Nonfiction essay

[vilajunkie]

Other Names

The denizens of Faerie go by various names and are found in abundant folktales across the globe. Each tale advises that it is best to call Fairies by any other name, unless they get offended. These names include the Gentry, the Seelie (or Seelly) Court, the Fair (“Blond”) Folk, the People of the Hills, the Good Neighbors-or simply Them

Comments

[vovat]

Interesting. Do you know if there's any linguistic connection between "fairy" and "peri"? Also, are you planning on covering the idea of fairies stealing babies and leaving changelings?

[vilajunkie]

According to Thomas Keightley, "fairy" and "peri" are incidental analogues--neither are related to the other. However, there is a theory that the letter P in the Persian language is pronounced as F, thus rendering peri as "fairy" when spoken. I will definitely cover fairies stealing babies, as well as musicians, midwives, poets, slightly older children, and spouses for themselves. Next up is the appearances and glamour of fairies, possibly with some mention of how they appear over the centuries as well as across cultures. I have to add some info from my Katharine Briggs' fairy encyclopedia.

[curiouswombat]

Interesting - it reminds me of a book I used to have, called 'A Field Guide to the Little People' - but not so much that there would not de a niche for it in the market.

[vovat]

I think I've read that book before, actually. Part of it, anyway.

[vilajunkie]

My library owns that book! It's by Nancy Arrowsmith during the early seventies. The artist, funnily enough, is the same guy who worked on "The Yellow Submarine" film for the Beatles.

By the way, if you know any info or folk tales on Manx fairies, do share!

[odyssey_bold]

You might enjoy "interviewing" my LJ friend lucretiasheart. She won't have time/energy now (CFID flaring -- google to look up) and working a lot, but she loves to really be listened to, so could ask some other time.

[vilajunkie]

What would I "interview" her about? I'm not so clear on what you mean.

[odyssey_bold]

"the world of fairies in folklore and myth"
"supernatural creatures from global myth, legend, and folklore."

[odyssey_bold]

I don't want to reveal too much about why you should ask her about such topics, would be more fun in surprise. =)