The Fairy-Faith in Celtic Countries

by W.Y. Evans-Wentz

This collection of reports of elfin creatures in Wales, Ireland, Scotland, and Brittany ranks among the most scholarly works ever published on the subject. The Fairy-Faith in Celtic Countries begins with the author's account of firsthand testimony from living sources, classified under individual countries and introduced by leading authorities on anthropology and folklore. The next section concerns the recorded traditions of Celtic literature and mythology, followed by an examination of a variety of theories and their religious aspects. The book concludes with a remarkably rational case for the reality of fairy life. Narrated with an engaging sense of wonder, this volume offers a valuable resource for students of anthropology and Celtic lore, as well as hours of delightful reading for fairy enthusiasts. Unabridged republication of the classic 1911 edition

Genres: Mythology, Folklore, Nonfiction, History, Religion, Spirituality, Ireland

524 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1911

About the author

Walter Yeeling Evans-Wentz (M.A., Stanford University) was an anthropologist and writer who was a pioneer in the study of Tibetan Buddhism.

As a teenager, he read Madame Blavatsky's Isis Unveiled and The Secret Doctrine and became interested in the teachings of Theosophy. At Stanford he studied with William James and William Butler Yeats. He then studied Celtic mythology and folklore at Jesus College, Oxford (1907); there he adopted the form Evans-Wentz for his name. He traveled extensively, spending time in Mexico, Europe, and the Far East. He spent the years of the First World War in Egypt. He later traveled to Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) and India, reaching Darjeeling in 1919; there he encountered Tibetan religious texts firsthand.

Reviews

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I lived in a cabin in Big Sur, I holed up with a copy of Fairy-Faith. It awakened me to the reality of subtle beings indwelling the immense silence of the redwood forests.

Evans-Wenz, who was a friend of Yeats, takes a half-poetic, half-anthropological approach. The most exciting passages are interviews with rural folk dwelling in Celtic lands. For some, the fairy-faith is just that, something of the mind, a belief system inherited from centuries or mellenia of folklore and immersion in Nature. I consider those passages the "smoke" of the narrative. But where there is smoke, there is fire, and the fire Evans-Wentz discovers consists of seers' actual perceptions of subtle beings.

Seers see. What they see are subtle impulses of Nature that are intimate with what one seer in the book speaks of as The Soul of the World. Thus, intimacy with spirit is the prerequisite for perception of subtle worlds and the beings who inhabit them. It is from this indwelling, infinite presence that these subtle beings, and seers, draw their energy and luminosity. Perception of such beings is a matter neither of the imagination nor of belief. Such perception consists of the ability to cognize WHAT IS, to look beyond the smoke, directly into the fire.

[SusannaF · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book as part of my research for a novel about Faerie. It is an old book, and refers often to pseudosciences that are laughed at nowadays. It uses the outdated "Aryan" to refer to white cultures. However, it's a very earnest and amazingly well-researched book.

It delves into the origins of various aspects of Celtic fairy lore and briefly covers other world cultures that have similar beliefs. The best and longest section is the collection of stories, including eye-witness accounts.

The "scientific" exploration is also quite convincing. I've been hearing for years that fairies are different from spirits, because they can take physical form or because they are nature elementals or whatever. Evans-Wentz' conclusion is much more logical. If fairies exist, as there are many today who will vow they do, than they are no more or less than spirits. For those with a Christian background, this will sound familiar. For those who want to believe in the existence of a lovely Otherworld where humans may go, and beings who are light and good and not dangerous...well, you're not going to agree.

But believer or not, the book is still stunning in its sheer volume of information and details, and is worth it to anyone interested in the lore.

[Leo . · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let me take you down
'Cause I'm going to strawberry fields
Nothing is real
And nothing to get hung about
Strawberry fields forever

Living is easy with eyes closed
Misunderstanding all you see
It's getting hard to be someone
But it all works out
It doesn't matter much to me

Song by the Beatles



What happens when one trips with DMT?

Does one enter a world of fantasy?

Does one lose the ego, find oneself?

Have a conversation with a Gnome? An Elf?

