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Field Guide to the Little People
Field Guide to the Little People by Nancy Arrowsmith And George Moorse A guide to the lineage, appearance, general characteristics, and case histories of 79 species who pull the gossamer strings of the Universe. Softcover, 296 pp., numerous b/w illustrations by Heinz Edelmann, calligraphy by Kevin Reilly.
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First published November 1, 1977
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About the author
Nancy Arrowsmith
7 books8 followersNancy Arrowsmith was born in Oxford, England, in 1950 of American parents. She has travelled widely in the United States, India, and Europe. A Field Guide to the Little People was her first book. Also is the founder and former editor-in-chief of Kraut & Rüben, Germany’s first organic gardening magazine. She also founded the international seed organization Arche Noah, with the mission to preserve endangered plants. Arrowsmith has a master’s degree in acupuncture and runs her own healing practice in Arizona.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
April 17, 2013
i began reading for pleasure in the 4th grade. at that point, it was less about reading a novel from beginning to end and more about discovering new worlds to live in. i rarely completed a book - i usually read just enough to get the sense of a different place and time, and then used that as a template for my own imaginative travels... things to think on and wonder about as i roamed around the woods of south bend, indiana; as i rode my bike about with my pet toad perched atop my head; as i sat musing in the corner during various family gatherings, ignoring the adults engaged in their loud yet tedious socializing.
so a couple years passed and i still faithfully checked out books from the library and i still faithlessly left them unfinished. i also started combing garage sales. by the time of my 6th grade year, i had discovered three books that really stirred my imagination, that completely fascinated me and opened up the world and my mind to so many new and absorbingly strange things:
Mastering Witchcraft
Zodiac and Its Mysteries
A Field Guide to the Little People
now with these books, i read my eyes out. they were read from cover to cover, over and over again. i lingered over so many parts, wondering how they could apply to my life, the world around me, the people in that world. i thought about them all the time and made ambiguous little remarks to friends and adults that secretly referenced those books. i have them still. their margins and end pages are filled with scribbles and notes and lists and drawings. Zodiac and Its Mysteries is held together by duct tape. A Field Guide fell apart and separated into two books, both also held together by duct tape. Mastering Witchcraft appears to be completely unchanged from how it first appeared to me, hmm. all three are literary touchstones of my youth.
A Field Guide to Little People is divided handily into three parts: Light Elves, Dark Elves, and Dusky Elves. the "Little People" are not all little, some are human-sized or larger. they include such beings as the Sidhe, the Rusalka, the Kobolde, the Lechy, the Mound Folk. each tribe is given a clear-eyed and entirely unsentimental overview of their lifestyle and temperament. that is followed by a section entitled "Identification" that describes their physical appearance and their various guises. and that is followed by a section entitled "Habitat" that describes their home country and where they could be found. finally, short tales (sometimes just a paragraph) detail an often terminal interaction between human and Little Person. these tales are simply told and often morbid, at times disgustingly violent. but they are also soulful fables full of melancholy, full of longing for lost things, full of sadness at the way that humans will often betray the world around them. A Field Guide does not talk down to its reader; it assumes a tacit sympathy with and respect for the subject matter - which i was utterly willing to give.
some things i learned:
a Wood Woman, or Wood Troll, can fall in love with a human man. and like a human woman, they can have their hearts broken, often shortly after the man discovers their animal tail and withdraws from their arms in disgust.
a Vodyani looks like the bloated corpse of a fat old man. he floats in rivers and beats children to death with a club wrapped in colorful ribbons.
a Linchetto likes to stalk young ladies. however, to rid yourself of this horny pest, simply eat a sandwich while sitting on a chamberpot. the Linchetto will flee your home forever, howling in disgust at your outrageous behavior.
a Duende looks like a 2-foot tall woman, dressed in dusky gray and brown garb. they will clean your house from top to bottom and amuse you and your family with odd games like tickling your feet in the middle of the night with their cold fingers. when angry, they act like poltergeists. they cannot be exorcised and have no fear of holy water or holy men. awesome little bad-asses!
a Shopiltee lives in lakes, takes the form of an adorable grey foal with huge genitals, and subsists on the blood of those who have drowned.
a Seligen Fraulein is a kind of wood nymph, blonde and waifish, gentle and kind. if you come across her, she may ask you to promise never to hurt or hunt an animal in her forest. if you break your promise, she will find you and blind you. their lovers are the perpetually-aroused Norggen, who have blazing red eyes and hairy, strong bodies. Norggen are often sweet-natured and if you don't harass their elfin friends, they will control the weather for you.
a Pavaro protects bean fields. he has fiery eyes, a dog's head, teeth and nails made of iron, and he can stretch his arms to the length of acres, just to get you.
the elfin prince Tam Lin has no problem lying to maidens and pretending that he is a handsome mortal man. but he is a good sort and mainly wants to escape his captor, Elfland's Queen. if you are a lovely maiden who he has seduced, you can free him by simply holding him tight as he shifts from man to salamander to snake to bear to lion to red-hot iron to burning coal, and finally back into his true form, your now-naked lover. say hello to your new boyfriend! but realize that you have thus earned the undying enmity of the Elfland's Queen.
