The Fairies in Tradition and Literature (Routledge Classics)

Rating:
Summary: If you are researching the Fey, this is a must
Review: Not a book for someone who doesn't have much background in the English, Scottish and Irish fairy lore simply because Briggs will refer to common folktales that you will know if you've read a lot. But if this is a new interest for you, you'll want to have at least read your Yeat's folktales first.

If you are trying to get a good understanding of fairy lore because you are writing a piece of fiction or some other reason, this is the perfect book. First, she splits the fairy folk into two different types -- the diminished gods and the dead. I hadn't thought about the fairy connection to the dead, but once I read this, I knew she was right. She does a wonderful job at making sense of a hodge-podge of tales from several locations and time periods, complete with all their contradictions. And if you've ever wanted to know what fairies eat, she will tell you. And what they do for fun too. When Katherine Briggs passed away at the ripe old age of 82, the world lost a great resource.