Which 1964 J.R.R. Tolkien book included the essay On Fairy-Stories?
Answer
Tree and Leaf
Tree and Leaf is the 1964 J.R.R. Tolkien book that included the essay On Fairy-Stories.
The volume brought together Tolkien’s influential literary essay with his short story Leaf by Niggle. On Fairy-Stories developed Tolkien’s ideas about the nature and value of fairy stories, including concepts such as fantasy, recovery, escape, and consolation. Leaf by Niggle presents a very different form: an allegorical tale about an artist whose work remains unfinished.
The pairing is significant because both pieces address creation, imagination, and the relationship between ordinary life and a larger imaginative vision. The title Tree and Leaf reflects imagery from Tolkien’s discussion and the story’s themes, although the volume is not a Middle-earth narrative.
The book is sometimes confused with Tolkien’s later short-story collections. Smith of Wootton Major appeared separately, while The Adventures of Tom Bombadil is a collection of poems. Tree and Leaf is especially important for readers studying Tolkien’s theory of fantasy.