The Wild Hunt will hunt both man and Little Person alike. they chop them both up and nail bloody pieces of them on village doors. beware The Wild Hunt.
... and that's barely a fraction of this field guide. there is so much more!
as a child, i did not really read comics and i did not like a lot of tv either (besides Three's Company of course). i thought tv and comics were, for the most part, pretty silly and eye-rolling, "unrealistic". to me, A Field Guide to the Little People was the opposite of silly and unrealistic. it portrayed - and so realistically, so unsentimentally - a life that i felt utterly confident existed just beyond reach. i dreamed myself into this book day after day, year after year, it became a foundation for how i look at the world today.
thank you, Nancy Arrowsmith and George Moorse!
so a couple years passed and i still faithfully checked out books from the library and i still faithlessly left them unfinished. i also started combing garage sales. by the time of my 6th grade year, i had discovered three books that really stirred my imagination, that completely fascinated me and opened up the world and my mind to so many new and absorbingly strange things:
Mastering Witchcraft
Zodiac and Its Mysteries
A Field Guide to the Little People
now with these books, i read my eyes out. they were read from cover to cover, over and over again. i lingered over so many parts, wondering how they could apply to my life, the world around me, the people in that world. i thought about them all the time and made ambiguous little remarks to friends and adults that secretly referenced those books. i have them still. their margins and end pages are filled with scribbles and notes and lists and drawings. Zodiac and Its Mysteries is held together by duct tape. A Field Guide fell apart and separated into two books, both also held together by duct tape. Mastering Witchcraft appears to be completely unchanged from how it first appeared to me, hmm. all three are literary touchstones of my youth.
A Field Guide to Little People is divided handily into three parts: Light Elves, Dark Elves, and Dusky Elves. the "Little People" are not all little, some are human-sized or larger. they include such beings as the Sidhe, the Rusalka, the Kobolde, the Lechy, the Mound Folk. each tribe is given a clear-eyed and entirely unsentimental overview of their lifestyle and temperament. that is followed by a section entitled "Identification" that describes their physical appearance and their various guises. and that is followed by a section entitled "Habitat" that describes their home country and where they could be found. finally, short tales (sometimes just a paragraph) detail an often terminal interaction between human and Little Person. these tales are simply told and often morbid, at times disgustingly violent. but they are also soulful fables full of melancholy, full of longing for lost things, full of sadness at the way that humans will often betray the world around them. A Field Guide does not talk down to its reader; it assumes a tacit sympathy with and respect for the subject matter - which i was utterly willing to give.
some things i learned:
a Wood Woman, or Wood Troll, can fall in love with a human man. and like a human woman, they can have their hearts broken, often shortly after the man discovers their animal tail and withdraws from their arms in disgust.
a Vodyani looks like the bloated corpse of a fat old man. he floats in rivers and beats children to death with a club wrapped in colorful ribbons.
a Linchetto likes to stalk young ladies. however, to rid yourself of this horny pest, simply eat a sandwich while sitting on a chamberpot. the Linchetto will flee your home forever, howling in disgust at your outrageous behavior.
a Duende looks like a 2-foot tall woman, dressed in dusky gray and brown garb. they will clean your house from top to bottom and amuse you and your family with odd games like tickling your feet in the middle of the night with their cold fingers. when angry, they act like poltergeists. they cannot be exorcised and have no fear of holy water or holy men. awesome little bad-asses!
a Shopiltee lives in lakes, takes the form of an adorable grey foal with huge genitals, and subsists on the blood of those who have drowned.
a Seligen Fraulein is a kind of wood nymph, blonde and waifish, gentle and kind. if you come across her, she may ask you to promise never to hurt or hunt an animal in her forest. if you break your promise, she will find you and blind you. their lovers are the perpetually-aroused Norggen, who have blazing red eyes and hairy, strong bodies. Norggen are often sweet-natured and if you don't harass their elfin friends, they will control the weather for you.
a Pavaro protects bean fields. he has fiery eyes, a dog's head, teeth and nails made of iron, and he can stretch his arms to the length of acres, just to get you.
the elfin prince Tam Lin has no problem lying to maidens and pretending that he is a handsome mortal man. but he is a good sort and mainly wants to escape his captor, Elfland's Queen. if you are a lovely maiden who he has seduced, you can free him by simply holding him tight as he shifts from man to salamander to snake to bear to lion to red-hot iron to burning coal, and finally back into his true form, your now-naked lover. say hello to your new boyfriend! but realize that you have thus earned the undying enmity of the Elfland's Queen.
