Francis Young

A brief history of fairies


April 13, 2026
Loading video...

Description

Many people think they know what fairies are, what a fairy looks like, and how a fairy is expected to behave. But a new book demonstrates that the truth about belief in fairies is far stranger than clichéd images of tiny figures with wings and wands. Before the rise of the ‘small winged fairy’ in the 19th century, the category of fairies included a vast range of supernatural human-like creatures, from the elves of Scandinavia and the aos sí of Ireland to the vilas of the Balkans and the fadas of Iberia. Francis Young is a historian, folklorist and author of Fairies: A History. He joins UnHerd for this live interview, audience Q&A and book signing.


Discussion

Join the discussion


Join like minded readers that support our journalism by becoming a paid subscriber


To join the discussion in the comments, become a paid subscriber.

Join like minded readers that support our journalism, read unlimited articles and enjoy other subscriber-only benefits.

Subscribe
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

0 Comments
Most Voted
Newest Oldest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments