This anthology is a thorough introduction to classic literature for those who have not yet experienced these literary masterworks. For those who have known and loved these works in the past, this is an invitation to reunite with old friends in a fresh new format. From Shakespeare s finesse to Oscar Wilde s wit, this unique collection brings together works as diverse and influential as The Pilgrim s Progress and Othello. As an anthology that invites readers to immerse themselves in the masterpieces of the literary giants, it is must-have addition to any library
The Blue Fairy Book (Andrew Lang's Fairy Books)
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Book Description
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Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Andrew Lang was one of the most famous literary critics around 1900. He also edited a series of children's fable books that preserved and illustrated a host of tales which are still used extensively today.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
138 of 138 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
If you are new to Lang, it started in 1889 with the blue fairy book, and then a series developed, yellow, crimson, orange, red, and so forth.
The fact that this series has endured to now is a testament to its quality.
As you read, you will discover fairy tales and myths from all over the world, including the well known writers such as Grimm, Andersen, Perrault, and Mme D'Aulnoy.
These are not the politically correct stories you might expect, and I believe you will find them useful whether it's for your own reading pleasure, of for passing on stories to children.
In fact, if you look beyond the surface of the story, there is a cautionary aspect for children who might get lost, and the evil characters they might meet like the wolf in sheep's clothing, or the boy who cried wolf, or the nice person who offers a gift, but is really a wicked queen in disguise.
There may be a young prince who helps a hairy man escape, and the king embarrassed and enraged orders the child to be killed. Naturally the woodsman slaughters an animal instead, and returns those to the king instead as evidence of performance of the deed.
There are stories of boys becoming men, being tested by the princess, and doing great deeds to prove their worth. Some characters are wicked and evil, and so the protagonist has to develop resources of their own to defeat the deceit, trickery, jealousy, ambition, and wickedness of the people they encounter.
I recommend you start with the blue book, because it has most of the best known stories, for example, Aladdin, Sleeping Beauty, Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Bluebeard, Puss in Boots. You can check the contents of each book at mythfolklore, and even read the stories online.
If you are buying Lang, you need to know which publisher, because there are many editions through different publishers, some are good with nice print and pictures, others have small print and no pictures.
I highly recommend the Dover edition which has pictures and good size print. These pictures are black and white drawings. The Boomer books edition has good size print. If you want a durable hardcover library style book with a red string bookmark, I recommend the D N Goodchild books. Avoid the compilation book, and buy them individually.
One of my favorite stories not in this edition is The wooing of Olwen. It's unusually cruel and bloodthirsty from Wales and King Arthur's court.
I know you will enjoy these wonderful stories, and I hope this review was helpful.
The fact that this series has endured to now is a testament to its quality.
As you read, you will discover fairy tales and myths from all over the world, including the well known writers such as Grimm, Andersen, Perrault, and Mme D'Aulnoy.
These are not the politically correct stories you might expect, and I believe you will find them useful whether it's for your own reading pleasure, of for passing on stories to children.
In fact, if you look beyond the surface of the story, there is a cautionary aspect for children who might get lost, and the evil characters they might meet like the wolf in sheep's clothing, or the boy who cried wolf, or the nice person who offers a gift, but is really a wicked queen in disguise.
There may be a young prince who helps a hairy man escape, and the king embarrassed and enraged orders the child to be killed. Naturally the woodsman slaughters an animal instead, and returns those to the king instead as evidence of performance of the deed.
There are stories of boys becoming men, being tested by the princess, and doing great deeds to prove their worth. Some characters are wicked and evil, and so the protagonist has to develop resources of their own to defeat the deceit, trickery, jealousy, ambition, and wickedness of the people they encounter.
I recommend you start with the blue book, because it has most of the best known stories, for example, Aladdin, Sleeping Beauty, Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Bluebeard, Puss in Boots. You can check the contents of each book at mythfolklore, and even read the stories online.
If you are buying Lang, you need to know which publisher, because there are many editions through different publishers, some are good with nice print and pictures, others have small print and no pictures.
I highly recommend the Dover edition which has pictures and good size print. These pictures are black and white drawings. The Boomer books edition has good size print. If you want a durable hardcover library style book with a red string bookmark, I recommend the D N Goodchild books. Avoid the compilation book, and buy them individually.
