The tales of Elfland do not stand or fall on their actuality but on their truthfulness, their speaking to the human condition, the longings we all have for the Faerie Other.
Jane Yolen, in her book "Touch Magic: Fantasy, Faerie & Folklore in the Literature of Childhood," emphasizes that the significance of Elfland tales lies not in their factuality but in their deeper truths. These stories resonate with universal human emotions and desires, serving as a bridge to the mystical realms we yearn for, known as the Faerie Other.
The essence of these tales goes beyond mere storytelling; they capture the longing for something beyond everyday life. Yolen argues that it is this connection to our innermost feelings and aspirations that gives these fantastical narratives their enduring power and relevance across generations.
