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Title: Scottish Fairy Belief: A History by Lizanne Henderson, Edward J. Cowan ISBN: 1-86232-190-6 Publisher: Tuckwell Press Pub. Date: 01 October, 2002 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.5 (4 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: Fairy belief
Comment: Lizanne Henderson and Edward J. Coward presented with Scottish Fairy Belief a detailed account of a time when people in Scotland, Shetland and Orkney believed that there were fairies around them who influenced their everyday life. Nowadays this may seem unbelievable, even ridiculous, however, what may now seem laughable made people about 400 years ago put children on a hot oven or leave them outside in the cold because they thought the child was a changeling.
Divided into seven chapters, beginning with the nature of fairy belief, the world of the fairies, how they enchanted humans and ending with how people abandoned their beliefs as time went on, Henderson and Coward try to examine this belief tradition. An interesting aspect is the importance of this topic in the witch trials that took place all over Scotland. All these aspects are explained with reference to accounts, ballads, and poems of that time. Several black and white photos and pictures contribute to the vivid atmosphere the book creates. The text is easy to read and one can easily skip chapters. In academic style the authors want to give a neutral approach to a (at least by me) sceptically regarded topic. The large bibliography allows self study.
Despite all points mentioned, the reading was sometimes quite demanding because the information given sometimes seems very far-fetched. The whole scenario people created, the looks, the home of the fairies and their powers, is often hard to believe but as the text passages from that time show, it was part of their lives, for example in the form of ballads and other testimonies.
Eventually, although the book is about a very specialised topic I can recommend it because it is accessibly written and because of the detailed information given.
Rating: 5
Summary: A detailed overview on Scottish Fairy Belief
Comment: "Scottish Fairy Belief" by Lizanne Henderson and Edward J. Cowan provides a detailed overview of the topic of Fairy beliefs in Scotland.
The book is divided in seven chapters offering information about different aspects of fairy belief in Scotland from their nature to the way they are presented in literature. Each chapter specializes on a certain topic which allows readers with knowledge about fairyology and Scottish studies to read about topics they are interested in. At the same time the book is also perfect for readers with no or little knowledge about fairies and Scottish studies giving general information about the topic.
The book starts with stressing the fact that the authors are not going to discuss the existence of fairies but rather the aspects of folklore and literature. A detailed historical background is given which is of great importance for the study. Due to different political reigns the fairy belief decreased or increased or was changed at all.
The book shows the reader with many examples from literature as well as from witch trials in Scotland the influence fairies had on the people. Quotations, pictures and tables illustrate the topic well and help the reader getting a better understanding of the topic.
Apart from this the book is not written in a too difficult language therefore it allows also non-native-English speakers with average English skills to read and understand this book.
On one hand, it is good that many aspects are repeated throughout the book, especially for readers who only read one chapter of the book. On the other hand, the repeating of some aspects bores readers who read the whole book. Another point which might tire some readers is that the many remarks and footnotes are displayed only at the end of each chapter. This might cause problems while reading. Nevertheless, these are just minor points to criticizes in this comprehensive book which is also a great source for presentations and papers.
The clear structure as well as the seriousness and scientific approach of the authors strike me the most and makes this book for me one of the most useful books concerning fairyology and Scottish studies.
To conclude, the book "Scottish Fairy Belief" does not only deal with fairies and Scottish studies but also with aspects of history and politics like the witch-hunt in Scotland or the reign of James VI. Whether read for pleasure of with the aim to learn more about the fairy belief of Scotland, this book is definitely worth the money.
Rating: 4
Summary: A Comprehensive Study of Scottish Fairy Belief
Comment: The rather recent book "Scottish Fairy Belief" by Lizanne Henderson and Edward J. Cowan offers a very comprehensive overview of the topic dealing with fairy belief and fairy lore in Scotland.
The more than 200 pages of this book are divided into seven chapters, which makes it easy for the reader to, on the one hand, find topics in which readers who already have got certain knowledge about fairy lore are interested very qickly, and, on the other hand, makes the general topic accessible to readers who do not have this background kowledge.
The book starts with more general remarks about fairies, may they exist or not, and continues with the historical development of fairy belief and its change, oppression, and revival, which, for example, very much depended on the political situation at various points in the past. Nevertheless, the fact is stressed that still today "fairies" have left their traces.
Apart from referring to political and historical situations, the book provides many quotations and actual examples dealing with fairy belief, which are illustrated by figures, tables, and even pictures.
Even though this book can be used very well for academic purposes, it is written in an intelligible way, so it can be read by a wide reading public. Nevertheless, it is an advantage if the reader already has got some knowledge about fairy belief and fairy lore, as the numerous notes that occur within the text are explained at the end of every chapter, and it is rather tiring to check all these notes while reading and then again to turn back to the text.
Another disadvantage I have obsereved is that many items are repeated very often. Even though this is just a minor point to criticise, it is, as far as my opinion is concerned, sometimes disturbing to read the same things again and again.
However, I appreciate that the authors themselves do not take sides as far as the question whether the existence of fairies can be proved or not is concerned. Moreover, this aspect is not the central element of this book, which might not be too obvious at first sight. Much more important than "fairies" themselves is the focus on the affect, or even impact, these pahntastic creatures had, and still have, on people. Therefore, the book`s content must not be underestimated: It is definitely not popular scientific, or unrealistic in character, and can actually be read from a rather serious perspective.
To sum up, I can say that apart from minor drawbacks, this book is worthy to be bought, as it contributes to a very interesting and unfortunately still neglegted aspect of folk culture in an adequate way. It is a book that widens the reader`s horizon, and it can be read with the aim to learn more about the importance and development of long forgotten aspects of culture, or simply for pleasure.
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