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© Wendy Froud
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Fans of creatures mystical and imaginative have come
to cherish the special magic of world-renowned artist Wendy Froud. While
film buffs hail her as the fabricator of a wizened sage from a distant
galaxy—the inimitable Yoda—devotees of whimsical fiction treasure
her talents in another realm: the legendary world of faeries. In collaboration
with award-winning folklorist Terri Windling, Wendy Froud has conjured
up an endearing faery hero—a furry denizen of the Old Oak Wood with
an insatiable appetite for pink cakes and adventure: Sneezlewort Rootmuster
Rowanberry Boggs the Seventh. Albeit a young root faery—201 as humans
reckon, but merely a child in faery years—Sneezle is already quite
famous for his daring feats. In their last book of enchantment, The Winter
Child, Froud and Windling brilliantly revealed the amazing story of how
Sneezle, with a little help from his friend Twig, rescued a precious tot
born from a golden egg by storming a goblin tower. |
| Weaving their spell once again, Froud and Windling now chronicle Sneezle’s
latest and boldest escapade in THE FAERIES OF SPRING COTTAGE (Simon &
Schuster; May 2003; $21.00). At every delightful turn, Sneezle’s
tale leaps off the page through Froud’s richly detailed images of
beguiling creatures—from a luminous faery queen to a mischievous
little bunch of boggarts. Throughout, exquisite color photographs, masterfully
art directed by Good Faeries / Bad Faeries creator Brian Froud, showcase
the strikingly lifelike qualities of Wendy Froud’s original figures—and
the charm of one pivotal intruder: a real-life giant human girl. |
© Wendy Froud
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© Wendy Froud
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Like most faeries of the Old Oak Wood, Sneezle has never seen a human
being—though he has heard they smell like fish and can be quite
dangerous. His unwelcome introduction to a member of the species comes
when Rowan, a ten-year-old girl with a fascination for faeries discouraged
by her pragmatic mother, ventures into the woods and accidentally
scoops him up in her book bag. Before long, Sneezle finds himself
trapped in an alien world: a rustic stone cottage inhabited by a whole
family of humans.
Trapped inside, he comes face to face with boggarts—good faeries
gone horribly bad due to woeful neglect. He confronts an army of tin
soldiers and beautiful faery dolls dressed in violet that all come
to life—then suddenly return to an unsettling state of suspended
animation. Most fortunately, he meets a hospitable house brownie named
Billy Blind, who demystifies the world of humans and abets his escape.
Before his safe return to his beloved woodland home, Sneezle succeeds
in restoring order to the faery world of the cottage and forging a
wonderful connection with a girl who discovers her gift for seeing
the magical amidst the mundane.
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Blending their spectacular artistic and storytelling talents to mesmerizing
perfection, Froud and Windling have created another magical volume.
THE FAERIES OF SPRING COTTAGE is destined to become a classic among
fans of faery tales, fantasy literature, and all things Froudian.
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About the Artist
WENDY FROUD became a doll maker at the age of five. Since then, she
has created dolls, puppets, and sculpture for many films, including
The Empire Strikes Back (she is credited with bringing its beloved character
Yoda to life) and Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, and
The Muppet Movie. Her dolls and figures are highly sought out by private
collectors worldwide. Raised in Detroit, Michigan, she now lives in
Devon, England, with her husband and frequent artistic collaborator,
Brian, and their son, Toby.
About the Author
TERRI WINDLING is a renowned fairy and folklore scholar and a six-time
winner of the World Fantasy Award. She has written mythic fiction for
adults and children, including the Mythopoeic Award-winning novel The
Wood Wife, and edited more than twenty-five anthologies. She divides
her time between Devon, England, and Tucson, Arizona.
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© Wendy Froud
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Article by Simon and Schuster ©
2003
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About this Book:
Art by Wendy Froud
Story by Terri Windling
Published by Simon & Schuster
May 2003; $21.00 Hardcover
48 pages, with 25 full-color illustrations
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