Lady Cottington's Pressed Fairy Book

I have less of a problem with the nudity because I think that should be up to a parent to decide whether that’s suitable for a child but it’s got som serious adult themes and borderline assault. None of which was clear from the suscription.

Based on the description, I thought this would be a book full of paper cutout fairies or lovely watercolors akin to the "Flower Fairy" books...but I was very wrong! The pages are full of completely nude fairies contorted and squished into grotesque poses. Private parts are definitely showing...not something to be shared with your fairy loving daughter! The narrative seems interesting, but I didn't care to read much of it with giant bosoms complete with nipple or a page full of naked bottoms staring at me from the page...

This was a delightful book that I sat I read along with Lady Cottington’s Fairy Album in one sitting. It is rather short & leaves you wanting more. The watercolor art is whimsical & humorous, but if you have a problem with nudity at all, be forewarned. If in doubt, just search Lady Cottington & images from the book appear. I even saw a tattoo of one on someone’s forearm!! The writing is at times irritating with grammatical & spelling errors, but I’m not too critical because I know it’s meant to be that of a young girl, in her own handwriting. The only complaint I have for this is that I ordered a paperback. My hardcover Fairy Album is embossed & textured, which would’ve been awesome for this volume as well, especially side by side on my shelf. May be gifting the one I have & reordering a hard copy to satisfy my OCD.

I had seen this book a number of years ago, and was delighted to obtain a copy for my library. This book is absolutely fanciful and is what I would call "tilted" humor. The author wryly twists language, and the illustrations are perfect company for the various short anecdotes. If you know of someone who likes fairies, this book is for them! It's cute and slightly twisted, but is very amusing reading.

I raised my daughter on the Flower Fairies of Mary Cicely Barker. I made her flower fairy costumes for Halloween. Bought the books, greeting cards, accessories; went the website; believed in them, too. The sweet innocence of the botanically correct poems and the whimsy of the fairies themselves marked her early childhood with pure innocence. So I laughed myself silly when I sat down with Lady Cottington's Pressed Fairy Book which came to me by way of a dear friend at Christmas. What a send up! Here the flower fairies are the voices inside the head of one disturbed little Angelica, who smashes them inside her book--for years. These fairies represent her unrealized sexual desires, which fact is lost on her but not on her suitors--a cousin, members of the clergy, and other nobility. The dramatic irony is delightful--though far from the innocent sweetness of the little children of Barker's mind. The volume comes with a DVD in which one Lady Angelica describes how she used to catch fairies, how she managed to photograph one, and how she lived her life with this tortuous creatures. The video clip is every bit as funny as the book. Madness abounds, and it's a delightful romp.

I originally picked this book up years ago, when I was younger and probably wouldn't have been able to appreciate it. I was interested, but due to the nudity thing and my parents... didn't get it. I recently gave in and bought the Cottington Albums, having enjoyed Froud's Faeries book and being intrigued to explore his work further. The Lady Cottington work is very different, and quite unique from what I have soon, but very beautiful, and very very fun. I love the playful approach of these books. Not for the weak of heart or prissies, these are NOT your average "fairies," but for the fun loving faerie enthusiast, this is a definite must read. :)

This is a review and comment on other comments. :) The Lady Cottington Faery books are a lot of fun. For those of you who believe in faeries, like I do, I certainly hope your image of faeries are not perfect, beautiful, tiny women with wings. The images in this book are gogeous, unique, and all of Brian Froud's work fits what I believe a faery looks like. For those of you who are upset that this book is a fake when it claims to be real, perhaps you didn't notice the Cottington books are in the humor section... not non-fiction... not children's. There is a warning that says children should not look a "these pages" and are clipped together so kids won't accidentally see them. I met Brian Froud recently at a Faerie Convention. He doesn't seem like the type who would agree with squichsing faeries into a book. In fact, he honors and reveres him, as did everyone there.

The watercolors in this book are beautiful and the story is great as well.