Andrew Lang's Fairy Books

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Andrew Lang's Fairy Books or Andrew Lang's "Coloured" Fairy Books are a twelve-book series of fairy tale collections. Although Andrew Lang did not collect the stories himself from the oral tradition, the extent of his sources (who had collected them originally), made them an immensely influential collection. As acknowleged in the prefaces, although Lang himself made most of the selections, his wife and other translators did a large portion of the translating and telling of the actual stories.

Many of them were illustrated by Henry J. Ford.

Sources

Some of the stories are listed without any attribution at all (such as The Blue Mountains), and the rest are listed with brief notes. When this is "Grimm" or "Madame d'Aulnoy", the stories can be tracked down, but other notes are less helpful. For instance, The Wonderful Birch is listed only as "From the Russo-Karelian".

He repeatedly explained in the prefaces that the tales he told were all old, and not his, and that he found new fairy tales no match for them:

But the three hundred and sixty-five authors who try to write new fairy tales are very tiresome. They always begin with a little boy or girl who goes out and meets the fairies of polyanthuses and gardenias and apple blossoms: 'Flowers and fruits, and other winged things.' These fairies try to be funny, and fail; or they try to preach, and succeed. Real fairies never preach or talk slang. At the end, the little boy or girl wakes up and finds that he has been dreaming.

Such are the new fairy stories. May we be preserved from all the sort of them!

The collections were specificially intended for children, and consequently edited for that end. He spoke in the prefaces about why. J.R.R. Tolkien, in his "On Fairy-Stories", appreciated the collections, but objected to the slanting to children.

The Books

Blue Fairy Book (1889)

[text]

• The Bronze Ring
• Prince Hyacinth and the Dear Little Princess
• East of the Sun and West of the Moon
• The Yellow Dwarf
• Little Red Riding Hood
• The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood
• Cinderella or the Little Glass Slipper
• Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp
• The Tale of a Youth Who Set Out to Learn What Fear Was
• Rumpelstiltskin
• Beauty and the Beast
• The Master Maid
• Why the Sea Is Salt
• The Master Cat or Puss in Boots
• Felicia and the Pot of Pinks
• The White Cat
• The Water-lily. The Gold-spinners
• The Terrible Head
• The Story of Pretty Goldilocks
• The History of Whittington
• The Wonderful Sheep
• Little Thumb
• The Forty Thieves
• Hansel and Gretel
• Snow-White and Rose-Red
• The Goose-girl
• Toads and Diamonds
• Prince Darling
• Blue Beard
• Trusty John
• The Brave Little Tailor
• The Princess on the Glass Hill
• The Story of Prince Ahmed and the Fairy Paribanou
• The History of Jack the Giant-killer
• The Black Bull of Norroway
• The Red Etin

Red Fairy Book (1890)

[text]

• The Twelve Dancing Princesses
• The Princess Mayblossom
• Soria Moria Castle
• The Death of Koschei the Deathless
• The Black Thief and Knight of the Glen
• The Master Thief
• Brother and Sister
• Princess Rosette
• The Enchanted Pig
• The Norka
• The Wonderful Birch
• Jack and the Beanstalk
• The Little Good Mouse
• Graciosa and Percinet
• The Three Princesses of Whiteland
• The Voice of Death
• The Six Sillies
• Kari Woodengown
• Drakestail
• The Ratcatcher
• The True History of Little Goldenhood
• The Golden Branch
• The Three Dwarfs
• Dapplegrim
• The Enchanted Canary
• The Twelve Brothers
• Rapunzel
• The Nettle Spinner
• Farmer Weatherbeard
• Mother Holle
• Minnikin
• Bushy Bride
• Snowdrop
• The Golden Goose
• The Seven Foals
• The Marvellous Musician
• The Story of Sigurd

Green Fairy Book (1892)

[text]

• The Blue Bird
• The Half-Chick
• The Story of Caliph Stork
• The Enchanted Watch
• Rosanella
• Sylvain and Jocosa
• Fairy Gifts
• Prince Narcissus and the Princess Potentilla
• Prince Featherhead and the Princess Celandine
• The Three Little Pigs
• Heart of Ice
• The Enchanted Ring
• The Snuff-box
• The Golden Blackbird
• The Little Soldier
• The Magic Swan
• The Dirty Shepherdess
• The Enchanted Snake
• The Biter Bit
• King Kojata
• Prince Fickle and Fair Helena
• Puddocky
• The Story of Hok Lee and the Dwarfs
• The Story of the Three Bears
• Prince Vivien and the Princess Placida
• Little One-eye, Little Two-eyes, and Little Three-eyes
• Jorinde and Joringel
• Allerleirauh; or, the Many-furred Creature
• The Twelve Huntsmen
• Spindle, Shuttle, and Needle
• The Crystal Coffin
• The Three Snake-leaves
• The Riddle
• Jack my Hedgehog
• The Golden Lads
• The White Snake
• The Story of a Clever Tailor
• The Golden Mermaid
• The War of the Wolf and the Fox
• The Story of the Fisherman and his Wife
• The Three Musicians
• The Three Dogs

