Lewis Spence’s seminal 1948 study explores the origins, customs and regional traditions of Britain’s fairy folk. Spence examines everything from Welsh nature spirits and English hobs to the clan-like fairy courts of Scotland, alongside enduring beliefs surrounding fairy mounds, abductions, changelings and spirits of the dead.
 
At the heart of the book is Spence’s controversial “theory of survival”: the idea that fairies were not simply mythical beings, but folk memories of pre-Celtic peoples and pagan communities who retreated underground or into remote landscapes following conquest. A fascinating and influential work for readers interested in British folklore, fairy belief and the ancient traditions concealed beneath the landscape.
 
Condition: Very Good