Fairies, Pookas, and Changelings

An exploration of the different tenants of Fairyland from around the world—hobgoblins, sprites, bogeys, pixies, goblins, bonga, duende, elves, and more.

While it’s true that fairy folk love a good garden and take great pleasure in a tulip, there are dozens of beasties who fall under the fairy domain that are not quite as delightful as the quintessential flower fairy. This book is an exploration of the many things that go bump in the night near the fairy mound. Along with an exploration of folklore and historical literature, readers will delight in fairy tales that demonstrate everything from striking a bargain with a fairy to staving off changelings to laughing with the dwarves.

Included are fairy tales and myths from Wales, Scotland, Ireland, and Scandinavia plus classic stories by Thomas Crofton Croker, Joseph Jacobs, Clara Stroebe, the Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Andersen, Yei Theodora Ozaki, and others on goblins, trolls, gnomes, pookas, changelings, banshees, and more!

Chapters include:A Fear of Little Men: Elves, Trolls, Leprechauns, Tree Spirits, Brownies, Coblyns, Dwarves, Goblins, Bonga, Trolls and Other Fairy Folk of Glen, Forests and HearthThe Hand That Rocks the Cradle: Changelings and Other Greedy Kidnappers of the Fairy KingdomI’m Not Drunk, It’s Just My Pooka: Tales of the Trickster Fairy and Its Wild CounterpartIs That All There Is? Fairies Who Give, or The Barter SystemWhoops, There It Is: How to Enter the Fairy Kingdom (or How Not To)

If you think fairies are merely delicate beings who follow you about on gossamer wings, consider yourself warned! The kingdom of the fairy is one of vengeance, thievery, trickery, and wild creatures.