The Wild Hunt will hunt both man and Little Person alike. they chop them both up and nail bloody pieces of them on village doors. beware The Wild Hunt.
... and that's barely a fraction of this field guide. there is so much more!
as a child, i did not really read comics and i did not like a lot of tv either (besides Three's Company of course). i thought tv and comics were, for the most part, pretty silly and eye-rolling, "unrealistic". to me, A Field Guide to the Little People was the opposite of silly and unrealistic. it portrayed - and so realistically, so unsentimentally - a life that i felt utterly confident existed just beyond reach. i dreamed myself into this book day after day, year after year, it became a foundation for how i look at the world today.
thank you, Nancy Arrowsmith and George Moorse!
February 2, 2022
I really do not know exactly what to make of Nancy Arrowsmith's Field Guide to the Little People (or even how to adequately approach and rate it), as while the information about the various types of so-called Little People is indeed informative and should be of interest to anyone who enjoys folklore and folk tales (with the detailed bibliography at the back being an added and appreciated bonus), the fact that the author, that Nancy Arrowsmith actually seems to in fact totally and absolutely believe in the bona fide existence of these creatures is, or at least it can be, a trifle disconcerting.
Now I am not going to categorically claim that mythical beings, that the Little People do not or cannot exist, but there are indeed some parts of this "field guide" that I have found and continue to find not only problematic, but even potentially dangerous. For in some of the sections regarding supposed changelings, Arrowsmith actually claims that one way to rid oneself of these nuisance magical creatures is to relentlessly and viciously abuse and harass changelings until they either leave or are rescued by their own. And truth be told and in my opinion, when one now realises that often children (and adults) with mental and/or physical challenges were and sometimes even still are considered to be possessed by demons, changed or enchanted by the fairies etc., the author's advice (which certainly seems not to be either ironic or tongue in cheek) could, in a worst case scenario, lead to abuse and torture of individuals who do not fit in, who have challenges, who are ill, especially if the illnesses or syndromes might also cause physical and mental manifestations and changes. And although I would not go as far as not recommending Field Guide to the Little People (as it does have much interesting, informative material), I would certainly say "reader beware" (and if you are looking for a book that is sweetness and light, this tome is definitely not for you, as quite a number of the elves, gnomes etc. are described as being at best mischievous, and often rather nasty, even potentially deadly).
And academically speaking, although I do appreciate that the author has included a detailed bibliography at the back, I also do not really understand why Nancy Arrowsmith has then not made use of the bibliography within the text proper. For while she continuously presents and gives information and exmaples of stories, folktales and fairy tales that have clearly been gleaned from the books mentioned and presented in her bibliographical lists, she actually does not, in fact, acknowledge her specific sources within the narrative itself (as there are generally no in-text sources, no footnotes or endnotes presented). Thus, if I am reading a story (an account) about German "Kobolde" it is not indicated within the text from which book(s) in the bibliography the author has gleaned her story, her information. And this is not only frustrating and infuriating for academic research purposes, it is actually in my opinion also somewhat academically dishonest and suspect, as the reader really and also has no way to easily verify the sources of the story, the information (unless he/she went through the entire bibliography and managed to find the exact source/sources, but that will often be a guessing game at best and would also be a long, unnecessarily tedious and dragging process). Two and a half stars, if half stars were possible (and no, I cannot really bring myself to round up the rating to three stars, as especially the discovered academic shortcomings of Field Guide for the Little People and that author Nancy Arrowsmith actually seems to present the folklore she is detailing as realistic facts and truths are simply too frustrating and too annoying for me).
Now I am not going to categorically claim that mythical beings, that the Little People do not or cannot exist, but there are indeed some parts of this "field guide" that I have found and continue to find not only problematic, but even potentially dangerous. For in some of the sections regarding supposed changelings, Arrowsmith actually claims that one way to rid oneself of these nuisance magical creatures is to relentlessly and viciously abuse and harass changelings until they either leave or are rescued by their own. And truth be told and in my opinion, when one now realises that often children (and adults) with mental and/or physical challenges were and sometimes even still are considered to be possessed by demons, changed or enchanted by the fairies etc., the author's advice (which certainly seems not to be either ironic or tongue in cheek) could, in a worst case scenario, lead to abuse and torture of individuals who do not fit in, who have challenges, who are ill, especially if the illnesses or syndromes might also cause physical and mental manifestations and changes. And although I would not go as far as not recommending Field Guide to the Little People (as it does have much interesting, informative material), I would certainly say "reader beware" (and if you are looking for a book that is sweetness and light, this tome is definitely not for you, as quite a number of the elves, gnomes etc. are described as being at best mischievous, and often rather nasty, even potentially deadly).