Question the Dwarves, the Goblins, Orcs and a sprite

Wonder at a Wizard, a Faerie, a Griffon, as it takes flight

A Leprechaun, a rainbow, a pot of gold, a yellow brick road

A cauldron, a black cat, and eye of toad

A King, a Princess, a frog, a Prince and a Witch

A wizened old hag, a Sorceress, a women in red, a bitch

A peer through the veil, a fantasy land

A land a mere mortal, will never understand

By Leo🐯👍

[Eddie Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

An early book by the guy who brought us (in English) The Tibetan Book of the Dead, and in its own way it too is a serious book on alternate realities and/or other dimensions. Plus the edition I have is part of the Library of the Mystic Arts and has an intro by Terence McKenna, the late psychonaut, who elsewhere had paralleled fairies and the little gibbering beings he encountered after taking DMT.

The Fairy Faith in Celtic Countries offers plenty of speculation and theories regarding who or what fairies are and where they come from, which is interesting though probably futile. But it is also an anthropological study of fairy faith which involved interviews with hundreds of people in Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Isle of Man, etc. in the early 20th century. This is probably my favorite part of the book, in that the interviews help create in my mind one of the most evocative portraits of down-to-earth country life tinged with the supernatural I’ve ever come across. Just reading these oral tales can make you get up from your chair and go fall asleep in a haystack, or climb a stile in farmland at twilight, the back of your neck tingling in expectation of something subtle but very weird waiting to happen. Reading this can make air itself seem thicker; thicker with darting intelligences and mystery and fleeting meaning.

There are so many images and definitions of fairies swirling around in our culture that it’s probably hard to read a book like this with a clear mind, but if you can do it you’ll see that there are no pat definitions of fairies and that anyway it’s all about the human imagination and the ability to regard the imagination as just another component of reality and source of information as we continue to try to make heads or tails of life and its infinite intrigue and complexity.

[.*•. ☾ sephia ☾ .•*. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would probably enjoy this if I actually sat down and read it painstakingly slow, but alas, I don’t have that kind of time. The 1911 style writing bores me to tears truly I hate old style writing, please get to the point. 😐

I like the many interviews from people who have eye-witness accounts of fairy’s, as I truly am a believer, but again I have to wade through all the unnecessary information to get to any points.

I know this is an important part of historical writings, but unfortunately it’s boring for me to read as a modern reader ✨ 🧚🏽‍♀️

[Tami · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite quotes (I don't remember where I read it, probably in a book about consciousness or neurology) is, "what you see is your brain's best guess about what's out there." Most brains, at least in the US, don't guess "fairy." I like imagining a world where brains did. I loved this book.

[Steve Cran · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book might be old but it is not dated. I think most people these days that right on Faery-Craft often times refer to this book. I would call it the bible of the Faery faith.
Back around the turn of the century the author went on a little tour of the Celtic countries in order to assess the Faery faith. He travelled to Iraeland, Wales, Scotland, and Britany in France. In this book he talks with people who have stated that they have had Faery experiences. Information from the interviews is presented along with historical research. The Faery faith might not be too much alive in the city but in the country side it was being practiced more regularly.

There are several theories as to what the faeries are and what their origins are. The one the author favors is the psychological theory where in the faeries or belief in them stems from a need to explain phenomena in nature. Other theories would suggest that the faeries descends from the Tuatha De Danan, or Celtic gods. They have been reduced to small being thanks to Christianization. This theory hold weight in Ireland. They are often described at being of light and extremely tall. Driven underground by Milesian invader they dwell in underground dwellings. They come out at night sometimes riding in a crowd. People will leave offering for them on their front steps so as to placate them and avoid vengeance.

In Scotland they are viewed as fallen angels. It was said that during Satans rebellion, the renegade Angels were cast out of heaven. Some went to Hell others were trapped on Earth. In Wales they are considered the spirits of the dead who can come back at certain times. In Brittany it is more animist where they are the spirits of the trees and plants. The faeries no matter where they are or their origins seem to behave the same. They need offerings in rider to gain their favor and keep vengeance at bay. They can steal a baby and replace it with a changeling. Sometimes a Faery can possess a human being.

So not only is the lore examined but also ancient religious belief of the Celts. They believe that every living thing had a nu men or life essence. They believed in reincarnation where once someone died they would come to life in another body. The world of the fae is sometimes underneath the sea, the ground r in the land of the dead. Sometimes not much distinction is rented between the dead and the fae as they share the same characteristics.. In some places they are larger than humans and in others they have are smaller.

You want too read a good book on the fae well then right this way.

