Paracosm

A paracosm is an imagined, detailed fantasy world invented by a child or perhaps an adult, involving humans and/or animals, or perhaps even fantasy or alien creations. Often having its own geography, history, and language, it is an experience that continues over a long period of time: months or even years.

The concept was first described by a researcher for the BBC, Robert Silvey, with later research by British psychiatrist Stephen A. MacKeith, and British psychologist David Cohen.Fact|date=February 2008

Silvey & MacKeith published "The Paracosm: a special form of fantasy" in 1988, and Cohen & MacKeith published "The Development of Imagination: The Private Worlds of Childhood" in 1991.

Examples of paracosms are "Gondal", "Angria" and "Gaaldine," the fantasy worlds created and written about in childhood by Emily, Anne, and Charlotte Brontë, and their brother Branwell. Another example is "Borovnia," the fantasy world created by Juliet Hulme and Pauline Parker, as portrayed in the film Heavenly Creatures.