And academically speaking, although I do appreciate that the author has included a detailed bibliography at the back, I also do not really understand why Nancy Arrowsmith has then not made use of the bibliography within the text proper. For while she continuously presents and gives information and exmaples of stories, folktales and fairy tales that have clearly been gleaned from the books mentioned and presented in her bibliographical lists, she actually does not, in fact, acknowledge her specific sources within the narrative itself (as there are generally no in-text sources, no footnotes or endnotes presented). Thus, if I am reading a story (an account) about German "Kobolde" it is not indicated within the text from which book(s) in the bibliography the author has gleaned her story, her information. And this is not only frustrating and infuriating for academic research purposes, it is actually in my opinion also somewhat academically dishonest and suspect, as the reader really and also has no way to easily verify the sources of the story, the information (unless he/she went through the entire bibliography and managed to find the exact source/sources, but that will often be a guessing game at best and would also be a long, unnecessarily tedious and dragging process). Two and a half stars, if half stars were possible (and no, I cannot really bring myself to round up the rating to three stars, as especially the discovered academic shortcomings of Field Guide for the Little People and that author Nancy Arrowsmith actually seems to present the folklore she is detailing as realistic facts and truths are simply too frustrating and too annoying for me).
September 8, 2021
A Field Guide to the Little People by Nancy Arrowsmith is similar to those Audubon Society books or any old bird watching book I suppose, where the animals within are broken up into sub species and each individual specimen is given a brief write-up.
The descriptions range from vague to oddly specific (maybe I should say "specific and sometimes odd" cuz there is some weird sh!t in this here book!). Each is followed by two sections: one on identification and the other on habitat. There is a good deal of repetition: lots of Dobby-like house elves, ridiculously long-breasted females, pranksters who just wanna prank. I'd chalk up the repeats to a commonality across European (the book is almost exclusively Eurocentric) cultural myths.
Most of the entries come with illustrations that were apparently done by the dude who did the work on Yellow Submarine. They're rather sketchy and hard to make out at times. I can't say as they added much.
All in all, it's a good book for faerie/fairy/fae fans. Although, more modern books on the topic (this one's from the '70s) might appeal to younger readers. Hell, if you can find a copy of this book in a store, I'd be impressed. I bought this super secondhand from the Iliad shop in North Hollywood back in the '90s.
The descriptions range from vague to oddly specific (maybe I should say "specific and sometimes odd" cuz there is some weird sh!t in this here book!). Each is followed by two sections: one on identification and the other on habitat. There is a good deal of repetition: lots of Dobby-like house elves, ridiculously long-breasted females, pranksters who just wanna prank. I'd chalk up the repeats to a commonality across European (the book is almost exclusively Eurocentric) cultural myths.
Most of the entries come with illustrations that were apparently done by the dude who did the work on Yellow Submarine. They're rather sketchy and hard to make out at times. I can't say as they added much.
All in all, it's a good book for faerie/fairy/fae fans. Although, more modern books on the topic (this one's from the '70s) might appeal to younger readers. Hell, if you can find a copy of this book in a store, I'd be impressed. I bought this super secondhand from the Iliad shop in North Hollywood back in the '90s.
November 24, 2014
A little about this book: it was originally released in the 70s and then went out of print. Thankfully for it, it developed a huge cult following which then led to its most recent reprinting. Apparently this book was highly sought after for years and those with copies held onto them for dear life (I have a few books like that). After reading it, it's painfully clear why.
There are many, many different types of Little People in this book and while the descriptions are not overly wrought or extensive, they give you just enough information to tantalize you and make you want to dig deeper into some of these creatures.
The amount of research Arrowsmith put into this book is amazing. The stories and information she gathered are all "true" accounts she gathered from traveling all over Europe. They're not stories based on other stories from people but documented from texts she spent years scouring.
The introductions take a little bit to wade through. There are a few, both old from the original book and new to make light of a few things, including how it hasn't been updated (like many YA books are now especially). References to the USSR and Czechoslovakia are made throughout. It's not like people wouldn't know what they were when reading (I mean, it's not rocket science) but is it really worth changing? I think it just gives the book that much more life.
What's also pretty neat is that if you're big into reading about faeries (Stiefvater, Marr, etc.), you read about the ones they write about in this book and it gives you a better understanding of just what they are. They don't have dramatized stories around them. You just get bare-bones "facts" about what they are. You can color in the rest of the picture for yourself.
The drawings are stunning and I've even marked off a couple of the Little People for potential stories later on down the road. Some of them are just so enticing I can't help but write about them. But maybe that's their plan . . .
So if you're looking for a somewhat short and to the point research book about the Little People (not just faeries) or are just generally interested in Them, then be sure to pick up this book. It's one of the most comprehensive and unbiased compendiums of Little People information out there. You don't want to miss is.
