- Hardcover: 184 pages
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster (26 April 2000)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0684869578
- ISBN-13: 978-0684869575
- Product Dimensions: 30.8 x 24.8 x 2.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,127,107 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Pavilion Books seems to be specialising in books on the faery world, including the well-known Lady Cottington's Pressed Fairy Journal, Brian Foud's Good Faeries/Bad Faeries, and Beatrice Phillpotts' The Faeryland Companion.
The Great Encyclopedia of Faeries divides the faery realm into several categories: Maidens of clouds and of time, The faeries of the hearth, The golden queens of the middle world, The faeries of rivers and the sea, The maidens of the green kingdoms, and The ethereal ones of infinite dreams. Within these we find a huge diversity of fair folk from world mythology, from the Norse Valkyries and the Russian Babouchka to Scotland's Mélusine, creatures like the Selkies and Swan Maidens, or Celtic or Arthurian magical figures such as Morgan le Fey and Viviane.
This is a gift book: larger than A4, with colour illustrations by Roland and Claudine Sabatier on every page. It shouldn't be expected to be as comprehensive as, for example, folklorist Katharine Briggs' classic A Dictionary of Fairies. It measures up well, though, to Nancy Arrowsmith's A Field Guide to the Little People, covering as they both do over 70 types of faeries or individual characters. The text, by Pierre Dubois, is considerably more valuable than the pleasant but somewhat stylised artwork; it gives the mythological background, in many cases retelling old folk tales; there are also sidebars on size, appearance, dress, clothes, food, habitat, customs and activities, making this not just an attractive art book but a useful resource. --David V Barrett --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Description
They are known as the Little People, the Beautiful Maidens, the Godmothers, the Blessed, the Ageless Ones...for it is dangerous to say the name "faeries" without good reason. Ruling over earth, air, fire, and water, they protect forests, animals, and children, and in their hands lie the dreamy souls of all creatures.
The faeries rose from the mist long, long ago, in the time of the Golden Age -- well before the creation of gods and men. In their magical fancy they created the singing grasses and the reflection of springs, the music of legends and the far side of the mirror. From the Valkyries of Valhalla to the Babouchka of Russia, Banshees, Dryads, Bogey Beasts, Sirens, and their ilk populate the imaginations and the forests of every culture.
In this comprehensive celebration of the world of faery, renowned French elficologist Pierre Dubois describes the extraordinary richness of the faery kingdom, presenting dozens and dozens of lushly illustrated entries on the most powerful and enchanting denizens of this magical world. Dubois provides readers with authoritative information detailing the customs, habitat, and activities of these Little People. Faery Godmothers, we discover, were originally tall, distinguished, and rather severe; only recently have they taken up the magic wands and cheerful smiles we know them for today. We learn that the favorite foods of the Arthurian faery Viviane are the blackberries that surround Merlin's tomb. And among the customs and activities of the Bogey Beast, the prime goal is indeed to scare little children...if only for their protection.
Dubois's entrancing descriptions are accompanied by Roland and Claudine Sabatier's marvelous illustrations, which depict the appearance of the faeries, the places where they are found, and their familiar objects. Without revealing any faery confidences (which must never be betrayed), Dubois and the Sabatiers have created a comprehensive and utterly enchanting survey of a magical world as old as time.
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
It would be tedious to repeat in detail here the vertiginous maelstrom of the elfin origins of Nordic mythology. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
It would be tedious to repeat in detail here the vertiginous maelstrom of the elfin origins of Nordic mythology. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This book is fabulous and is more suitable for the adult faery lover as there's slight nudity, so it wouldn't be suitable for children. The pictures are simpler lines, reminiscent of illustrations from vintage children's books, with the black outlines and vibrant colours but don't have as much of the details as some of the faery artists i know of. the stories inside are wonderful and dubois provides information on customs, habitat and activities of these little people. This book would make a great gift for any adult faery lover.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I got this book for my 11th birthday and it is a wonderful gift. I snuggled up in bed with this and sat there for ages, just reading and reading. Flick over to any page and you will find something you like. Each creature has 2 pages dedicated to them, with tons of illustrations, habitats, appearences, a story from history, facts, poems, sightings and myths. It is packed full of faeries, boggarts, sirens and beasts. Soon, you will learn to adore ever single one of them, and you will never get tired of the secrets hidden inside the beautiful gold covers.
8 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I was really disappointed in this book. Called a great encyclopedia, I expected a comprehensive guide to fairies, but instead only a few catagories are mentioned. I think an encyclopedia should contain a lot more information than this. The biggest disappointment are the pictures which are really childish and not very well drawn in many cases.
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