Shortlisted for the 2023 Hilary Weston Writers Trust Prize for NonfictionA journalist and folklorist explores the truths that underlie the stories we imagineand reveals the magic in the everyday.Iamp8217ve always felt that the term fairy tale doesnamp8217t quite capture the essence of these stories writes Emily Urquhart. amp8220I prefer the term wonder tale which is Irish in origin for its suggestion of awe coupled with narrative. In a way this is most of our stories.amp8221 In this startlingly original essay collection Urquhart reveals the truths that underlie our imaginings what we see in our heads when we read how the sight of a ghost can heal how the entrance to the underworld can be glimpsed in an oil painting or a winter stormamp8212or the onset of a loved oneamp8217s dementia. In essays on death and dying pregnancy and prenatal genetics radioactivity chimeras cottagers and plague Ordinary Wonder Tales reveals the essential truth if you let yourself look closely there is magic in the everyday.