Without us realizing it, our homes shelter a discreet world, inhabited by familiar spirits, much closer than we imagine. These presences, stemming from the popular traditions of many countries, live within the walls, under the floors, or behind closed doors. Gnomes, rustic companions of the rural world, lend an invisible hand to farmers: they bring in the hay, watch over the stables, and ensure the animals stay healthy. Elves, with a more ambivalent nature, can be either benevolent or unsettling. They stay alert in the dark areas of the house, in forgotten attics or under the stairs, where they observe daily routines.
Fairies and sprites, for their part, like to play with the nerves of the inhabitants. They move objects, erase our landmarks, make a bunch of keys disappear before putting it back as if nothing happened. They do not seek to harm but to remind of their presence, between mischief and playfulness. In the silent depths of the house also reside other figures, older and more rooted: the guardians of the hearth. These can be spirits of ancestors, souls attached to the place, or creatures named differently depending on the region – lares, leprechauns, brownies, banshees, servans, or simple ghosts.
Through this beautifully illustrated work, you will discover an invisible but familiar world, made of oral traditions, living superstitions, and forgotten tales. A journey into the corners of the house, from the cellar to the attic, where imagination and daily life intersect without ever truly separating.