There are many, many different types of Little People in this book and while the descriptions are not overly wrought or extensive, they give you just enough information to tantalize you and make you want to dig deeper into some of these creatures.
The amount of research Arrowsmith put into this book is amazing. The stories and information she gathered are all "true" accounts she gathered from traveling all over Europe. They're not stories based on other stories from people but documented from texts she spent years scouring.
The introductions take a little bit to wade through. There are a few, both old from the original book and new to make light of a few things, including how it hasn't been updated (like many YA books are now especially). References to the USSR and Czechoslovakia are made throughout. It's not like people wouldn't know what they were when reading (I mean, it's not rocket science) but is it really worth changing? I think it just gives the book that much more life.
What's also pretty neat is that if you're big into reading about faeries (Stiefvater, Marr, etc.), you read about the ones they write about in this book and it gives you a better understanding of just what they are. They don't have dramatized stories around them. You just get bare-bones "facts" about what they are. You can color in the rest of the picture for yourself.
The drawings are stunning and I've even marked off a couple of the Little People for potential stories later on down the road. Some of them are just so enticing I can't help but write about them. But maybe that's their plan . . .
So if you're looking for a somewhat short and to the point research book about the Little People (not just faeries) or are just generally interested in Them, then be sure to pick up this book. It's one of the most comprehensive and unbiased compendiums of Little People information out there. You don't want to miss is.
December 31, 2021
Review to follow!
April 7, 2008
As a pseudo-scientific guide to elves, this was, as expected, thoroughly entertaining and creepy in the style of the Bros. Grimm, especially with illustrations. And I learned the following (among other things):
1. don't trust short men wearing red caps
2. don't trust women who wear their breasts over their shoulders.
3. Welsh water women "can only be told from humans by their unearthly beauty and their inability to count beyond five."
1. don't trust short men wearing red caps
2. don't trust women who wear their breasts over their shoulders.
3. Welsh water women "can only be told from humans by their unearthly beauty and their inability to count beyond five."
November 11, 2008
A nice little guide and not sugar coated.
November 25, 2023
This book has definitely aged, but I can imagine it being ground-breaking when it was first published. I've read some much more easily digestible books about the little people published much more recently, but in addition, I've also read half of one of the books this one has used as a source (from the 1800s). I found both more informational. The big problem with this book is that folklore from different countries is often tossed together and it's sometimes hard to tell where certain lore is from. I also found the language used somewhat irritating - it uses words like "species" and claims to track the genealogy/evolution of some types of fae.
I'm giving it 3 stars because it includes so many types of fae that I've never heard of before. I would need to read through again to tell whether it's heavy on Italian lore or whether it just stuck out to me because I knew virtually nothing about Italian lore beyond Roman mythology. Some interesting specifics regarding all sorts of European fae are also included, and while I'd double-check the information somewhere else before taking it as fact, it was definitely very interesting. Lastly, although it's not an incredibly old book, I think it holds value given the time it was published and the source material (aka is a great book to find older sources from).
I'm giving it 3 stars because it includes so many types of fae that I've never heard of before. I would need to read through again to tell whether it's heavy on Italian lore or whether it just stuck out to me because I knew virtually nothing about Italian lore beyond Roman mythology. Some interesting specifics regarding all sorts of European fae are also included, and while I'd double-check the information somewhere else before taking it as fact, it was definitely very interesting. Lastly, although it's not an incredibly old book, I think it holds value given the time it was published and the source material (aka is a great book to find older sources from).
January 3, 2019
The Little People get their due in this guide, and you'll hear about a good deal more than Leprechauns along the way. The author provides tons of information on who's related to whom, the different names for the same kinds, their sub-species (so to speak), their preferred habitats and habits, and along with all this a selection of folk tales from as far afield as Croatia, the Orkneys, and Italy, Switzerland, Hungary and Germany, and various Mediterranean islands. I was highly amused by the Hey Hey Men and had not heard of the Fountain Women or the Korrigans before. Useful, I should think, to anyone who'd like to get off the beaten Celtic track and try other directions. The illustrations are on the impressionistic side but quite expressive. Recommended.
June 8, 2017
I learned about the many ways elves can hurt you, how to identify them, where they're most likely to be found, and got a huge kick out of the examples provided of humans interacting with these various supernatural beings. I'm going to buy this book for reference, to have at the ready. The illustrations I'd seen highlighted in that 'Masters of Psychedelic Art' work from last season did not prepare me for the pictures the full publication offered. Blown away by the matter-of-fact descriptions of sprite behavior and fairy rituals. Took me a long while to finish because I had so much to mull over with each species' entry and each drawing's details.