One of my favorite stories not in this edition is The wooing of Olwen. It's unusually cruel and bloodthirsty from Wales and King Arthur's court.
I know you will enjoy these wonderful stories, and I hope this review was helpful.
191 of 194 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Andrew Lang's series of fairy-tale books are some of the fundamental children's reading of the twentieth and late nineteenth century. The stories are not "original": there's no such thing when they were almost without exception passed down orally; but they are in old, not very modernized tellings.
Many readers who have only seen or read modern, Disney-fied versions of Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty or Snow-White will not recognize some of the darker twists in these tales. For example, in Sleeping Beauty, when the Prince wakes the Princess and marries her, the story is by no means over. The Prince's mother is an Ogress, whom his father married for her wealth, and it's suspected that she likes to eat little children; that "whenever she saw little children passing by, she had all the difficulty in the world to avoid falling upon them". The happy couple have two children, named Day and Morning, and the Ogress decides to dine on them one day when the Prince is away. Yes, it still has a happy ending, but Disney it isn't.
The illustrations--8 full page, plus 130 smaller ones--are all from the original 1891 edition. They're black and white woodcuts; very atmospheric, and I think most children will like them.
The only thing that might have to be explained to a child is the occasional use of vocabulary that is no longer current. Most often this is the use of "thee" and "thou"; but a few other words will crop up. However, they're usually inferable from context, and the stories are marvellous entertainment regardless.
163 of 179 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I just ordered a number of the Andrew Lang books from Amazon. The Blue Fairy Book arrived yesterday, and I could not have been more disappointed. It came in a very plain blue hardback. I opened it up, and NOWHERE inside is Andrew Lang mentioned, nowhere are any of the illustrations, from either of the two other versions I know. The production quality -- the paper, the binding -- is poor, and the "author" is listed throughout as "Anonymous." The publisher of this book is IndyPublish.com. I don't know the deal, or how they get listed under Andrew Lang, but I recommend that if you want a real Andrew Lang book, don't buy one of the IndyPublish books.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Long stories with a bit too much violence
I'm not sure why people gave such glowing reviews for this book, the stories themselves are long and bland, with little bits of violence here and there (people tearing into... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Weeks
I love a good quality books (like this one) that are free!
Good read.All of my favorite short stories are here and a couple of new ones.It has a large selecton of short stories so it has somthing for everyone. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Aaron C. Parks
great book!! thanks a lot!!
this blue fairy book has so many wonderful, fascinating fairytales.
I really like tales and beautiful illustrations.
Great Seller. thanks a lot!!!!! Read more
I really like tales and beautiful illustrations.
Great Seller. thanks a lot!!!!! Read more
Published 14 months ago by mklee
It's good
This book is fab.
Great stories, many ORIGINAL fairytales (which are not disney- Yuck!).
Only complaint is that it was a little to long, which bored me.
Great stories, many ORIGINAL fairytales (which are not disney- Yuck!).
Only complaint is that it was a little to long, which bored me.
Published 16 months ago by Cxisbest
Kindle Version is sans pictures
It's free, so it's still a steal, but I was disappointed that the woodcuttings were not included in the Kindle version as they are in the paperback.
Published 17 months ago by Brandon Ricks
These tales are written well
Andrew Lang (1844-1912) wrote a number of books of fairy tales and differentiated each from the other by color; for example, this one is green, another is pink, and another is... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Israel Drazin
the blue fairy book
this is very interesting. When I first bought this book I didn't think this book wiuld be so good. Now I think it is absolutley fabuulous. Read more
Published 20 months ago
Only one complaint...
... it's not hardcover!
I am seriously considering having this book custom bound - maybe after we purchase the others in the collection, we'll look for a bulk binding... Read more
I am seriously considering having this book custom bound - maybe after we purchase the others in the collection, we'll look for a bulk binding... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Ben Hastings
beautiful
This was a wonderful collection. My only complaint is the last story is written as it would have been spoken, which is great if your Scottish, but being I couldn't figure it out.
Published 23 months ago by A Wolf's Angel
POD (Print on Demand) Book
This book is a mass market rip off not only does it have over one hundred extra pages because of the large font but there is no table of contents its just awful.
Published on January 25, 2010 by Mary
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