[Melody Daggerhart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard to rate older books because sometimes it's the fact that they are older that affects a modern rating. I'm giving this one four stars because I liked the majority of the content, found it very useful to my purposes, and enjoyed the "atmosphere" in which the information was related. But parts of the data arrangement felt dry and intrusive. It was a bit of a chore to read in places.

What I liked about it ...

I loved the slow pace at which the author is strolling about the countrysides of the UK, talking to individuals about their experiences with "the good people". I loved the fact that it was personal. I loved the fact that he's trying to stay genuine to the atmosphere of the collected tales of folk lore. And I loved the fact that it felt like stepping back in time to hear a person from the past speak of people who are from an even further past. This "fireside chat" quality matters when speaking of oral traditions in folklore cultures. That the author attempted to be as exact as possible to the details given by the people he spoke to makes this feel like a primary resource, even if it is via interview. So, that is what I appreciate most.

I chose to read this book because I'm researching and writing about the lore of elves and fairies, as well. I'm truly envious of the author being able to travel about the UK talking to people about this and calling it work, while I am stuck with only his notes. Information-wise, it's very useful to me because it is eyewitness accounts and beliefs from a generation that, as the author observed, no longer exists. Even if I were able to travel the UK and ask people about their beliefs or experiences with Fairies, I wouldn't get the same rich answers he did in his own time. So, this is book as a time machine is the best I can do, and I'm glad that he delved into the aspects of scientific, psychological, religious, and historical theories that were new or popular during his time, so I could compare that to today's standards, as well.

On the down side ...

Since the book is a study of faith philosophy and psychology, it does tend to be a bit text-book mechanical in places. It's slow getting started because of all the gratitudes and discussion on the psychology of faith, although I realize those are necessary and due. The author's language wasn't too much of a problem as a modern reader, but it did draw my attention in places and run on a bit. I appreciate this as a by-product of the time period, but at the same time I found myself skimming sections when I got tired of slowing down to adapt.

If you've ever wanted to go back a century and talk to people who believed in fairies to get a first-hand account of what they saw, or hear folklore they swear by, I'd recommend this book. The author's approach was surprisingly modern for his time, while also being sympathetic to the people he interviewed to give their tales respect and authenticity. It's good for history buffs. But if you're looking for a current scientific or psychological approach to the subject, this isn't it.

[The Elves · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is essential reading for those studying the faerie faith.

The Silver Elves
authors of Through the Mists of Faerie: A Magical Guide to the Wisdom Teaching of the Ancient Elven

[Jimyanni · Rating 1 out of 5]

Stylistically impenetrable, virtually empty of logic or sense., July 10, 2010
By James Yanni (Bellefontaine Neighbors, Mo. USA) - See all my reviews


This review is from: The Fairy Faith in Celtic Countries: The Classic Study of Leprechauns, Pixies, and Other Fairy Spirits (Paperback)
This author, writing in the early days of the 20th century, attempts to prove the existence of fairies and other mythical entities, and claims to have done so. He hasn't. I'm not such a sceptic as to insist that a failure to prove the existence of something, or even (as in this case) a particularly weak attempt at proof, necessarily proves the nonexistence of such phenomena. But his entire 500 page book fails to provide so much as a smidgeon of evidence that would convince anyone above the mental age of, say, 13, who was not already inclined to agree with him. What's more, it fails to do so in an overly wordy, pompous and pseudo-scientific way that approaches unreadability; not only does he fail in his major purpose, but he doesn't even manage to be an enjoyable read in the process.

His primary "evidence" for the existence of fairies and other creatures of the spirit world is interviews that he had with numerous elderly folk of the British Isles, folk who were elderly in the first decade of the 20th century and thus were at their youthful prime in the mid-19th century. These were folk who had grown up in the rural areas of the country, and many of them swore to him that they had had personal experience of the "little folk". And, of course, he took them at their word, never considering the possibility that the locals might "have a bit of fun" with the big-city urban researcher coming to study their "backwards" ways. Granted, I have no proof that this is the explanation for the results of his interviews, but I think it's at least as likely as the hypothesis that all of his subjects were being perfectly straightforward with him. And even if some of them were serious, there is certainly no proof that they saw or heard what they thought they had; I once saw a sunset shining off of the clouds that looked for all the world like a giant flaming bird with wings that stretched from horizon to horizon. That doesn't prove that phoenixes truly exist.