September 27, 2018
The book was interesting and somewhat entertaining but the lack of linguistic and historical back up is too obvious to omit. This is unfortunate since the author tries to show strong connections between folk tales, the names in them, ethnicities and geographic areas. Reading something like: Rusalky live in USSR would now sound like die Kobolden inhabit the European Union :)
July 17, 2022
It's full of lore and legends and is well researched although the writer seems to believe in them...
April 30, 2023
Great reference for fairies and Litt people.
May 17, 2024
Charming, but a little repetitive.
March 26, 2025
De las mejores guías acerca de hadas y seres feércios que pueden encontrarse, aunque a muchas yo las habría puesto dentro de una misma categoría .
March 14, 2023
I absolutely loved this book. Growing up on the Grimm's fairy tales, and of course Disney, and being fascinated with the folklore of different cultures, this book was very educational as I learned a lot about where characteristics of such stories originated from. This is a wonderful book, whether you believe in the Fae or not has nothing to do with this book. Rather it teaches us much about how old European folklore gave us the fairy tales that we know and love today.
December 14, 2024
This is a title that had been on my shelf for a decade or two, one of the first books I purchased from the secondhand bookshop Capitol Bookstore back when it was still The San Francisco Bookstore. Having finished a book of essays by W.B. Yeats last week, where the Ireland of myth and magic and his boyhood poets of choice, Edmund Spenser among them, were frequently mentioned, spurred me to finally read this. Admittedly, an ambitious whim to write a similar field guide to creatures endemic to my corner of the Philippine archipelago had something to do with it.
First off, this ain't no Faerie Queen. What it is is an engaging, well-researched compendium of the numerous species and sub-species of elves that populate Europe. Or used to, at least. Much work went into compiling and labelling, as most elves, depending on their region and/or parentage, are known by different names and endearments. I liked how the entire book is written as if it were fact, with tongue firmly in cheek. It is never condescending, so an impressionable child would have taken it as gospel truth, and from the onset, the writer is dismissive of the elves and fairies we know from popular literature (Spenser's Faerie Queen, Tolkien's hobbits), as "the imagination and fancy of writers often alter or confuse the facts of elf-existence as it has been recognized in folk belief for centuries." Each elf is identified by name/names, with a paragraph or two on their characteristics and the region they hail from. This is followed by Identification--the elves's height, skin color, clothing of choice, and other significant, distinguishing marks. Next comes Habitat, identifying the countries the elves have been known to flourish or come from, and their abodes of choice--be it water, hill, forest, humans' hearth. The next few paragraphs, and the ones I enjoyed best, are dedicated to anecdotal stories of elf-human encounters. Full page sketches are provided for some of the species discussed in the book.
Here are some things I've noted down, should I hurtle through time and space and find myself in the realm of elves, in yonder Europe of olde:
- Elves shun iron, steel, Christianity, and modern conveniences (like electricity), which accounts for their withdrawal--their disenfranchisement from the world of men.
- Most elves wear red hats. And sometimes, but rarely, gray. In most species, take away the hat and you take away their power.
- Most Elves have the mental capacity of children, and are as prone to mischief, tantrums, imagined slights, and cavalier alliances as human toddlers are.
- Most elves love animals and are "transmutative" shape-shifters.
- Elves love music, love to dance.
- Most elves live in trees (especially fruit trees), caves, underneath hills, abandoned houses.
- Water-based elves (mermaids, mermen, water nymphs, kelpies) seem to be the most dangerous and diabolical among the elves.
- Elven womenfolk of all sizes seem to have pendulous breasts which sag low enough to be slung over their backs, especially when nursing.
- Opulent gifts of new clothes and shoes for an elf's duties voluntarily rendered in a household are guaranteed to put a stop to this; something I learned from The Elves and the Shoemaker early on.
- Once upon a time, elves had a foothold in all of Europe, and elf-human unions and offspring were indeed, a thing. Changelings, too.
- The duende, my (Philippine) Cebuano dialect's translation for elf/dwarf, figures in this field guide. "Universally known in Spain and Portugal," they must have hitched a ride with our early colonizers.
Lastly, Nancy Arrowsmith states that "Children, poets, seers, healers, those gifted with second sight, men and women at peace with and in tune with their natural surroundings have historically been those most likely to enter into contact with the Little People." I do believe in fairies!
First off, this ain't no Faerie Queen. What it is is an engaging, well-researched compendium of the numerous species and sub-species of elves that populate Europe. Or used to, at least. Much work went into compiling and labelling, as most elves, depending on their region and/or parentage, are known by different names and endearments. I liked how the entire book is written as if it were fact, with tongue firmly in cheek. It is never condescending, so an impressionable child would have taken it as gospel truth, and from the onset, the writer is dismissive of the elves and fairies we know from popular literature (Spenser's Faerie Queen, Tolkien's hobbits), as "the imagination and fancy of writers often alter or confuse the facts of elf-existence as it has been recognized in folk belief for centuries." Each elf is identified by name/names, with a paragraph or two on their characteristics and the region they hail from. This is followed by Identification--the elves's height, skin color, clothing of choice, and other significant, distinguishing marks. Next comes Habitat, identifying the countries the elves have been known to flourish or come from, and their abodes of choice--be it water, hill, forest, humans' hearth. The next few paragraphs, and the ones I enjoyed best, are dedicated to anecdotal stories of elf-human encounters. Full page sketches are provided for some of the species discussed in the book.
