“The Origins of Wizards, Witches and Fairies” by Simon Webb does what it says in the title and gives an overview on how these folklorish elements and characters came into being and how they have hold on to their relevance throughout the centuries. Can’t really fault it for anything, because as far as a nonfiction goes this gives the reader what the reader wants (more or less).

This was a fascinating look at the origins of many fantasy elements. I love fantasy but admittedly had never given much thought to the common fantasy framework. Why do many fantasy stories feel like they take place in a shared universe? Why is iron harmful to fairies? Why do witches wear pointy hats? The author offers plausible non-supernatural explanations for the origins of our modern ideas of fantasy and this shared framework. I learned a lot in this book and will definitely be thinking of fantasy differently from now on.

This is very based in Western, particularly British, folk memory, which makes me very curious about similarities and differences across cultures, so I'll be on the lookout for similar books about different regions

Recommend for fans of fantasy.

An utterly intriguing and painstakingly well researched book. Mr. Webb has compiled all of his research into this book and gifted readers with a fantastic resource that dives deep into history and folklore.

This was perfect to read around Halloween. I’m so glad I had the opportunity to read this because it is so interesting and there were moments of epiphany when making connections to my favorite fantasy characters.

I received this book for free for an honest review from netgalley #netgalley

Best October read. So much fun and very informative

I was granted a early copy from NetGalley for an honest review.

Let me first off just say I wasn't expecting this book to be in such a novel set up. I've been reading quite a few witchy books and they all have this layer out that makes them easier to read in a way. With beautiful pics. This was not like that.
I still enjoyed it. And as someone doing research on fairies it has helped.
It was alot of information. But it was alright.

I loved this book. I thought it was really well written and quite interesting. It's a book I will be suggesting to other people. Very good.

Real though provoking book. I have always suspected that stories I was told as a child had a very, very long history and as I got older, I realized many were object lessons as well. I thought the the wizard link to a once living one-eyed man was amazing--and credible. It made sense! I am still a lover of stold stories ans never tire of researching for new ones. It's interesting to see how they are all connceted and reach so far back in time. Simon Webb has really done his homework and come up with an amazing book. Story lovers are going to love this.

Very well researched, it gives a good insight about where magic, witches etc comes from and everything in between. . I really enjoyed learbing more about everything surrounding the Arthurian legend as it is my favourite since forever.

This book tells the fascinating story of the origin of our ideas about wizards, witches and fairies. We all have a clear mental image of the pointed hats worn by such individuals, which are based upon actual headgear dating back 3,000 years to the Bronze Age. Carefully sifting through old legends, archaeological evidence and modern research in genetics, Simon Webb shows us how our notions about fairies and elves, together with human workers of magic, have evolved over the centuries.

This exploration of folklore, backed by the latest scientific findings, will present readers with the image of a lost world; the one used as the archetype for fantasy adventures from The Lord of the Rings to Game of Thrones. In the process, the real nature of wizards will be revealed and their connection with the earliest European cultures thoroughly documented.
Wow fantastic book and totally changed my perception of all things wizardry ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I adored this book it was such an interesting read that delved into history along with popular wizards, witches and fairies from popular culture. I didnt want it to end I really enjoyed it.

A compact and engaging book which explores the origins of our modern love of wizards, witches and fairies.

Although some of the evidence can be seen as coincidental, it is food for thought. Fairytales and folk stories are much older and darker than the Disney counterparts. Ritual killings from the Bronze Age are eerily similar to the means they murdered witches in England. Our ancestors cast their goods into pools, hoping to gain favour to the gods. In modern times, we throw coins into fountains and make a wish. Our school holidays mirror the Celtic year. It is fascination to see how ancient customs have become ingrained into our day-to-day lives to the point we take them for granted, and rarely stop and ask why.

If you are interested in our ancient history and folklore, it is an intriguing book to read.

This book doesn’t come out until January 2022, though it appears perfectly themed for nonfiction October pick. That’s what this advanced copy was for me, anyway, so now I’m the first person to rate and review it. Even had to create a listing for it on GR.
So, let’s talk about the book…first off, it’s really good. The publisher tends to specialize in military themes, but lately they’ve been going off the beaten path and veering in all sorts of (to me) much more interesting and entertaining directions. Like this book. To be fair, the tone of it isn’t quite the jocularly charming one of their traditional diversions, but it’s nowhere near pedantic. What you get is a well-informed, well-presented and, despite the numerous digressions all of which with a purpose, pleasingly concise book that offers exactly what the title promises.
Since proverbially there’s nothing new under the sun, it shouldn’t surprise you to find out that the modern ideas we have of wizards, witches and fairies are actually based on centuries of historical past (some factual, some invented) and have profound and elaborate sociocultural bases. It is these winding paths that the author so expertly travels in this book from prehistoric constructs to much more recent ideas.
Pointy hats (or horned helmets) and magic wands will be explained, fairies will be linked to long-gone ancestorial branch, witches will be culturally contextualized. And, because of the excellently meandering ways of this book, it’ll take you from the beginning of civilization to present day and span an impressive variety of subjects, continents, eras, etc. A most striking accomplishment for such a slender tome, this book will not only educate and entertain, it’ll actually give you an entire new and informed framework for thinking about the cultural history of things we find ubiquitous in modern culture, be it fantasy tales or October window decorations and customs. Excellent read. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.

This book is filled with interesting historical and cultural tidbits which occasionally make for interesting reading. However, these positive qualities do not outweigh the negatives. Most notably, this book is written with broad sweeping generalizations that detract from the credibility of its argument. Parts lack focus and tangential segments abound.