The Fairies in Tradition and Literature (Routledge Classics) (Paperback)

by Katharine Briggs (Author) "The famous pronouncement of Friar Bacon's Brazen Head-'Time is, Time was, Time is past'-might well be taken to apply to English fairy beliefs, which from..." (more)
Key Phrases: human midwife, fairy poems, fairy beliefs, Lady Wilde, Evans Wentz, Walter Scott (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"Katharine Briggs is the magic mirror on the wall." -- Richard Adams

'Katharine Briggs is the magic mirror on the wall.' - Richard Adams

'Required reading for anyone seeking to take a first step into the wondrous realm of fairy tales.' - Jack Zipes

Katharine Briggs is the magic mirror on the wall. - Richard Adams

Required reading for anyone seeking to take a first step into the wondrous realm of fairy tales. - Jack Zipes

Product Description
This remarkable book explores the history in literature and tradition of the wondrous fairies. Capricious and vengeful, or beautiful and generous, they've held us in thrall for generations.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 2 edition (July 30, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415286018
• ISBN-13: 978-0415286015
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #411,324 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you are researching the Fey, this is a must, February 14, 2004

By	cammykitty "cammykitty" (Minneapolis, MN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Fairies in Tradition and Literature (Paperback)

Not a book for someone who doesn't have much background in the English, Scottish and Irish fairy lore simply because Briggs will refer to common folktales that you will know if you've read a lot. But if this is a new interest for you, you'll want to have at least read your Yeat's folktales first.

If you are trying to get a good understanding of fairy lore because you are writing a piece of fiction or some other reason, this is the perfect book. First, she splits the fairy folk into two different types -- the diminished gods and the dead. I hadn't thought about the fairy connection to the dead, but once I read this, I knew she was right. She does a wonderful job at making sense of a hodge-podge of tales from several locations and time periods, complete with all their contradictions. And if you've ever wanted to know what fairies eat, she will tell you. And what they do for fun too. When Katherine Briggs passed away at the ripe old age of 82, the world lost a great resource.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Do you believe?, June 18, 2006

By	Linda "katknit" (CT, United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Meticulously researched narrative about the variety of fairy types, that were, and in many cases still are, prevalent in the beliefs of the British people. If you think all fairies are adorable harmless creatures like the Flower Fairies or Tinkerbell, you ought to take a closer look! Nothing is trickier, or more dangerous than a fairy, no matter how beguiling he/she appears. She's trying to entrap you and make you her slave forever!
Liberally enlivened with stories from believers, some who say they have actually encountered a fairy of one type or another, Ms Briggs' book is especially interesting in light of the recent popularity of books and films based on traditional folklore (Tolkien, Rowling, CS Lewis, to name a few). Readers of The Fairies in Tradition and Literature will be able to spot time honored themes and characteristics, and will often be able to predict outcomes in modern stories based upon folkloric history. Another sort of mystery - great fun. Guard your children well!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The ultimate beginner's guide and reference book, September 18, 2007

By	Aili (Las Vegas) - See all my reviews

Serious about researching fairies? Then you must own this book. Traditions of fairies vary widely depending on the location and time period, which can create serious confusion for the beginner. Enter Katharine Briggs: The Fairies in Tradition and Literature provides a clear, excellently organized introduction to fairy folklore and allusion in the UK until 1967.

The first section, called "The Fairy Peoples," answers all the basic questions. What exactly are fairies? Where do they come from? What do they actually do? What do they eat? What is their relation to humans? Briggs is thorough; she identifies subtle differences in traits from different localities, and includes sections on related mythical creatures as well.

The second section, "Traffic with Fairies," explores human meetings with fairies. It reveals an unusual bit of information about fairies studies: that fairies have a special sort of dependence on humans.

The final section summarizes appearances of fairies in literature from about the eighteenth century on--the previous major writers having been covered in Briggs's earlier book The Anatomy of Puck. Her remarks on how the influence of writers and other nations' fairy lore change the perception and essence of British fairies are perspicacious and brilliant.

Briggs likes to summarize some point within a sentence or two, and then back it up with abundant anecdotes. The book is extremely heavy on footnotes and includes a comprehensive bibliography. For quick reference, one appendix lists all the "Fairy Types and Individuals" along with their native location and the name of the main source. Clearly, this is a valuable resource.

However, this book receives only four starts because the scholarly tone does not lend itself well to a general audience. The academic writing is sometimes rigid and boring. I wish I could recommend this excellent book to anyone, but I can't because it reads like a textbook. That said, it's the first textbook you should read if you want to study fairies.