Here are some things I've noted down, should I hurtle through time and space and find myself in the realm of elves, in yonder Europe of olde:
- Elves shun iron, steel, Christianity, and modern conveniences (like electricity), which accounts for their withdrawal--their disenfranchisement from the world of men.
- Most elves wear red hats. And sometimes, but rarely, gray. In most species, take away the hat and you take away their power.
- Most Elves have the mental capacity of children, and are as prone to mischief, tantrums, imagined slights, and cavalier alliances as human toddlers are.
- Most elves love animals and are "transmutative" shape-shifters.
- Elves love music, love to dance.
- Most elves live in trees (especially fruit trees), caves, underneath hills, abandoned houses.
- Water-based elves (mermaids, mermen, water nymphs, kelpies) seem to be the most dangerous and diabolical among the elves.
- Elven womenfolk of all sizes seem to have pendulous breasts which sag low enough to be slung over their backs, especially when nursing.
- Opulent gifts of new clothes and shoes for an elf's duties voluntarily rendered in a household are guaranteed to put a stop to this; something I learned from The Elves and the Shoemaker early on.
- Once upon a time, elves had a foothold in all of Europe, and elf-human unions and offspring were indeed, a thing. Changelings, too.
- The duende, my (Philippine) Cebuano dialect's translation for elf/dwarf, figures in this field guide. "Universally known in Spain and Portugal," they must have hitched a ride with our early colonizers.
Lastly, Nancy Arrowsmith states that "Children, poets, seers, healers, those gifted with second sight, men and women at peace with and in tune with their natural surroundings have historically been those most likely to enter into contact with the Little People." I do believe in fairies!
April 24, 2012
This is just the cutest little book, full of amazing creatures and beings and their histories and anecdotes.
It is very thorough and catalogues fairy tales and legendary creatures from many different lands and folk legends the world over, many of course in Europe. I think my favorite part of the book has to be the artistic depictions of the creatures. There aren't pictures for every creature, but there are for many, and they are done in several different styles from full on penciled scenes and detailed artwork to barely scribbled pencil outlines and sketches. Many are adorable, while others are actually quite eerie and frightening, leading one to understand that faerie is definitely not synonymous with friendly, kind, harmless, or good hearted. Some of these beings are downright evil and some border on demonic.
I've actually had this book since I was about 7 or 8 years old. I think my mother intended it to be a sort of storybook, without actually having read it cover to cover and so she must have figured it was full of smiling leprechauns and such. Still I have treasured it always, and will pass it on to my daughter just as my mom gave it to me. It's truly timeless.
It is very thorough and catalogues fairy tales and legendary creatures from many different lands and folk legends the world over, many of course in Europe. I think my favorite part of the book has to be the artistic depictions of the creatures. There aren't pictures for every creature, but there are for many, and they are done in several different styles from full on penciled scenes and detailed artwork to barely scribbled pencil outlines and sketches. Many are adorable, while others are actually quite eerie and frightening, leading one to understand that faerie is definitely not synonymous with friendly, kind, harmless, or good hearted. Some of these beings are downright evil and some border on demonic.
I've actually had this book since I was about 7 or 8 years old. I think my mother intended it to be a sort of storybook, without actually having read it cover to cover and so she must have figured it was full of smiling leprechauns and such. Still I have treasured it always, and will pass it on to my daughter just as my mom gave it to me. It's truly timeless.
July 29, 2010
Esta obra, como su titulo reza, es una guia que describe una gran cantidad de criaturas élficas. Nos entrega detalles como personalidad, apariencia, habitat acompañados por diversos relatos en los que se manifiestan dichas características. Nos indica además como obtener o lograr de alguna forma la amistad con estos seres con tal de beneficiarnos, generalmente en forma de oro en abundancia o ayudando en los quehaceres del hogar. También nos entrega la forma de aplacar su ira cuando no hemos sido "buenos vecinos".
Cómo estudio es bastante amplio, la autora los clasificó en Elfos de la Luz, de la Oscuridad y de la Penumbra, este último es el que engloba la mayor cantidad de seres élficos.
Me pareció un libro bellísimo, la riqueza de relatos y de las descripciones de los elfos y hadas lo transforma en un libro no sólo interesante para el estudioso o aficionado a la mitología y folklore sino que muchos de ellos son una delicia para la imaginación infantil (y adulta también :D ).
