Fairies and Elves

The traditional retold fairy tales in this volume speak of the awesome and the marvellous, of the perilous and the exhilarating. We shall explore the traditional, age-old stories for children our ancestors have told us about Fairies and Elves.

The sightings and tales about them span millennia and countless countries, peoples and clans. Their traits and appearance vary, but there are always qualities that tell of their essence as elves and fairies.

These beings represent everything that is beyond us; everything that is mysterious and amazing. They often embody the energy of the natural world, and appear as its guardians and protectors. Just as nature though, they can be both generous and destructive towards us. But whatever their behaviour, we are always spell-bound.

Beauty, childlike joy, nobility beyond reckoning - all these things are the properties of elves and fairies. The human that travels to their realm has unthought of adventures and experiences beyond their wildest dreams. And, most certainly, they never come back the same.

Tales about elves teach us crucial lessons: about them, about ourselves and about our relationships, and always about the world around us. Above all, they teach us to honour all forms of life (even the smallest) as well as to always be truthful to everyone by keeping our promises.

Hopefully, these traditional folktales will take you on a journey through many countries and strange lands. And, perhaps, they will help you hold a deeper appreciation for the world around you, for love and honour and for your own precious life.

This story book is a chest of storytelling. The tales about fairies and elves that make it up aren't just artificial products though - they're the result of the creative imaginations of generations of humans all over the world.

This is one of a series of children's books that delve into the surprising nature of magical creatures from all over the planet. The stories told in all these fairy tale books are ancient, deep and beloved by their listeners.

Pretend you're sitting by a fire, listening to a wise, wizened storyteller begin to talk...