Which Tolkien work includes the essay “On Fairy-Stories”?

Tolkien’s Tree and Leaf includes the essay “On Fairy-Stories.”

The volume was first published in 1964 and brought together Tolkien’s essay on fantasy with the short story “Leaf by Niggle.” In “On Fairy-Stories,” Tolkien discusses what fairy stories are, why adults can value them, and the related ideas of recovery, escape, and consolation.

The essay grew from Tolkien’s 1939 Andrew Lang lecture at the University of St Andrews. It is one of his clearest statements about the purpose and appeal of fantasy, though it should not be treated as a complete technical definition of every fantasy tradition.

Some editions and collections arrange Tolkien’s essays and shorter fiction differently, which can cause confusion. Tree and Leaf is the specific volume most strongly associated with the pairing of “On Fairy-Stories” and “Leaf by Niggle.”