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While fairies or their equivalent appear in the folklore of many cultures, nowhere have they been as embraced and celebrated as in Celtic lands. From Ireland and Scotland to Wales and even the Celtic-influenced areas of Western France, the stories of these mystical creatures—fair, willowy and tall, and fully infused with the primal essence of magic—permeate the landscape. This masterwork of faerie lore begins with the Book of Invasions, which chronicles the first arrival in Ireland of the Tuatha, the earliest Irish clans. It reflects their sometimes comical, sometimes terrifying interactions with humans, and describes the impact of early Christianity on fairy beliefs. There’s also fairy tales from the Victorian era, and even modern encounters with the legendary creatures, all revealing much about the romantic Celtic soul. ...
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Nigel Suckling, one of the foremost authorities on unicorns, leprechauns, and angels, has developed a taste for blood. Book of the Vampire is a stimulating and chilling look at world-wide and ages-old myths about blood-sucking creatures. The accounts range from South America’s Chupacabras to Malaysia’s penanggalan, whose disembodied flying heads terrified believers. Suckling begins his inquiry with Bram Stoker, whose classic Dracula revived a flagging interest among Victorians for elegant hosts with curious appetites. The book digs deep into Stoker’s influences from ancient cultures, including the lamia and the succubus myths from Rome, Greece, and the Middle East, and also examines vampire myths from a spiritual perspective. Bruce Pennington, a well-known and extremely popular fantasy artist, contributes gorgeous illustrations that contribute to the Vampire attraction. ...
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