All in all, every single scrap of "evidence" Evans-Wentz provides is either heresay or speculation. If you're interested in reading interviews with people who claim experience with the "other side", there's some minor value in this book. Otherwise, there is none.

[Ann M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really gives you a sense of the little folk.

[Redsteve · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting, but it would have been better if the author wasn't an Edwardian-era Spiritulist (in my option). Some of the "scientific" parts near the end of the book were painful to read.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was given to me by my dear friend, Darius, as a parting gift before I moved to Scotland to study Social Anthropology and Linguistics at the University of St Andrews.

It was published by an American who had, like myself, been accepted to one of Britain's finest universities (Jesus College, Oxford, in his case) to study at a late age. He had not studied Social Anthropology (as I was leaving to), although he acknowledges "the kindly advice and constant encouragement of Mr. R.R. Marett, Reader in Social Anthropology in the University of Oxford, and Fellow of Exeter College," and his knowledge of Gaelic allowed him to frame the stories and remarks in terms used by his informants.

A very colourful character, Evans-Wentz traveled for much of his life, at first collecting and translating Celtic Myths and Faerie Stories, later publishing translations of the Tibetan Book of the Dead, and later, compiling several other volumes of Eastern Religious Texts.

I very much enjoyed reading this book, especially since many of the accounts therein are translated from the Gaelic with their colourful colloquialisms intact.

A great parting gift, and a wonderful read for anyone interested in historical folklore of the British Isles.

[Deborah Carroll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very dry and academic BUT full of interesting stories, theories, thoughts, and conclusions. 3.5 stars from me, so I marked 4 stars :-)
It definitely took me a while to plow through, mostly because I read it off and on over the years prior to falling asleep...and the content ensured I would fall asleep only moments after beginning reading. I'm glad I read it, and I intend to keep it handy as a reference.
Section IV, pages 454-516, ended up being continuously the most interesting to me, and having read all of the book, I will say that it is not necessary to read all previous sections in order to understand or find meaning in the ultimate section.
If you're going to read it, though, I encourage you to eventually check out all sections. There are lots of tales of unexplained phenomena and points to ponder that may not have changed much in the 100 years since the book was written-

[Joanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the early 20th century, Evan-Wentz compiled a collection of folklore from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall and the Isle of Man and created a comprehensive guide to the fairy faith. A fascinating read, even if it isn't always completely believable (although I find myself believing, more often than not!)

[Willow · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an incredibly in depth compilation of old Celtic and pre-Celtic stories of fairies, the Tuatha de Dannan, and other between-the-worlds beings. The edition I have has an intro by Terrance McKenna, which is interesting. Lots of references to old old books, and most of the stories are from the early 1800s regarding traditions on how to deal with various forms of the good folk.

[Patrick\ · Rating 4 out of 5]

An overlooked book of real value. Give it a read.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing. An actual study of the belief in faeries by anthropologist Evans-Wentz in the early 1900's.

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though in theory just about "the fairy faith" this book covers a lot of ground. From the beliefs of ancient civilisations to the latest (in 1911) scientific theories in the areas of evolution and genetics and psychology, W. Y. Evans-Wentz covers a huge area here in terms of time, distance and fields of learning to give probably the most detailed and in-depth analysis of celtic beliefs ever written.

The book is probably most celebrated for the first section, where the author travels across the celtic world from Ireland to Scotland to Wales to Cornwall to the Isle of Man to Brittany to find and pass on the stories and beliefs of the people in regard to fairies, nature spirits, leprechauns, pixies, knockers, corrigans, lutins, little folk, call them what you will... This section is well worth reading because it something like a time capsule. The book itself is well over a hundred years old and, in his travels, Evans-Wentz inevitably ends up speaking to the oldest people in the most remote communities, who, in turn, pass on stories going back to their childhood and their parents and grandparents' childhoods. We will never get those stories again, so Evans-Wentz's recording of them here is invaluable.

Later sections, where he talks about archaeology, paganism, christianity and "modern" science are interesting for the same reason, they are a time capsule of knowledge and beliefs at the time, and should be taken as such. Evans-Wentz would go on to gain fame as the first westerner to publish "The Tibetan Book of the Dead" (though the Tibetan Lamas who helped him should really get the credit) and his interest in theories of spiritually and consciousness are apparent throughout this book, as are his interest in the links between beliefs and folklore in disparate parts of the world.