Yellow Fairy Book (1894)

[text]

• The Cat and the Mouse in Partnership
• The Six Swans
• The Dragon of the North
• Story of the Emperor's New Clothes
• The Golden Crab
• The Iron Stove
• The Dragon and his Grandmother
• The Donkey Cabbage
• The Little Green Frog
• The Seven-headed Serpent
• The Grateful Beasts
• The Giants and the Herd-boy
• The Invisible Prince
• The Crow
• How Six Men travelled through the Wide World
• The Wizard King
• The Nixy
• The Glass Mountain
• Alphege, or the Green Monkey
• Fairer-than-a-Fairy
• The Three Brothers
• The Boy and the Wolves, or the Broken Promise
• The Glass Axe
• The Dead Wife
• In the Land of Souls
• The White Duck
• The Witch and her Servants
• The Magic Ring
• The Flower Queen's Daughter
• The Flying Ship
• The Snow-daughter and the Fire-son
• The Story of King Frost
• The Death of the Sun-hero
• The Witch
• The Hazel-nut Child
• The Story of Big Klaus and Little Klaus
• Prince Ring
• The Swineherd
• How to tell a True Princess
• The Blue Mountains
• The Tinder-box
• The Witch in the Stone Boat
• Thumbelina
• The Nightingale
• Hermod and Hadvor
• The Steadfast Tin-soldier
• Blockhead Hans
• A Story about a Darning-needle

Pink Fairy Book (1897)

[text]

• The Cat's Elopement
• How the Dragon was Tricked
• The Goblin and the Grocer
• The House in the Wood
• Uraschimataro and the Turtle
• The Slaying of the Tanuki
• The Flying Trunk
• The Snow Man
• The Shirt-Collar
• The Princess in the Chest
• The Three Brothers
• The Snow-queen
• The Fir-Tree
• Hans, the Mermaid's Son
• Peter Bull
• The Bird 'Grip'
• Snowflake
• I know what I have learned
• The Cunning Shoemaker
• The King who would have a Beautiful Wife
• Catherine and her Destiny
• How the Hermit helped to win the King's Daughter
• The Water of Life
• The Wounded Lion
• The Man without a Heart
• The Two Brothers
• Master and Pupil
• The Golden Lion
• The Sprig of Rosemary
• The White Dove
• The Troll's Daughter
• Esben and the Witch
• Princess Minon-Minette
• Maiden Bright-eye
• The Merry Wives
• King Lindworm
• The Jackal, the Dove, and the Panther
• The Little Hare
• The Sparrow with the Slit Tongue
• The Story of Ciccu
• Don Giovanni de la Fortuna

Grey Fairy Book (1900)

[text]

• Donkey Skin
• The Goblin Pony
• An Impossible Enchantment
• The Story of Dschemil and Dachemila
• Janni and the Draken
• The Partnership of the Thief and the Liar
• Fortunatus and his Purse
• The Goat-faced Girl
• What came of picking Flowers
• The Story of Bensurdatu
• The Magician's Horse
• The Little Gray Man
• Herr Lazarus and the Draken
• The Story of the Queen of the Flowery Isles
• Udea and her Seven Brothers
• The White Wolf
• Mohammed with the Magic Finger
• Bobino
• The Dog and the Sparrow
• The Story of the Three Sons of Hali
• The Story of the Fair Circassians
• The Jackal and the Spring
• The Bear
• The Sunchild
• The Daughter of Buk Ettemsuch
• Laughing Eye and Weeping Eye, or the Limping Fox
• The Unlooked for Prince
• The Simpleton
• The Street Musicians
• The Twin Brothers
• Cannetella
• The Ogre
• A Fairy's Blunder
• Long, Broad, and Quickeye
• Prunella

Violet Fairy Book(1901)

[text]

• A Tale of the Tontlawald
• The finest Liar in the World
• The Story of Three Wonderful Beggars
• Schippeitaro
• The Three Princes and their Beasts
• The Goat's Ears of the Emperor Trojan
• The Nine Pea-hens and the Golden Apples
• The Lute Player
• The Grateful Prince
• The Child who came from an Egg
• Stan Bolovan
• The Two Frogs
• The Story of a Gazelle
• How a Fish swam in the Air and a Hare in the Water
• Two in a Sack
• The Envious Neighbour
• The Fairy of the Dawn
• The Enchanted Knife
• Jesper who herded the Hares
• The Underground Workers
• The History of Dwarf Long Nose
• The Nunda, Eater of People
• The Story of Hassebu
• The Maiden with the Wooden Helmet
• The Monkey and the Jelly-fish
• The Headless Dwarfs
• The young Man who would have his Eyes opened]
• The Boys with the Golden Stars
• The Frog
• The Princess who was hidden Underground
• The Girl who pretended to be a Boy
• The Story of Halfman
• The Prince who wanted to see the World
• Virgililus the Sorcerer
• Mogarzea and his Son

Crimson Fairy Book (1903)

[text]

