The ten essential books to know everything about the Little People of fairies, elves and mermaids!
You always wanted to know everything about fairies, elves, gnomes, elves, sirens and other creatures connected with the common people? Don’t you know which books to begin the exploration of the fairy tale? Do you want to make sure you have the best references in your library? Here are the ten essential books that every Fairy Lover must possess!
- The Great Encyclopedia of the Elves, Fairies, and Elves by Pierre Dubois, illustrated by Claudine and Roland Sabatier
It is the must-have of the genre in French! No one has gone that far in exploring the genre. Whether you choose the three encyclopedias in three separate volumes or put together in one large book, one thing is certain: you will make the best choice!
- The Fairies of Brian Froud and Alan Lee
A book whose legend is matched only by those who animate its content! It was probably the book that turned an entire generation into fairy folklore. Majestic gateway to this small world, the illustrations signed by two of the greatest masters of the genre, one have made his way in the Middle lands; the other had chosen to pursue the adventure in the heart of Faerie.
- The Secret Book Of The Gnomes of Wil Huygen and nothing Poortvliet
Another great worldwide upheaval in the libraries, The Secret Book Of The Gnomes presents us the very complicated life and customs of the laborers of the Netherlands as one calls the elves there. A book that would give a completely different perspective to our good old garden dwarfs and bring to light these brave little red hat men.
- The Encyclopedia of Fairies by Katherine Briggs
We cannot fail to include in this list Katherine Briggs ‘ monumental work on the English fairies. Complete, incredibly documented, a true opening on overseas folklore and certainly the first serious work that opened the door to all others.
- The Dwarves and the elves in the Middle Ages by Claude Lecouteux
Another valuable academic work, the works of Claude Lecouteux, including these dwarfs and elves in the Middle Ages, which paves the way for the Germanic and medieval beliefs providing remarkable precision and scholarship!
- Sirens of Pierre Chavot
Book blow of heart about the creatures related to water. We realize that everything started from there, from that element that made life possible. Very complete and beautifully illustrated.
- The Korrigans of Patrick Jezequel and Pascal Moguérou
Before Avis de Tempête became Les éditions Au Bord des Continents and made us discover the magnificent books of Pascal Mogérou, Erlé Ferronnière, Jean-Baptiste Monge and many others… here is the book that restored the Breton korrigans to the taste of the day and propelled the small publishing house of then to specialize in the fairytale with the successes that we know it.
- The World Guide to Gnomes, Fairies, Elves and Other Little People by Thomas Keightley
Thomas Keightley is one of those great 19th century devotees without whom we would not have had access to all these folk-folk-creation denominations from many northern European countries. His main work, which has been reprinted many times in various forms in English, has not yet found the way to French translations and yet, how relevant it would be!
- In the footsteps of Charlotte Delmas’s fairies
Another great name among the specialists of the French fairytale, Charlotte Delmas continues her work of census at Omnibus but had given us a few years ago of a very beautiful book allowing us to leave on the trace of the fairies in all France.
- The Great Book of the spirits of the House of Richard Ely and Frédérique Devos
To complete this list, the only book to date devoted entirely to fairies, elves and elves from all over the world who have come closer to men by living in the very heart of our homes. Enough to make your libraries tremble!