Scottish Fairy Belief: A History [Paperback]

Lizanne Henderson (Author), Edward J. Cowan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2001

Throughout Scottish history, many people believed in fairies. They were a part of everyday life, as real to people as the sunrise, and as incontrovertible as the existence of God. While fairy belief was only a fragment of a much larger complex, the implications of studying this belief tradition are potentially vast, revealing some understanding of the worldview of the people of past centuries. This book, the first modern study of the subject, examines the history and nature of fairy belief, the major themes and motifs, the demonising attack upon the tradition, and the attempted reinstatement of the reality of fairies at the end of the seventeenth century, as well as their place in ballads and in Scottish literature.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Lizanne Henderson is a member of the Strathclyde University School of Scottish Studies. Edward J. Cowan is Professor of Scottish History at the University of Glasgow.

Product Details

• Paperback: 242 pages
• Publisher: Tuckwell Press, Ltd. (September 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1862321906
• ISBN-13: 978-1862321908
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,473,209 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous Fairies and Witches of Scotland, October 21, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Scottish Fairy Belief: A History (Paperback)

This study is a long awaited and much needed asset to the history of Scottish cultural history. It is of academic quality, and yet written in a highly readable and accessable form. If you are interested in popular culture, folk belief, and the attitudes of the average person in Early Modern Europe, this book is a must for you. The authors competently distance themselves from whether or not fairies exist and concentrate on the fact that the majority of the people of EM Scotland believed in them. This is a highly enjoyable and lucid examination of a much neglected topic. FIVE STARS!!!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A detailed overview on Scottish Fairy Belief, December 22, 2003

By 

Birgit Kramer (Vienna, Austria) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Scottish Fairy Belief: A History (Paperback)

"Scottish Fairy Belief" by Lizanne Henderson and Edward J. Cowan provides a detailed overview of the topic of Fairy beliefs in Scotland.
The book is divided in seven chapters offering information about different aspects of fairy belief in Scotland from their nature to the way they are presented in literature. Each chapter specializes on a certain topic which allows readers with knowledge about fairyology and Scottish studies to read about topics they are interested in. At the same time the book is also perfect for readers with no or little knowledge about fairies and Scottish studies giving general information about the topic.
The book starts with stressing the fact that the authors are not going to discuss the existence of fairies but rather the aspects of folklore and literature. A detailed historical background is given which is of great importance for the study. Due to different political reigns the fairy belief decreased or increased or was changed at all.
The book shows the reader with many examples from literature as well as from witch trials in Scotland the influence fairies had on the people. Quotations, pictures and tables illustrate the topic well and help the reader getting a better understanding of the topic.
Apart from this the book is not written in a too difficult language therefore it allows also non-native-English speakers with average English skills to read and understand this book.
On one hand, it is good that many aspects are repeated throughout the book, especially for readers who only read one chapter of the book. On the other hand, the repeating of some aspects bores readers who read the whole book. Another point which might tire some readers is that the many remarks and footnotes are displayed only at the end of each chapter. This might cause problems while reading. Nevertheless, these are just minor points to criticizes in this comprehensive book which is also a great source for presentations and papers.
The clear structure as well as the seriousness and scientific approach of the authors strike me the most and makes this book for me one of the most useful books concerning fairyology and Scottish studies.
To conclude, the book "Scottish Fairy Belief" does not only deal with fairies and Scottish studies but also with aspects of history and politics like the witch-hunt in Scotland or the reign of James VI. Whether read for pleasure of with the aim to learn more about the fairy belief of Scotland, this book is definitely worth the money.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Comprehensive Study of Scottish Fairy Belief, December 7, 2003

By 

Astrid Seidler (Vienna, Austria) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Scottish Fairy Belief: A History (Paperback)

The rather recent book "Scottish Fairy Belief" by Lizanne Henderson and Edward J. Cowan offers a very comprehensive overview of the topic dealing with fairy belief and fairy lore in Scotland.
The more than 200 pages of this book are divided into seven chapters, which makes it easy for the reader to, on the one hand, find topics in which readers who already have got certain knowledge about fairy lore are interested very qickly, and, on the other hand, makes the general topic accessible to readers who do not have this background kowledge.
The book starts with more general remarks about fairies, may they exist or not, and continues with the historical development of fairy belief and its change, oppression, and revival, which, for example, very much depended on the political situation at various points in the past. Nevertheless, the fact is stressed that still today "fairies" have left their traces.
Apart from referring to political and historical situations, the book provides many quotations and actual examples dealing with fairy belief, which are illustrated by figures, tables, and even pictures.
Even though this book can be used very well for academic purposes, it is written in an intelligible way, so it can be read by a wide reading public. Nevertheless, it is an advantage if the reader already has got some knowledge about fairy belief and fairy lore, as the numerous notes that occur within the text are explained at the end of every chapter, and it is rather tiring to check all these notes while reading and then again to turn back to the text.
Another disadvantage I have obsereved is that many items are repeated very often. Even though this is just a minor point to criticise, it is, as far as my opinion is concerned, sometimes disturbing to read the same things again and again.
However, I appreciate that the authors themselves do not take sides as far as the question whether the existence of fairies can be proved or not is concerned. Moreover, this aspect is not the central element of this book, which might not be too obvious at first sight. Much more important than "fairies" themselves is the focus on the affect, or even impact, these pahntastic creatures had, and still have, on people. Therefore, the book`s content must not be underestimated: It is definitely not popular scientific, or unrealistic in character, and can actually be read from a rather serious perspective.
To sum up, I can say that apart from minor drawbacks, this book is worthy to be bought, as it contributes to a very interesting and unfortunately still neglegted aspect of folk culture in an adequate way. It is a book that widens the reader`s horizon, and it can be read with the aim to learn more about the importance and development of long forgotten aspects of culture, or simply for pleasure.