A History of Irish Fairies

One is most reminded of those Field Guides to insects, flowers or birds written for those who engage in bird-watching, amateur entomology, or hiking. This is nothing less than a Field Guide to the World of Fairy, one that is small enough to be spirited away in a bush-jacket pocket, just in case one desires to get a binocular and go fairy-watching. However, I would not advise taking a butterfly net; one must always approach the fairies with respect. The book is divided into the general history of fairies, touching upon manifestations of the wee folk in most cultures, then settles down to the race of fairies that are specific to Ireland. She provides accounts of the nature of the fairy folk, the most dominant trait of which is living entirely in the present with no care for either past or future, and a devotion to the pleasures of their immortal lives. Treating the world of faerie in so serious a fashion, as if one were discussing the genetic structure of the mushroom is perhaps the greatest achievement of Carolyn White's A History of Irish Fairies. Ms. White, a Ph.D in Literature, manages to treat the subject with respect and scholarship without ever once putting tongue to cheek. The tone of the book throughout is academic, but not dry or tiresomely detailed. What is most helpful is her listing of what to do when one encounters the fairies (Putting a steel needle in your collar is always a good protection.) again quite without anything that would suggest that she is taking the subject anything but seriously. A whole section of the book is a guide to relations between fairies and mortals in which she states," To disbelieve in them is the worst offense of all. Modern man lacks the leisure time to encounter fairies; absorbed in his own affairs, he moves too fast to discover the immortal languor of the good people. It is understandable that mortals infrequently meet fairies ... but it is inexcusable for mortals to be so arrogant as to believe they do not exist." The faeries are divided, as Yeats did, into the Trooping Faeries and the Solitaries, with most of the book devoted to the former although not labeled as such. She describes traits that unite each type, describes their individual denizens. Among the solitaries are the Ban-Shee, the Pucka and of course the ubiquitous Leprechaun. So, if you are of a mind to step in to a fairy circle or sit on a fairy mound seeking a vision, A History of Irish Fairies would be a good, if not a necessary companion.

Both informed and informative, Carolyn White's A History Of Irish Fairies takes the reader on a fascinating survey of the fairy world of Irish folklore, mythology, and legend. Readers will learn just exactly what a fairy is, the meaning of fairy names, the diverse variety of fairies, fairy locations, what they eat, where they live, the fairy celebrations of May Eve, Midsummer's Eve, November Eve, and Tir-na-n-Og, as well as just what happens when a fairy and a mortal fall in love. A History Of Irish Fairies is especially commended for both personal and academic Metaphysical and Mythology library collections.

Although I wouldn't call this book "scholarly" due to its lack of citations, the author is quite knowledgable and holds a PhD in Comparative Literature. She provides an excellent starting point for those who would like to know more about faeries, whether it be for mystical or mundane purpose (I highly recommend it for Faery Seekers.) This book is an easy to read and a wonderful overview of Irish faerie lore which can provide direction for more study.