THIS is a fairy story with the English country for its background. Four gnomes, Cloudberry, Sneezewort, Baldmoney and Dodder, live in a hollow oak by the banks of the Folly Brook in Warwickshire. Cloudberry, the restless one, determines to explore the Folly to its source. He goes and does not return. The story of the Little Grey Men begins where his three brothers set out to find him.

These eventually practical little people are not, as the author puts it, of the "fairy book, tinsel" order of fairies, they are very real little creatures, who live "on the country," kippering minnows, maturing natural wines in snail shells, and making bread from the results of their nocturnal gleanings of the harvest fields.

They make a boat for their trip up the Folly, and all the Stream People, the voles, birds, rabbits and otters, give them a great send-off. All through the cream of the English summer they journey on, braving the perils of Crow Wood, wherein dwells a giant, one Grum (a keeper), who kills any wild creature who dares to invade the sanctuary of his preserves. With the help of Pan the giant is disposed of, and at long last they reach the upper waters of the Folly, acquiring on the way a brand new toy steamer, the Jeanie Deans, rightful property of a small boy.

Autumn comes, the first frosts turn them back, still without finding Cloudberry; but all ends happily.

This most unusual fairy story is profusely illustrated by D. J. Watkins-Pitchford, with decorated capitals, twenty-one full-page illustrations, and over forty heads and tails.

All who have enjoyed BB's countryside books will want to buy "The Little Grey Men" for themselves or their children.

From the dust jacket