Fairies: A History

Fairy lore was once far broader and stranger than the 19th-century image of tiny winged beings. Historian and folklorist Francis Young traces how European cultures imagined fairies as powerful, human-like supernatural entities—from Irish aos sí to Scandinavian elves and Balkan vilas. He illustrates how these beliefs adapted to Christianity, thrived through the Middle Ages, and survived major cultural shifts, including the Reformation and Enlightenment. Young also highlights how colonial expansion globalized the idea of fairies and how enduring beliefs in fairies influence contemporary culture.