From gardens to fairy tales and beyond, a magical encounter with the secretive people of folklore.

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.