Product Description

Fairies are both fascinating and elusive. This book does not pretend to be comprehensive, nor to reveal any new insights or final truths; rather, it is a gathering of wonderful pictures, accompanied by fairy lore drawn from folk tales, anthropology, poetry, and first hand reports.

"Fairies" consists of five chapters. Four of the chapters are based on the commonest classification of fairies - earth, air, fire, and water. There is a final section on fairies in children's literature and its illustration, which draws upon The Blue Lantern Library of old children's books.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #434941 in Books
• Published on: 1998-12-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 56 pages

From the Inside Flap
Fairies have, under one name or another, been with us since ancient times. They are ever intriguing, yet ever elusive, and no book, no picture, no description will ever satisfy our curiosity, fully define their nature, or establish their existence.

Elizabeth Ratisseau's approach, in this book, is to show paintings of fairies by various artists, some of whom claim to have looked upon fairies, and others who have used their imagination, and the reports of others, to make fairies tangible. She has supplemented these images with selected quotations which bear tangentially on the adjacent images. The result is, we hope, a powerful evocation of these mysterious beings.

About the Author
Elizabeth Ratisseau's life and careers are so rich and various that they could not be summed up in a volume, much less a note. Relevant highlights include:
- Turkish rug dealer.
- Owner of a bookstore and art cinema in La Jolla, California.
- Bonsai practitioner.
- Avid student of the occult and mystical disciplines.

These and many other experiences have given Miss Ratisseau the special perspective needed to make a book about fairies; using that same combination of science and magic required to douse for water or to find one's way in the dark.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Fairy-god-mothers are one of the many kinds of fairies dedicated to helping humanity. Countless times fairies assist with household tasks such as sweeping and washing. Outside they plant and harvest. These tasks are almost always perfomed in secret, and as a suprise. Fairies also like to make gifts - particularly gold, magic vessels and finely woven cloth. Fairy-god-mothers are different in that they appear and negotiate their bestowals. They help people out of dilemmas, rescue thm from perils, provide them with needed information, and use their transformational power to fulfill the human's aspirations.

Customer Reviews

"The woods are full of fairies!" and So Is This Book
This beautifully crafted little book is a thin volume just 7 1/2" x 8 1/2" with silvery accents on the cover. It is a satisfyingly enchanting compilation of rare fairy art and delightful quotations on the subject of fairies. If you have been a fairy lover for any length of time you will have probably seen a few of these wonderful paintings but most will probably be new to you as Elizabeth Ratisseau has done a brilliant bit of treasure hunting to come up with these images. The work is broken down into sections for each of the four elements, Earth, Air, Fire and Water, as well as a section on Fairies of Childhood. Usually, I find several disappointing images sprinkled among the good ones in compilations or calendars featuring fairies but each and every one in this book is truly magical, hauntingly fey. I encourage you to get this as a treat for yourself or any other fairy person you love.

A wonderful book!
At first, I didn't know if I would like this book. But, I really enjoyed it. I love to look at the pictures. This is a good book for any child, especially if they are into fairies. You should get this book!

Beautiful...a must
For not yet published...I find it odd that I have a copy. Needing more copies for friends,which they will also enjoy. The pictures are truly wonderful, and children love them. The adults will love the quotes. A must. I truly enjoyed the book.