The Fairies of Pesth by Eugene Field
The poem tells the story of a group of fairies who live in Pesth, a city in Hungary. The fairies are described as being mischievous and playful, but also cruel and heartless. They play tricks on humans, causing them harm and destruction. The poem explores the idea that even beautiful and magical creatures can have a darker side to their nature.
By Eugene Field · First published 1884 · Genre: Fantasy, Poetry, Children's Literature · 3,349 words
Editions
First lines
An old poet walked alone in a quiet valley. His heart was heavy, and the voices of Nature consoled him. His life had been a lonely and sad one. Many years ago a great grief fell upon him, and it took away all his joy and all his ambition. It was because he brooded over his sorrow, and because he was always faithful to a memory, that the townspeople deemed him a strange old poet; but they loved him and they loved his songs, -- in his life and in his songs there was a gentleness, a sweetness, a pathos that touched every heart. "The strange, the dear old poet," they called him.
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Genres
- Fantasy — The story features magical elements such as fairies, elves, and a witchwife, creating a fantastical world.
- Poetry — The narrative is rich in lyrical language and includes songs sung by the fairy queen, reflecting poetic themes.
- Children's Literature — The whimsical characters and enchanting story are suitable for a younger audience, typical of children's fairy tales.
- Romance — The old poet's memories of love and loss add a romantic and melancholic layer to the narrative.
Tags
Fantasy · Poetry · Whimsical · Imaginative · Folklore-inspired · Mythological · Humorous · Lighthearted · Playful · Nostalgic · Victorian-era · Children's literature
What this Textopian page supports
The Fairies of Pesth is listed on Textopian as a short story by Eugene Field, dated 1884 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Eugene Field
- Date: 1884 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fantasy, Poetry, Children's Literature, Romance, Allegory
- Length: 3,349 words
- Structure: 1 section, 58 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for The Fairies of Pesth by Eugene Field
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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