Andrew Lang 
The Animal Story Book 

If anyone believes that style does not appeal to the young readers, let him open Mr. Andrew Langs ‘The Animal Story Book’ (Jazzybee Publishing), and read to any intelligent child of nine years Dumas’ description of Mysouf I., Mysouf II., and Pritchard, and note how soon Dumas becomes a living personality to the child. Then let him turn and read, out of the same book, the account of ‘ Cowper and his Hares.’ Bess and Puss and Tiney were doubtless as interesting in their way as the dogs and cats and monkeys owned by Dumas; but the child does not care for them – he begs you to read more from Dumas. Young as the child is, Dumas has cast a spell around him – the spell of a sparkling and animated style. Mr. Lang’s ‘ Animal Story Book ‘ ought to delight both old and young, as one may find therein pen-portraits of most of the remarkable animals that have interested the world since primitive times. And because authors are, as a class, peculiarly fond of animals, the reader of this charming book is brought into intimate relations with Pliny, Théophile Gautier, and many other remarkable men.

This book is annotated with a rare extensive biographical sketch of the author, Andrew Lang, written by Sir Edmund Gosse, CB, a contemporary poet and writer.