Strange Terrain

Book excerpt: "The fairies" of Newfoundland oral tradition are variously envisioned, encountered and interpreted, and this study presents some of these concepts and experiences. Dr. Rieti describes the specific contexts in which fairy experiences are recounted and the manner in which they are told, keeping the narrators at center stage. She also seeks their meaning in cultural themes such as the human relationship with nature, and relationships between people. Comparative material sets the subject in historical and international perspective and demonstrates the remarkable tenacity of these very old yet modern tales. Strange Terrain--winner of the 1992-93 Raymond Klibansky Prize, awarded by the Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences.