Rewards and Fairies

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Rewards and Fairies is a historical fantasy book by Rudyard Kipling published in 1910. The title comes from the poem "Farewell, Rewards and Fairies" by Richard Corbet,^[1] which was referred to by the children in the first story of Kipling's earlier book Puck of Pook's Hill. Rewards and Fairies, a followup to Puck, is set one year later, although it was published four years afterwards.

The book consists of a series of short stories set in historical times and a linking contemporary narrative about Dan and Una, two children living in the Weald of Sussex in the area of Kipling's own home, who encounter Puck. He magically conjures up real and fictional individuals from Sussex's past to tell the children some aspect of the history and prehistory of the region, though the episodes are not always historically accurate and some of the stories contain elements of the supernatural as well as history. Another recurring character is Old Hobden, who represents the continuity of the inhabitants of the land. His ancestors sometimes appear in the stories and seem very much like him.

Each story is preceded and followed by a poem, one of which is If—, often described as Britain's favorite poem.^[2][3] Other well known poems included in the book are Cold Iron and The Way through the Woods.