• Lovely Ilonka
• Lucky Luck
• The Hairy Man
• To Your Good Health!
• The Story of the Seven Simons
• The Language of Beasts
• The Boy who could keep a Secret
• The Prince and the Dragon
• Little Wildrose
• Tiidu the Piper
• Paperarello
• The Gifts of the Magician
• The Strong Prince
• The Treasure Seeker
• The Cottager and his Cat
• The Prince who would seek Immortality
• The Stone-cutter
• The Gold-bearded Man
• Tritill, Litill, and the Birds
• The Three Robes
• The Six Hungry Beasts
• How the Beggar Boy turned into Count Piro
• The Rogue and the Herdsman
• Eisenkopf
• The Death of Abu Nowas and of his Wife
• Motikatika
• Niels and the Giants
• Shepherd Paul
• How the wicked Tanuki was punished
• The Crab and the Monkey
• The Horse Gullfaxi and the Sword Gunnfoder
• The Story of the Sham Prince, or the Ambitious Tailor
• The Colony of Cats
• How to find out a True Friend
• Clever Maria
• The Magic Kettle

Brown Fairy Book (1904)

[text]

• What the Rose did to the Cypress
• Ball-Carrier and the Bad One
• How Ball-Carrier finished his Task
• The Bunyip
• Father Grumbler
• The Story of the Yara
• The Cunning Hare
• The Turtle and his Bride
• How Geirald the Coward was Punished
• Habogi
• How the Little Brother set Free his Big Brothers
• The Sacred Milk of Koumongoe
• The Wicked Wolverine
• The Husband of the Rat's Daughter
• The Mermaid and the Boy
• Pivi and Kabo
• The Elf Maiden
• How Some Wild Animals became Tame Ones
• Fortune and the Wood-Cutter
• The Enchanted Head
• The Sister of the Sun
• The Prince and the Three Fates
• The Fox and the Lapp
• Kisa the Cat
• The Lion and the Cat
• Which was the Foolishest?
• Asmund and Signy
• Rubezahl
• Story of the King who would be Stronger then Fate
• Story of Wali Dad the Simple-hearted
• Tale of a Tortoise and of a Mischievous Monkey
• The Knights of the Fish

Orange Fairy Book (1906)

[text]

• The Story of the Hero Makoma
• The Magic Mirror
• Story of the King who would see Paradise
• How Isuro the Rabbit tricked Gudu Ian, the Soldier's Son
• The Fox and the Wolf
• How Ian Direach got the Blue Falcon
• The Ugly Duckling
• The Two Caskets
• The Goldsmith's Fortune
• The Enchanted Wreath
• The Foolish Weaver
• The Clever Cat
• The Story of Manus Pinkel the Thief
• The Adventures of a Jackal
• The Adventures of the Jackal's Eldest Son
• The Adventures of the Younger Son of the Jackal
• The Three Treasures of the Giants
• The Rover of the Plain
• The White Doe
• The Girl-Fish
• The Owl and the Eagle
• The Frog and the Lion Fairy
• The Adventures of Covan the Brown-haired
• The Princess Bella-Flor
• The Bird of Truth
• The Mink and the Wolf
• Adventures of an Indian Brave
• How the Stalos were Tricked
• Andras Baive
• The White Slipper
• The Magic Book

Olive Fairy Book (1907)

[text]

• Madschun
• The Blue Parrot
• Geirlug The King's Daughter
• The Story of Little King Loc
• A Long-Bow Story
• Jackal or Tiger?
• The Comb and the Collar
• The Thanksgiving of the Wazir
• Samba the Coward
• Kupti and Imani
• The Strange Adventures of Little Maia
• Diamond Cut Diamond
• The Green Knight
• The Five Wise Words of the Guru*
• The Golden-Headed Fish
• Dorani
• The Satin Surgeon
• The Billy Goat and the King
• The Story of Zoulvisia
• Grasp All, Lose All
• The Fate of the Turtle
• The Snake Prince
• The Prince and the Princess in the Forest
• The Clever Weaver
• The Boy Who Found Fear At Last
• He Wins Who Waits
• The Steel Cane
• The Punishment of the Fairy Gangana
• The Silent Princess

Lilac Fairy Book (1910)

[text]

• The Shifty Lad
• The False Prince and the True
• The Jogi's Punishment
• The Heart of a Monkey
• The Fairy Nurse
• A Lost Paradise
• How Brave Walter Hunted Wolves
• The Ring of the Waterfalls
• A French Puck
• The Three Crowns
• The Story of a Very Bad Boy
• The Brown Bear of Norway
• Little Lasse
• 'Moti'
• The Enchanted Deer
• A Fish Story
• The Wonderful Tune
• The Rich Brother and the Poor Brother
• The One-Handed Girl
• The Bones of Djulung
• The Sea Ring's Gift
• The Raspberry Worm
• The Stones of Plouhinec
• The Castle of Kerglas
• The Battle of the Birds
• The Lady of the Fountain
• The Four Gifts
• The Groac'h of the Isle of Lok
• The Escape of the Mouse
• The Believing. Husbands
• The Hoodie-Crow
• The Brownie of the Lake
• The Winning of Olwen

External Links

• [Andrew Lang collection]
• [Andrew Lang fairy tales by source]

 

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