Faeries & Nymphs Myths & Tales

With their enchanting, natural powers and often fragile beauty, faeries and nymphs can be found in myths and tales from around the world. These captivating stories invoke their roots in nature and magic, as well as their turbulent interactions with the human world. Faeries and nymphs are both mythical beings, but they have distinct characteristics. Nymphs can be found in Greek mythology and are considered to be nature spirits. They inhabit various natural environments such as mountains, groves, springs, rivers, valleys, and grottoes. Some nymphs are also connected to trees (Dryads) or bodies of water like seas, rivers, and springs (Oceanids, Nereids, and Naiads). Faeries, on the other hand, have a broader mythology. They appear in folklore and literature from various cultures, ranging from Chinese to Roman, slavic to Korean. In some traditions, fairies are known as the "Fair Folk", a term encompassing various magical beings with supernatural qualities. They can be good or bad, benevolent or mischievous but are generally depicted with magical abilities, such as enchantment, shape-shifting, and flying. This truly is a wonderful collection of tales which brings together these two enchanting supernatural forces.

The Flame Tree Gothic Fantasy, Classic Stories and Epic Tales collections bring together the entire range of myth, folklore and modern short fiction. Highlighting the roots of suspense, supernatural, science fiction and mystery stories the books in Flame Tree Collections series are beautifully presented, perfect as a gift and offer a lifetime of reading pleasure.

Dr Jennifer Larson (Foreword) is Professor of Classics at Kent State University. She did her undergraduate work in English and Greek, and received her MA and PhD in Classics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1992. Larson has published numerous books and articles on topics in ancient Greek literature and religion, including Greek Nymphs: Myth, Cult, Lore (Oxford, 2001) and Ancient Greek Cults: A Guide (Routledge, 2007).