Looking For the Hidden Folk By Nancy Marie Brown

Looking for the Hidden Folk — Nancy Marie Brown

An engaging, readable investigation into Icelandic belief in elves and the broader ways cultures perceive and protect the natural world, named a New York Times Book Review Editor’s Choice.

Key Features

• Author: Nancy Marie Brown
• Accolades: New York Times Book Review Editor’s Choice; starred review from BookPage
• Format: Paperback
• Pages: 288 pages
• Audience: Readers of cultural history, environmental humanities, and folklore

Product Details

Nancy Marie Brown examines why many Icelanders accept the presence of elves and how those beliefs shape attitudes toward landscapes and development. Moving through history, science, religion, and art, Brown shows how different ways of knowing define what communities treat as worthy of care. The book argues that shifting perception—acknowledging other modes of value and meaning—can be an important step toward environmental protection. Clear prose, personal observation, and scholarly context make the argument both accessible and thought‑provoking.

Praise

• "An impassioned, informative love letter to Iceland." — New York Times Book Review
• "A compelling and highly readable book" — BookPage (starred)

Physical Specifications

• Binding: Paperback
• Pages: 288
• Dimensions: 8.3 × 5.5 × 0.9 in (21 × 14 × 2.3 cm)
• Weight: 10.4 oz (294.84 g)
• Made in: United States