Fairies: A History

Fairies: A History traces belief in fairy-like beings across more than 2,000 years, challenging the familiar image of tiny winged creatures. Francis Young examines a much broader category of supernatural human-like beings, including Scandinavia’s elves, Ireland’s aos sí, the Balkans’ vilas and Iberia’s fadas.

The book follows these beliefs from their ancient origins through medieval Europe and the transformations brought by Christianity, the Reformation, the Enlightenment and European colonial expansion. Rather than treating fairies as a fixed tradition, Young presents them as cultural constructions repeatedly reshaped across time and place. The history concludes by considering why fairy belief continues in the contemporary world, despite the apparent disenchantment of modern life.