Mythologis
Elves: The Complete Guide to Elves in Norse Myth, Folklore and Legend

Mythical Creatures Mythology

Elves: The Complete Guide to Elves in Norse Myth, Folklore and Legend

The Light-Elves, Dark-Elves and Hidden Folk of the North

The complete guide to the elf: the radiant alfar of Norse myth, the hidden folk of Scandinavian and Icelandic belief, the perilous elves of medieval England, and the long transformation into the elf of modern fantasy.

170 pagesPDFEnglishMythologis Library

$14.99

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Inside this book

What you will read

  • 11 chapters, primary sources
  • Instant PDF download
  • Original ink illustrations
  • Norse myth, folklore and English belief
  • Designed for print quality
See all chapters  +
  1. 01The Shining and the Hidden
  2. 02The Alfar of Norse Myth
  3. 03Light-Elves and Dark-Elves
  4. 04Elves and Dwarves: Where Is the Line?
  5. 05The Perilous Elf of Anglo-Saxon England
  6. 06Elf-Shot, Elf-Sickness and the Nightmare
  7. 07The Hidden Folk of Iceland and Scandinavia
  8. 08Stealing People: Elves, Time and the Otherworld
  9. 09Elves in Medieval and Renaissance Literature
  10. 10The Victorian Flower-Fairy and the Shrinking Elf
  11. 11Tolkien and the Elf of Modern Fantasy

About this book

About this Mythical Creatures mythology guide

In Norse myth the alfar stood almost level with the gods. In English belief the elf was an unseen archer who brought sickness. This is the complete guide to the elf, from the Eddas to Tolkien.

The elf is one of the oldest and most slippery beings in northern myth. In the Norse sources the alfar stand almost level with the gods, divided into light-elves bright as the sun and dark-elves who live below the ground; in medieval England an elf was a thing to fear, the unseen archer whose arrow brought sudden sickness; and in Scandinavian and Icelandic folklore the elves become the hidden people, beautiful and dangerous neighbours who live just out of sight and must not be crossed.

This is the complete guide to the elf across the northern world. The alfar of the Eddas and their strange kinship with the gods; the elf-smiths and the blurred line between elves and dwarves; the perilous elves of Anglo-Saxon and English belief, the source of words like elf-shot and nightmare; the hidden folk of Iceland, still respected today; and the road from all of this to Tolkien and the tall, wise elf of modern fantasy.

The book traces the elf from Norse myth to folklore to fantasy, drawing on the Eddas, the Anglo-Saxon charms and the folk collections, and every chapter cites its sources.

Delivered as a print-quality PDF within 24 hours of purchase.

What you will discover inside

  • The alfar of Norse myth and their strange closeness to the gods
  • Light-elves and dark-elves, and the blurred line with the dwarves
  • The perilous elf of Anglo-Saxon England and the meaning of 'elf-shot'
  • The hidden folk of Iceland, still respected today
  • How elves steal people away into the Otherworld
  • How a fearsome spirit became the tall, wise elf of modern fantasy

Mythical Creatures mythology book at a glance

TraditionMythical Creatures mythology
Chapters11 chapters
Length170 pages
SourcesDrawn from the primary sources, cited inline
Reading levelBeginner-friendly. Every name and place is explained from scratch
FormatPrint-quality PDF
DeliveryPDF within 24 hours

Formats and editions

EditionWhat you getPrice
Instant PDFPrint-quality download, readable on any device. PDF within 24 hours.$7.99
PaperbackA paperback edition is on the way. Sign up on this page to hear when it lands on Amazon.Coming soon

About the author

Guillaume Henry, founder of Mythologis

Guillaume Henry

Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Mythologis

Guillaume Henry founded Mythologis to make the world's mythologies readable without losing what makes them strange. Every Mythologis book draws on the primary sources first, cross-references multiple translations, and avoids inventing details that aren't in the originals.

More about the author

Questions about the Mythical Creatures mythology book

When will I receive my PDF?

Within 24 hours of purchase. Your download link arrives in your inbox automatically.

Is this about Tolkien's elves?

Tolkien is the destination, not the starting point. The book is about the real elves of myth and folklore, the alfar of the Norse and the hidden folk of later belief, but the final chapter shows exactly how that tradition fed into Tolkien and the elf of modern fantasy.

Is this book based on primary sources?

Yes. It draws on the Poetic Edda and Snorri's Prose Edda, the Anglo-Saxon medical and charm texts, Icelandic and Scandinavian folklore, and the medieval romances, with references to the standard editions.

How long is the book?

Eleven chapters, around 170 pages depending on the final layout.

Will there be a paperback on Amazon?

The PDF is available immediately. A KDP paperback edition follows once the book has been validated by readers.

What formats is this book available in?

Every title is available as an instant PDF, downloaded the moment you buy it: the link appears on the confirmation page and lands in your inbox. Selected titles also have a paperback edition on Amazon. Where the paperback is not out yet, you can sign up to be notified the day it does.

What is the return policy?

The PDF is delivered instantly by Mythologis. If a download ever fails or a file looks wrong, get in touch and we will make it right. Paperbacks bought on Amazon are handled under Amazon's own returns and refund policy.

Can I order from outside the United States?

Yes. The PDF is a digital download, so it works instantly anywhere in the world, with nothing to ship. Where a paperback edition exists, it is sold across Amazon's international marketplaces, with shipping rates and delivery times depending on your country.

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