Andrew Lang 
The Green Fairy Book 

It is almost impossible to envision what childhood would be like without the enchanting world of fairyland. Princess Rosanella, The Three Bears, giants and dwarfs, monsters and magicians, fairies and ogres — these are the companions who thrill young boys and girls of all lands and all times, as Andrew Lang’s phenomenally successful collections of stories have proved. From the day that they were first printed, the Lang fairy tale books of many colors have entertained thousands of boys and girls, as they have also brought pleasure to the many parents who have read these unforgettable classics to their children.


In the Green Fairy Book, the third in the series, Lang has assembled stories from Spanish and Chinese traditions, a few of the most entertaining creations penned by the Comte de Caylus, others by Sebillot, Fenelon, Kletke, and Mme. d’Aulnoy, and, of course, some of the best-loved tales from the Brothers Grimm. Here in one attractive paperbound volume with enlarged print are ‘The Blue Bird, ‘ ‘Sylvain and Jocosa, ‘ ‘Narcissus and the Princess Potentilla, ‘ ‘The Three Little Pigs, ‘ ‘The Half-Chick, ‘ and many other favorites that have become an indispensable part of our cultural heritage.

All in all, this collection contains forty-two stories, all narrated in the clear, lively prose for which Lang was famous. Not only are Lang’s translations generally conceded to be the best English versions of standard stories, his collections are the richest and widest in range. His position as one of England’s foremost folklorists as well as his first-rate literary abilities make his collections unmatchable in the English language.

Table of Content

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