12 Books in 1: Andrew Lang's Complete "Fairy Book" Series. The Blue, Red, Green, Yellow, Pink, Grey, Violet, Crimson, Brown, Orange, Olive, and Lilac ... and Fairy Stories From Around The World. [Unabridged] [Paperback]

Andrew Lang (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2006

Fairy tales are the oldest stories in the world. They were first made by adults who were childlike for their own amusement, and so they amuse children still, and also grown-up people who have not forgotten how they once were children. The stories in these books are borrowed from many countries; some are French, some German, some Russian, some Italian, some Scottish, some English, one Chinese. However much these nations differ about trifles, they all agree in liking fairy tales. The reason, no doubt, is that men were much like children in their minds long ago, long, long ago, and so before they took to writing newspapers, and sermons, and novels, and long poems, they told each other stories, such as you read in the fairy books. They believed that witches could turn people into beasts, that beasts could speak, that magic rings could make their owners invisible, and all the other wonders in the stories. Then, as the world became grown-up, the fairy tales which were not written down would have been quite forgotten but that the old grannies remembered them, and told them to the little grandchildren: and when they, in their turn, became grannies, they remembered them, nd told them also. In this way these tales are older than reading and writing, far older than printing. (Unexpurgated edition of Andrew Lang's Complete "Fairy Book" Series, including The Blue, Red, Green, Yellow, Pink, Grey, Violet, Crimson, Brown, Orange, Olive, and Lilac Fairy Books. "The Rose Fairy Book" is not included in this anthology, because the stories it contains can be found in the Grey, Brown, Pink, Lilac and Orange Fairy Books.)

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Full length edition of Andrew Lang's Complete "Fairy Book" Series, including The Blue, Red, Green, Yellow, Pink, Grey, Violet, Crimson, Brown, Orange, Olive, and Lilac Fairy Books.

("The Rose Fairy Book" is not included in this anthology, because the stories it contains can be found in the Grey, Brown, Pink, Lilac and Orange Fairy Books.)

From the Author

Fairy tales are the oldest stories in the world.

They were first made by adults who were childlike for their own amusement, and so they amuse children still, and also grown-up people who have not forgotten how they once were children.

The stories in these books are borrowed from many countries; some are French, some German, some Russian, some Italian, some Scottish, some English, one Chinese. However much these nations differ about trifles, they all agree in liking fairy tales. The reason, no doubt, is that men were much like children in their minds long ago, long, long ago, and so before they took to writing newspapers, and sermons, and novels, and long poems, they told each other stories, such as you read in the fairy books.

They believed that witches could turn people into beasts, that beasts could speak, that magic rings could make their owners invisible, and all the other wonders in the stories.

Then, as the world became grown-up, the fairy tales which were not written down would have been quite forgotten but that the old grannies remembered them, and told them to the little grandchildren: and when they, in their turn, became grannies, they remembered them, and told them also.

In this way these tales are older than reading and writing, far older than printing.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 828 pages
• Publisher: Shoes and Ships and Sealing Wax Ltd (June 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0954840151
• ISBN-13: 978-0954840150
• Product Dimensions: 11.7 x 8.3 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #337,003 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

175 of 179 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Content outstanding; presentation poor, August 9, 2006

By 

William MacGregor-Leyland "Fr. Leland" (Riverside, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 12 Books in 1: Andrew Lang's Complete "Fairy Book" Series. The Blue, Red, Green, Yellow, Pink, Grey, Violet, Crimson, Brown, Orange, Olive, and Lilac ... and Fairy Stories From Around The World. (Paperback)

Having read Lang's Fairy stories when I was younger, I was truly looking forward to receiving this volume. To say the least, I was very dissappointed when I received it. How does this book fail? Let me count the ways;

1) The beautiful illustrations that I remember so well, are gone. There is not one illustration in the entire volume.

2) The Table of Contents is sorely lacking. The individual stories are not listed; only the books. Trying to find a specific story is challenging, to say the least. An index would have been helpful.

3) The print is SO tiny, that severe eye-strain is a definite probability.

4) What is with the tree frog on the cover?

My suggestion is, if you wish to read Lang's Fairy Book series, buy them individually. They are truly wonderful stories, but this volume is NOT the way to proceed. Buying them individually will assuredly cost more, but it will be well worth the price.

94 of 96 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars TERRIBLE. Do NOT buy this book., November 3, 2006

By 

Skreechowl "skreechowl" (NYC-Area, US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 12 Books in 1: Andrew Lang's Complete "Fairy Book" Series. The Blue, Red, Green, Yellow, Pink, Grey, Violet, Crimson, Brown, Orange, Olive, and Lilac ... and Fairy Stories From Around The World. (Paperback)

I was so excited to see that all of the "color book" fairy tale collections were gathered in one place. When I received the book I was VERY disappointed. No thought was given this volume, from the inappropriate cover image (stock photography of a rainforest frog?) to the pages within : no illustrations, no consideration given to the needs of the reader at all (just dense columns of small type intended solely to minimize the number of pages.) Poorly bound. All of which combine to remove any pleasure from reading these delightful stories.

Look for the individual colored books .... they're worth the effort.

60 of 60 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars "Fairy Books", January 19, 2007

By 

Richard A. Orr "RAO" (Indiana) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 12 Books in 1: Andrew Lang's Complete "Fairy Book" Series. The Blue, Red, Green, Yellow, Pink, Grey, Violet, Crimson, Brown, Orange, Olive, and Lilac ... and Fairy Stories From Around The World. (Paperback)

I was very happy to find a book that contained all the "Fairy Books". However, the printing is so small you need a magnifying glass to read it. It is also very difficult to find the fairy tale you want because there is no index. If I had to do it over again I would buy the books individually, it is worth the investment