Author: Andrew Lang

Publisher: Jazzybee Verlag

Published: 2012

Total Pages: 374

ISBN-13: 3849609650

The Fairy Book Series is further enriched by the addition of this latest volume, which is quite as gorgeous as the preceding ones—though the author might well be supposed to have exhausted his supply of colors and fairy tales. Mr. Lang, after traveling the world over to collect stories, asks why the stories of the remotest people resemble each other. Fortunately, he answers the question himself. "Of course, in the immeasurable past, they have been carried about by conquering races, and learned by conquering races from vanquished peoples. Slaves carried far from home brought their stories with them into captivity. Wanderers, travelers, shipwrecked men, merchants, and wives stolen from alien tribes have diffused the stories; gipsies and Jews have peddled them about, Roman soldiers of many different races, moved here and there about the Empire, have trafficked in them. From the remotest days men have been wanderers, and wherever they went their stories accompanied them." '"The Story of the Hero Makowa" begins in the good old way, "once upon a time" and the temptation to follow the hero Is irresistible even though he seeks a deep black pool where the crocodiles lived. He makes giants shrink, and claps them into a bag which he carries easily because he Increases in size and strength with every encouuter with an enemy. Perhaps the author intends to point a moral and he certainly adorns the tale with incredible deeds of adventure. "Ian, The Soldier's Son" has a wonderful career in his search for the daughters of Grianaig. Magic transformation takes place on every page. Thus, a brown-haired youth is changed into a raven, and back again to his own self; and a beautiful maiden whom the wicked enchanter had turned Into a horse is released from the spell through the courage of the soldier's son. "The Ugly Duckling," and "The Two Caskets," are familiar titles, but the sparrows who twittered "Ashes! ashes!" are new features, as are also the talking doves in "The Enchanted Wreath." The cruel stepmother figures as usual, and her punishment is in proportion to her crime. The artist is almost as great a magician as the author, and his pictures are so bewitching that even without the colors they would hold one spell-bound. The Princess Bella-Flor,—a shimmer of beauty, silks, and gems—fills one side of the page; and the other elements of the story, from the gallant knight on a noble charger to a speckled hen such as may be seen in any farm-yard, are assembled in the remaining space. Mr. Lang realizes that children are discerning judges, and just to the point of severity; so he is very careful to punish the guilty and reward the good, and nearly every tale ends in peace and happiness. This book is fully illustrated and annotated with a rare extensive biographical sketch of the author, Andrew Lang, written by Sir Edmund Gosse, CB, a contemporary poet and writer.