Cómo estudio es bastante amplio, la autora los clasificó en Elfos de la Luz, de la Oscuridad y de la Penumbra, este último es el que engloba la mayor cantidad de seres élficos.
Me pareció un libro bellísimo, la riqueza de relatos y de las descripciones de los elfos y hadas lo transforma en un libro no sólo interesante para el estudioso o aficionado a la mitología y folklore sino que muchos de ellos son una delicia para la imaginación infantil (y adulta también :D ).
July 28, 2024
Title in English:
A Field Guide to the Little People
In this book Nancy Arrowsmith describes the world of the Little People and their tradition in fairytales, legends, myths and poetry throughout Europe. She classifies the fairies as light, dark and dusky elves and tells about their attributes, geographical extension and their different habits. To every spirit of nature there is a general introduction, a detailed description of their characteristics, their extension and a short story. On every page is a color drawing by Don-Oliver Matthies to demonstrate the look of the portrayed creature. And on a colored map of Europe we can find where the mentioned fairies dwell..
It´s a wonderful reference book to everybody who is interested in fairies and wants to learn more about them and their myths und customs.
This review refers to the german edition of this book.
A Field Guide to the Little People
In this book Nancy Arrowsmith describes the world of the Little People and their tradition in fairytales, legends, myths and poetry throughout Europe. She classifies the fairies as light, dark and dusky elves and tells about their attributes, geographical extension and their different habits. To every spirit of nature there is a general introduction, a detailed description of their characteristics, their extension and a short story. On every page is a color drawing by Don-Oliver Matthies to demonstrate the look of the portrayed creature. And on a colored map of Europe we can find where the mentioned fairies dwell..
It´s a wonderful reference book to everybody who is interested in fairies and wants to learn more about them and their myths und customs.
This review refers to the german edition of this book.
April 6, 2013
I came across this reading material after looking in the bibliography of one of my favourite reads: "Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You." I found it enchanting yet informative. The debate about the existance of these "Little People" is a fascinating subject to me and although I feel that, in this novel, the disappearances of these magical beasts is all too convenient, the illustrations are unique and the structure is in a very positive format for me; as it makes me feel as though I've read a lot throughout. I also enjoyed the added insight into different countries and their cultures so all in all I enjoyed this book, and its wealth of information on the subject matter, but my favourite parts were the extracts of stories that were told in each section.
March 9, 2010
The #1 thing I have to say about this book is that it would be a wonderful resource for writers, especially fantasy writers. It is a reference book with tons of types and subtypes of fairies and fairylike beings. Some of the beings described are well known, while others are particular kinds of spirits only known in certain regions. I didn't know about many of them, so it's fascinating to find out about unfamiliar fae personalities.
I haven't read every page, but it is a good source for this kind of folklore (and doesn't shy away from the dark side of these tales). Each description of a supernatural being is followed by a story that illustrates the example, and there are pictures too.
I haven't read every page, but it is a good source for this kind of folklore (and doesn't shy away from the dark side of these tales). Each description of a supernatural being is followed by a story that illustrates the example, and there are pictures too.
October 11, 2013
I appreciated this little volume over a lot of other "fairy encyclopedias" mostly because it contains both information and actual stories. As a storyteller, I like this setup. On the other hand, it would have been great to be able to connect the extensive list of sources in the end to the chapters in the book. With all that said, it is a great collection, and talks about a lot less well known fairy creatures. The categories they are filed under are a little random, but they don't really affect the overall quality. It is a very nicely done, enjoyable book on the Little People.
March 7, 2013
If you are into Elves, Hobgoblins, Faeries, and more, then this book is perfect for you. Especially if you desire to know more about those creatures, or how you can try to protect yourself when they are near, or how you should treat them.
I found the information in this book, to be, in my opinion thorough. The lore of the creatures discussed in this book was fascinating. It's in general, a very good book.
August 29, 2019
I've had the pleasure of reading through this book many times. It does a great job of sticking with the concept of a real field guide and even brings in historical references to many of the creatures involved. In addition you get wonderful short folk tales of many of the little people mentioned, which adds a wonderful layer onto this field guide. For those with the interest in folk-lore, mythology, or cryptozoology this is a must read.
May 29, 2012
Another one of amazing books about Fairy and Fairy folk. It seems Fairies and elves now put a large claim on other species of supernatural, as do vampire books claim some of the demons to be of their own kind.
November 23, 2010
An entertaining collection of folklore.
August 30, 2011
A descriptive book about gnomes. It describes these mythical creatures and their culture.
January 13, 2013
I just love reading about mythological creatures, so a field guide full of information and small stories?! Yipee!!
May 19, 2013
Still the best guide to the real faeries, absent of the fiction of modern times.
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