Andrew Lang (1844-1912) was a prolific Scots man of letters, a poet, novelist, literary critic and contributor to anthropology. He now is best known as the collector of folk and fairy tales. He was educated at the Edinburgh Academy, St Andrews University and at Balliol College, Oxford. As a journalist, poet, critic and historian, he soon made a reputation as one of the ablest and most versatile writers of the day. Lang was one of the founders of the study of Psychical Research, and his other writings on anthropology include The Book of Dreams and Ghosts (1897), Magic and Religion (1901) and The Secret of the Totem (1905). He was a Homeric scholar of conservative views. Other works include Homer and the Epic (1893); a prose translation of The Homeric Hymns (1899), with literary and mythological essays in which he draws parallels between Greek myths and other mythologies; and Homer and his Age (1906). He also wrote Ballades in Blue China (1880) and Rhymes la Mode (1884).

Andrew Lang's Fairy Books are a series of twelve collections of fairy tales, totalling 437 tales in all, from a great number of countries and cultures. For many of these now famous stories it was their debut in the English language. Lang was a talented author and literary critic known for his clear, lively prose. This omnibus collection of all his fairy stories in two volumes is the richest and widest ranging fairy story book on the market. This omnibus is fully illustrated with charming black and white drawings, with the exception of the Green, Pink, Violet and Crimson Fairy books. This volume contains a full index of the stories.

Andrew Lang's Fairy Books are a series of twelve collections of fairy tales, totalling 437 tales in all, from a great number of countries and cultures. For many of these now famous stories it was their debut in the English language. Lang was a talented author and literary critic known for his clear, lively prose. This omnibus collection of all his fairy stories in two volumes is the richest and widest ranging fairy story book on the market. This omnibus is fully illustrated with charming black and white drawings, with the exception of the Green, Pink, Violet and Crimson Fairy books. This volume contains a full index of the stories.

Andrew Lang was an Oxford fellow and Scotsman who had a distinguished career as a poet, novelist and historian. His wife Leonora was extremely well-educated herself, having translated a history of Russia from the French and written several other books of her own. However, they are both remembered best for their series of 12 fairy tale books--beginning with the "Blue Fairy Book" in 1889 and ending with the "Lilac Fairy Book" in 1910. These quickly became the most popular gift books of all time and remained so for several decades. It was Andrew Lang's interest in anthropology that led him to collect and publish these folk tales from far-flung lands, most of which were unknown to English readers at the time. And though all of them were published in Andrew's name, his role was largely editorial--a great deal of the translating, adapting and rewriting was done by his wife Leonora and others.
This husband and wife team next applied their highly successful formula for choosing, researching and adapting folk tales to the stories of the saints, creating "The Book of Saints and Heroes" in 1912, with a result that is both inspiring and fun to read. Add the illustrations by H.J. Ford, whose creations illuminated the Fairy Books, and you have a book which makes an ideal gift for any child.

This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishing's Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone!

American Indian, Russian, German, Icelandic, French, and other stories--48 in all--among them "The Tinder-box," "The Nightingale," and "How to Tell a True Princess." 104 illustrations.

Finest stories from around the world--most of them old favorites: "Sleeping Beauty," "Rumpelstiltskin," "Cinderella," "The Arabian Nights," 33 more. Includes original 138 black-and-white illustrations.