-illustrator on that project, Alan Lee, as well. But pair Brian's brilliant art with the writing of ex Monty Pythoner Terry Jones and the result is a hilarious book that actually had me laughing out loud. Brian's lovely watercolors of shocked looking faeries (I was lucky enough to see some of his original work for the following book "Strange Stains and Mysterious Smells" this summer) pressed between the pages of the spirited Miss Cottington's journal like hapless wildflowers is just too much...and the Lady's description of the events leading up to each...er...pressing make for a thoroughly enjoyable romp. While definately not for small kids, I recommend it to anyone with a slightly grim sense of humor and a love of fantasy.

27 of 30 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars My Wings are all soggy with Milk ! May 8, 2002

By Marc Cabir Davis

Format:Hardcover

This book is perhaps the most twisted journal out there. I remember discovering it years ago and had forgotten about it since then, only to be redirected to it recently whilst perusing Brian Froud's website. Contrary to what many people think, I do think that this is a book for both adults and children alike, and though there is definitely some adult subject matter, its not something that should keep you from sharing it with your offspring.

The book is a reproduction of a journal kept by Angelica Cottington. Angelica can see fairies, and while she is at first surprised by their presence, she wastes no time in whisking out a journal and trapping fairies within the pages. These 'pressed fairies' are the book's centerpiece. While this may seem a cruel thing to many, Angelica does not seem to feel much remorse until much later in her life, but after a horrendous spell of being teased and mocked by goblins, she takes to pressing fairies with a vengeance once again. This is all positively delightful.

Angelica is obviously thought of as a retarded little specimen by her family and friends, but this only gives her a certain warped magnetism. Indeed, throughout the book, it is clear that a large number of men are interested in Angelica - these portions are rather graphic in their suggestiveness, and things are left open-ended. It is not clear if Angelica is molested or abused by these people, but the way she flees England for Italy due to one particularly painful encounter is hint enough that theres more going on that we aren't told about.

As is with every Froud book, the art is spectacular. The fairies we are told, aren't really 'pressed'. Even though they are momentarily captured, they have a way of leaving their psychic impressions behind on paper. So while you do see pictures of fairies in pain at being stamped on paper, be sure that they have managed to escape. However, what is more intriguing, is that Angelica never did understand this concept. The fairies themselves attempt to tell her, but she doesn't get it. After she passed away, the makers of the book finally announced that the fairies were actually extremely interested in being pressed, as Angelica had unwittingly started a new sport in the fairy community.

The version of the book on sale here is the hardcover edition, and is not either the Turner edition nor the Barnes and Noble edition. I have found that of all the subsequent reprintings, the original Turner edition and its second reprint, have the best colors and printing. There is also a paperback version, and a new small-sized version available. Personally, I think that the best way to enjoy the book is in this oversized hardcover version.

There were two sequels to this book, though they are long out of print. Online stores in Britain still carry them, though. One is the 'Lady Cottington's Pressed Fairy Journal', which was a diary that you could maintain, with blank pages to fill in, consisting of art on the side from the original Pressed Fairy Book. There is also the 'Strange Stains and Mysterious Smells' book which is written by Angelica's brother Quentin. This book deals, in a very scientific manner, with the stains that fairies leave behind when they are pressed. People have said that this book is rather gross and dependant on 'toilet humor' and that it lacks the delicacy of the original.

I certainly do love books of this sort. They are revolutionary because they break new ground in terms of creativity. And while there are numerous books of this sort now in the market, I think its rather obvious that none hold a candle to the beauty, charm, and wit of 'Lady Cottington's Pressed Fairy Book'.

If you enjoyed this, you would also enjoy 'The Faeries' Oracle' by Jessica Macbeth and Brian Froud. For more information on Lady Cottington and to make a buying decision, please visit [URL]

Highly recommended.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Cute fun plus some "ew, yuck." November 30, 2004

By wiredweird HALL OF FAMETOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Hardcover

Lady Cottington kept a journal from the time she was a child, in 1895, until 1910. During that time, she captured many of her thoughts between those pages. Her thoughts were the least of what was caught.

As a quiet and innocent child, she would sit in the garden. If she was quiet enough, the garden fairies would come out. They would hover in front of her, over the book in her lap, and

SNAP. The book slammed shut on the fairy, leaving colored fairy-goosh on the two facing pages.

We are assured that (a few unfortunate cases notwithstanding) that the fairies were not hurt in the process and left only a psychic impression. Still, there's a queasy macabre sense about the book's premise.

It's illustrated by Brian Froud, so you know it's good. It's written by Terry Jones, a Monty Python alumnus, so you know it's funny. That's about it: good and funny. Enjoy!

//wiredweird