This book was used as a source by J.R.R. Tolkein, when creating the mythology of The Lord of the Rings, and is still worth reading by anyone with an interest in fairies and celtic lore today. There are more modern books on the same topic, which I am sure are more easy to read (some parts of the book are quite dry), but this is the original.

[Nicole Bergen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great collection of people’s stories of meeting the good neighbours in the various Celtic countries, including Brittany. The only chapter I didn’t like was the last one that made some unfounded generalisations about what may be the equivalents in other countries and some comments about “primitive” beliefs, including Celtic ones. Most of the book stuck to recounting folklore and that was the most fun.

[Mary]

I did not finish but would like to read more of it. I may but my own copy. What I have read is interesting but it is very wordy and slow.

[Ryan Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

There’s important information in here for sure but it gets bogged down in parts and is somewhat inaccessible.

[Jose Vidal · Rating 1 out of 5]

El libro muy interesante por sus testimonios recogidos de personas reales en los distintos países célticos, y solo por eso merece la pena. Sin embargo, tanto el constructo ideológico del que parte, una celiticidad ancestral y eterna que iguala las creencias de personas contemporáneas con un pasado prehistórico (sin poder establecer por ninguna parte esa continuidad) y las fantasías metafísicas y ocultistas en las que derivan sus conclusiones (que deben más a teósofos y ocultistas del ramo que a verdaderas creencias populares) son otro asunto.

Peca de una visión romántica del "celta" (categoría ya de por si absurda) como un salvaje moderno y, por ejemplo, minimiza cualquier influencia del cristianismo en unas creencias que quiere ver como ancestrales/puras/eternas sin tener en cuenta los siglos de trasmisión y transformación que dichas creencias prehistóricas deberían haber arrastrado a través de los milenios.

Toda esa construcción ideológica (que repite una y otra ve) arruina el interés meramente antropológico que tienen los testimonios

[Debbi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Evans-Wentz built his reputation as the translator of the Tibetan Book of the Dead. The cover of The Fairy Faith in Celtic Countries proclaims the latter to be his first love, however. While he was likely an able translator, and in 1910 when The Fairy Faith was published, may have been considered an expert researcher, the Scientific Method has come a long way since Dr. Evans-Wentz' time.

He devotes over 260 pages to the "collecting of evidence" in Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Brittany, the Isle of Man, Cornwall and other Celtic countries. What he actually collects are folk-lore, family traditions, legends over 1000 years old, and a few personal experiences. Most of the stories are of the "My mother told me, and she had it from her neighbor on good authority" type. Perhaps that is why Dr. Evans-Wentz goes to such great length to assure the reader that the persons he interviewed are of the highest moral integrity and soundest mind. Rather than collecting information about a creed or faith or set of beliefs, however, Dr. Evans-Wentz' purpose seems to have been to prove (or at least convince his readers)the existence of faeries, the tricks they often play on mortals, and their connection to ancient gods or the ancestors of those who believe in them.

He compares such Celtic structures as Stonehenge and New Grange to the Pyramids of Egypt and tries to establish a connection in the belief systems of the builders of such monuments. He quotes Hebrew and Christian scripture, Buddhist and "Hindoo" wisdom. Occasionally he even refers to the "North American Red Man" as having similar beliefs and traditions as the Celtic peoples. All mankind, he avers, originally belonged to some form of "Sun Cult"--some retaining the belief far longer than others. He points to the Eastward orientation of Stonehenge, New Grange, the Great Pyramid, the temples of the "Florida Red Man," Inca temples in Cuzco, the Parthenon in Greece and even the majority of major Catholic and Anglican cathedrals in Europe and Britain as proof of the universality of sun worship, even pointing out that the "Mohammedan" and the "Hindoo" face the east for their prayers (apparently unaware that Muslims who live east of Mecca would face the west). The exception which he may have thought would prove his rule is the Thug cult in India. This cruel, evil group revered the West.

He incorporates the tenets of both Darwin and Freud, quotes dozens of scientists and scholars. Yet, in the end, his conclusion is that in addition to worshiping a sun god, mankind universally believes in some sort of rebirth after death. Whether resurrection or reincarnation, Evans-Wentz believes that he has scientifically proven the universality of belief in and the actuality of re-birth. He claims that belief in a post-life existence presupposes belief in a pre-existence. That pre-existence, he says, is a life-force into which we all return at death only to be reborn later. For him it explains why children often have completely different personalities, attitudes, and beliefs than do their known relatives; why we experience feelings of deja-vu; why things that we have never seen, heard or experienced are somehow familiar to us. It even explains evolution more clearly, he insists.

