Gnomes
A Strange History
Gregory AriailThe first history of gnomes across folklore, fantasy and culture
Gnomes: A Strange History is the first book to trace the remarkable story of gnomes across centuries of literature, art, folklore and popular culture. Far more than the familiar bearded figures of gardens and fairy tales, gnomes have appeared in occult writings, Romantic fantasies, children’s stories and modern fantasy worlds, taking on surprising and often contradictory forms. Drawing on rare and neglected texts alongside works by major writers, the book follows their evolution from the writings of Paracelsus to the imaginations of Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, Terry Pratchett and many others. Combining cultural history with literary detective work, the book demonstrates how one of Europe’s strangest mythical beings has continually adapted to changing beliefs and tastes. The result is a fresh perspective on fantasy, folklore and the enduring power of imagination.
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Quite often enchanted gnomes have been mistaken for dwarfs in all kinds of literature, but, as Gregory Ariail demonstrates in his meticulous study, gnomes have their own strange history and assert themselves in literature and art. His history consists of seven enchanting chapters from the middle ages to the famous tales of C. S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tollkien. Moreover, he explains in his final chapter that gnomes are still as scary as ever.
'Jack Zipes, Professor Emeritus, University of Minnesota, and editor of The Sorcerer’s Apprentice: An Anthology of Magical Tales
1 The Origin of Gnomes
2 Romantic Grotesques
3 From the Mountain to the Garden
4 American Gnomes
5 Theosophical Elementals
6 The Gnomes of C. S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and bb
7 Modern Gnomes: Scary Cute
References
Further Reading
Acknowledgements
Photo Acknowledgements
Index
Gregory Ariail is Assistant Professor of English at the University of West Alabama. He is the author of Hermits Die on Thursday: Stories of Appalachia and the Dark Ages (2025).