New England Fairies: A History of the Little People of the Hills and Forests

by Andrew Warburton

Tales of fairies and bewitching Little People have amazed and horrified New Englanders for over four hundred years. In the nineteenth century, residents of Marblehead, Massachusetts, reported malicious pixies leading them in circles at dusk. In Aroostook County, Maine, elves called lutins exasperated farmers with their mischievous tricks and games. In Uncasville, Connecticut, beguiling creatures emerged for centuries at twilight to collect corn-filled baskets from members of the Mohegan Tribe. And in Harrisville, Rhode Island, a vision of fearful banshees augured death to an Irish seer. From the ancient tales of Algonquian elders to the fireside stories of European immigrants, Andrew Warburton scours New England folklore to uncover the secrets of the region's Fair Folk and the storytellers who've encountered them through the years.

Genres: Folklore

144 pages, Paperback

Published August 5, 2024

Reviews

[Lise Mayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading about the fairy lore that came from the British Isles to New England, and learning that the First Nations' people already had fairy lore of their own, associated with their deep spiritual beliefs in nature. Andrew's work is comprehensive and detailed, giving accounts of people's experiences with seeing or feeling fairy presences in natural settings. We are so disconnected from nature now. I believe there is a presence in nature which we cannot explain. I've experienced it. The fact is, these beliefs are universal in cultures from Celtic times to Africa and persist to this day. This is a very interesting book which preserves cultural traditions that are being lost. I find it fascinating and I love Andrew's ongoing work which he shares in his blog. I'm glad he published this unique book to document the fairy lore of New England.

[Caitlin Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a really sweet summary of New England fairy folklore/indigenous folk tales. I liked the author’s little inserts when he talked about his experience traveling about to all the fairy locales. However the revelation that Hannah Duston, villain of the history of Haverhill, Massachusetts, apparently has become a fairy tale/folk story was jarring in an unpleasant way. I liked the mischievous water elves of the Saco River far better

[Bri Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book on a trip to New Hampshire in the North Conway book store and was instantly drawn to it. I’ve never read any book about Fairies being found in real life but am a huge fan of fantasy books. I currently live in the center of the Bridgewater Triangle and know the stories surrounding the area where I live. I loved learning about the fairies and other fae in the book it makes nature seem more magical!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

New England Fairies by Andrew Warburton is a lovely little book about fairy folklore and encounters across New England. It's a collection of noteworthy and unique stories from each of the six New England states. The stories are mostly historical, but each chapter also includes modern encounters from an online survey by folklorist Simon Young called The Fairy Census 2014–2017.

I bought the book during a New England road trip where I visited all six states. This is the second time this year I've read a book related to one of my trips, and I've really enjoyed getting to read about places I've visited!

I was excited to see a mention of Aroostook County, where my boyfriend Houlton's grandfather was born (Houlton's namesake is the town of Houlton in Aroostook County). Houlton and I took this trip after attending his grandfather's funeral, so the opportunity to learn more about that region was really special.

The book showcased a range of fairies with different appearances, dwellings, and behaviors towards humans, ranging from benevolent, neutral, mischievous, to malevolent.

I was pleased to find that much of the book is devoted to the local Native American folklore from the Abenaki, Wabanaki, Mohegan, Wampanoag, and Narragansett tribes. The book also highlighted how colonists from England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, and France brought their own fairy folklore, which transformed the region. The book also addressed religious influences on demonizing and suppressing fairy folklore. Notably, Christians like the English Puritans rejected fairy folklore.

The book seems well-researched, and the author visited the featured locations to take photos and interview local residents.

I do have a couple minor critiques. As someone interested in the geography, I wished there had been a map showing all the locations mentioned. I also think a background section on the folklore of each group discussed would have been helpful to understand context for the stories, although relevant background was woven in throughout.

Overall I'd give New England Fairies 4 stars. It was a fun and interesting read that was a great addition to my New England trip!

[Rhiannon Hacking · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always loved folklore of all kinds and this book hit close to home with all these stories originating from the New England area. I have never read anything with Native Americans and their folklore surrounding fairies so that was fascinating to learn about. I have never read anything with Native Americans and their folklore surrounding fairies so that was fascinating to learn about such as the Pukwudgies, a tale told by the Ojibwe about these little people who played tricks on the Wampanoag by turning into bears. My favorite was learning about the Lutin, a type of hobgoblin from Northern Maine, who would sneak into barns and braid horses manes.

So glad I picked this one up!

[Juli Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wowee, I'm so glad this book was written! It gathers New England fairy lore from both Indigenous and settler traditions, and nicely emphasizes how these traditions are embedded in the natural and historic places of New England. And engagingly written without ever feeling cutesy.

[Karen Chivallati · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved every page of the book. It was informative and I learned so much about the Fairie Folk. Now I want to travel to all of the places and see for myself!