I learned nothing about the belief system, creed, rites, or rituals of the Celtic people who believe in the world of Faerie. I did learn how the standardization of English spelling, the Scientific Method, and the condensation and clarity of English sentences have changed during the last century. I couldn't help thinking, on numerous occasions that if Lucy Van Pelt had used Evans-Wentz' writing style, her 100 word essay on Peter Rabbit would have comprised only two sentences!

[Victoria Haf · Rating 4 out of 5]

A principios del siglo pasado, un gringo con raíces irlandesas viaja a Reino Unido para investigar la creencia en las hadas, viaja por las islas, preguntando a los más viejos, gente que incluso no hablaba inglés sino gaélico u otros idiomas.
Leer este libro se sintió como sentarse alrededor de una fogata a escuchar historias ya que la mayor parte de este libro son entrevistas, me gusto leerlo mientras estaba en el campo, Evans Wenz dice que la razón por la que tantos desdeñan la creencia en hadas es porque estamos lejos de la naturaleza, obviamente no vi nada sobrenatural, pero a veces encontrarse solo en medio del silencio y los ruidos de la naturaleza, da una sensación de extrañeza y miedo, como si algo pudiera estar al acecho, y de pronto vuela un mirlo de un árbol y te salta el corazón.

Me gustó saber que hay muchos diferentes tipos de hadas y también las variaciones y similitudes en las creencias a lo largo del territorio y con otras culturas, según entiendo ahora, los fantasmas, ángeles, demonios e incluso dioses, podrían considerarse hadas, estoy simplificando, pero al final de libro te hace ver su similitud con las creencias célticas, el autor trata de demostrar "con ciencia" que las hadas existen, pero más bien filosofa, como quiera es un libro interesante aunque pesado por momentos.

[Amy Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always been interested in Celtic mythology and the long standing culture of continuing oral history, through story telling and song. The Irish managed to maintain lots of their old stories and culture due to their relative isolation. I believe by capturing the faerie folklore when he did over (100 years ago, when belief was still prevalent). Evans has preserved a very important part of all our heritage. The similarities of stories from all the Celtic countries is something which could be studied to uncover our ancient beliefs and understanding. I'm sure in many ways we've lost our connection to nature and real spirituality. Evans conclusions seem very Eastern. And in fact he went on to become a Buddhist and translated the Tibetan book of the dead. It's fascinating to think that before Christianity and in fact the early Christians, believed in reincarnation and an inter connectedness. An excellently researched book. Not easy to read, quite academic, but well worth it. I have much deeper understanding of Celtic mythology and pagan beliefs.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This encyclopedic book -- you don't read it, you read around in it -- was one I purchased for deep background information on the novel I am currently writing. What a treasure trove it is. Evans-Wentz spent 2 or 3 years traveling about Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales, and Brittany from about 1908-1910 and collecting lore about fairy folk. The stories he transcribed, often with aid of a translator, might have been lost otherwise. They are in the words of the tellers. There is material, too, on the roots of the Arthurian legend, the influence of Christianity, witchcraft, and theories about the fairy faith.

An amazing and fascinating resource.

[Juliana Haught · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to read this because I so love the Celtic lands and culture. This is book is very academic, and it was written at the beginning of the 20th century, and references books from the 19th century. Most of it features first-person accountings of fairy sightings and stories from "peasants" of the Celtic lands. I got partway through the Scottish stories, and realized that this is an interesting reference book - and that I don't necessarily want to actually read a reference book cover to cover. I'm shelving it, but keeping it.

[Nay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful treasure of folk practice. Some very odd theories in places, but it was written over a hundred years ago, so you can forgive the writer for believing in Celtic solar cults! There's never going to be such a range of evidence of belief in the Good Folk collected again, since the fairy faith is really a thing of the past in Ireland and Britain now. So this is absolutely worth reading, even if the old-fashioned style makes it a bit of a struggle to read.

[Molly Ringle · Rating 3 out of 5]

How strange and wonderful that this book exists! But then, perhaps asking the native Celts about their belief in fairy-type spirits is no different, anthropologically, than asking the native Americans or Polynesians or so on about their belief in various spirits. Really cool stuff for that first half, then too dense and dry in the academic discussion for the second half. I ended up skimming that part.