Katharine M. Briggs
Katharine M. Briggs (Katharine Mary Briggs) was born on November 8th, 1898. Katharine passed away October 15th, 1980 at 81 years old. Katharine M. Briggs was born in Hampstead, London, England. Briggs attended Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford where she received a BA, an MA, and a PhD.
Katharine M. Briggs was a British writer and expert on folklore. She wrote books about fairies and folk tales such as
The Anatomy of Puck and
A Dictionary of British Folk-Tales in the English Language. From 1969 to 1972, she was president of the Folklore Society.
Katherine was born in London and was the eldest of three daughters. Her father was a watercolor artist who loved Scottish landscapes and enjoyed telling stories, which may have influenced her interest in folklore. In 1911, the family moved to Perthshire, Scotland, where Ernest built Dalbeathie House, but he passed away two years later.
Katharine studied at Oxford University, earned a BA in 1922 and an MA in 1926. Since her family’s wealth came from coal mining, she didn’t need to work, so she focused on writing, theater, and studying folklore. She later earned a PhD in folklore and 17th-century literature after World War II. During the war, she taught at a Polish refugee school and worked for the medical branch of the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF).
Briggs became well known for her work on British folklore and fairy tales. Her books include
An Encyclopedia of Fairies and several children’s stories like
Hobberdy Dick and
Kate Crackernuts. Her
Dictionary of British Folk-Tales was later republished as
Folk Tales of Britain and praised as one of the most complete collections of British folk stories.
In 1969, she received a Doctorate in Literature and became president of the Folklore Society. She spent her later years in Burford, Oxfordshire, and passed away in 1980 at the age of 82.
An Encyclopedia of Fairies is an academic-style reference book that provides extensive information on the Fae. It covers various creatures such as Pixies and Selkies, significant items in fairy lore (like four-leaf clovers allowing people to see fairies and iron or bells repelling them), and key terminology and locations. A large portion of the encyclopedia describes specific figures from fairy tales, including Morgan Le Fay, and often provides examples of folk stories alongside detailed descriptions. While some entries include artwork depicting the creatures, these are limited.
An entire subsection under the entry "Fairy" explores different aspects of fairy life, including their food, clothing, morals, economy, work and trades, and even funerals.
The encyclopedia primarily focuses on fairies from England and surrounding areas. Some entries mention German or French variations of English fairies, but the book does not extend beyond Western Europe.
This encyclopedia serves as a comprehensive and straightforward reference guide, offering clear and informative descriptions of its subjects.
Related Authors
The most common authors followed by users who also follow Katharine M. Briggs are:
- Stephen King, author of The Dark Tower Series.
- J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter Series.
- Harlan Coben, author of the Myron Bolitar Series.
- Michael Connelly, author of the Harry Bosch Series.
- Brad Thor, author of the Scot Harvath Series.
Katharine M. Briggs: F.A.Q
When was Katharine M. Briggs Born?
Katharine M. Briggs was born on November 8th, 1898.
When did Katharine M. Briggs die?
Katharine M. Briggs died on October 15th, 1980 at 81 years old.
Where was Katharine M. Briggs Born?
Katharine M. Briggs was born in Hampstead, London, England.
What was the first book Katharine M. Briggs wrote?
The first book written by Katharine M. Briggs was Hobberdy Dick, published in 1955.
What was the most recent book Katharine M. Briggs wrote?
Her most recently released work was A Dictionary of British Folk-Tales in the English Language, Part A: Folk Narratives on February 18th, 2016.
How many books has Katharine M. Briggs written?
Katharine M. Briggs has written 15 books excluding contributions to anthologies. 2 Standalone Novels, 12 books in the Non-Fiction Books, 1 book in the Folktales of the World Series.