This book lists entries about fairies and other supernatural creatures, and terms, phrases and tales associated with them. Many fairy stories are related and then examined, though they are not necessarily in the format of traditional "fairy tales." Some are related as legends, while others are a recounting of personal experiences with the supernatural.

The book also has an index to motifs and types, so the reader may compare similar kinds of stories or creatures. This large tome spans ten centuries. The creatures covered therein are mostly those associated with the British Isles, but a few "foreign fairies" are mentioned in passing, especially for comparison.

For more expansive (though not complete) coverage of fairies throughout the world, the author made mention of Thomas Keightley's "The Fairy Mythology."