A brief history of fairies

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.