A Natural History of Fairies

This enchantingly illustrated natural history of fairies, compiled in the 1920s by the botanist Professor Elsie Arbour for her niece, is now unveiled for readers of today. Featuring a gold foil-embossed cloth cover, a ribbon marker and sprayed gold edges, this gorgeous volume is filled with colourful sketches and precise notes detailing the secret life of fairies and their important role in the natural world. Inside, you will discover the wide and wonderful array of different species of fairy around the globe and explore where and how they live. Delight in this hidden world as you learn all about:

• The anatomy of a fairy (Land-based fairies have individual, separated toes, just as humans do. However, many species of water fairy have webbed feet.)
• The life cycle of a fairy (When walking in the heather, be careful of the tiny flutterpillar of the Wicklow Fairy, decked out in greens and purples.)
• Clever fairy camouflage (Reed fairies living in wetlands usually wear striped clothes to hide among the tall reeds.)
• Fairies around the world (Meet the Lily Hopper of sub-Saharan Africa, the Queen Fairy of New Guinea, the Penguin Fairy of the Antarctic and many more.)
• Fairy habitats (Fairies make their homes in all types of places: woodlands, jungles, deserts, the Poles and even human homes.)

Concluding with a reminder that we must protect the endangered habitats of fairies, and all other creatures too, this is a book to be treasured for a lifetime.

“"A magical, mysterious volume full of vintage-inspired sketches and precise field notes."”

-- Fiona Noble The Bookseller, September Previews
'I’m a huge fan of Emily Hawkins’ books and her style of writing. This pairing with Jessica Roux’s minutely detailed illustrations is nothing short of sublime, with beautifully timeless elements like a foil-embossed cloth cover ribbon marker, majestic endpapers with a stunning bookplate and sprayed gold edges that make it feel like an instant heirloom.' -- The Little Literary Society
'This will be a book that's kept forever.' Prima Magazine
'This is possibly the most enchanting illustrated book I have ever owned. […] We ADORE this book and it is one of my top picks for 2020!' -- Picture Book Perfect

Emily Hawkins is a writer and editor of childrens books for all ages. She wrote the New York Times bestseller Oceanology, as well as several other titles in the Ology series, which has sold over 16 million copies worldwide. She holds a first-class English degree from Nottingham University, and now lives in Winchester with her young family.Jessica Roux is a Nashville-based illustrator and plant and animal enthusiast. She loves exploring in her own backyard and being surrounded by an abundance of nature. Using subdued colours and rhythmic shapes, she renders flora, fauna, food and many other things with intricate detail reminiscent of old world beauty. Her first book with Frances Lincoln is A Natural History of Fairies (September 2020).

Fairies are all around us - you just need to look carefully and you'll see signs of them everywhere. Written and compiled by the esteemed botanist Professor Arbour, prepare to be amazed as we discover everything there is to know about the natural history of fairies. This enchantingly illustrated natural history of fairies, compiled in the 1920s by the botanist Professor Elsie Arbour for her niece, is now unveiled for readers of today. Featuring a gold foil-embossed cloth cover, a ribbon marker and sprayed gold edges, this gorgeous volume is filled with colourful sketches and precise notes detailing the secret life of fairies and their important role in the natural world. Inside, you will discover the wide and wonderful array of different species of fairy around the globe and explore where and how they live. Delight in this hidden world as you learn all about: The anatomy of a fairy (Land-based fairies have individual, separated toes, just as humans do. However, many species of water fairy have webbed feet.) The life cycle of a fairy (When walking in the heather, be careful of the tiny flutterpillar of the Wicklow Fairy, decked out in greens and purples.) Clever fairy camouflage (Reed fairies living in wetlands usually wear striped clothes to hide among the tall reeds.) Fairies around the world (Meet the Lily Hopper of sub-Saharan Africa, the Queen Fairy of New Guinea, the Penguin Fairy of the Antarctic and many more.) * Fairy habitats (Fairies make their homes in all types of places: woodlands, jungles, deserts, the Poles and even human homes.) Concluding with a reminder that we must protect the endangered habitats of fairies, and all other creatures too, this is a book to be treasured for a lifetime.

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