The Andrew Lang Library

In which an enchantress dwells in a solitary castle amidst a vast forest, ensnaring maidens by transforming them into birds confined in countless cages, and a devoted pair of young lovers wander unwittingly into her perilous domain. The tale unfolds with the steadfast youth’s quest to break the spell, aided by a wondrous flower possessing the power to restore those lost to the enchantress’s dark magic.

In which a gentle-hearted girl, scorned by her peculiar family for having two ordinary eyes, discovers a magical table that appears at her bidding and provides her sustenance. With the help of this wonder and a mysterious heart-planted tree, she finds prosperity and kindness amidst envy and hardship.

In which a princess, compelled by a condition set by her late mother and father, dons a remarkable cloak of many furs and hides her radiant beauty to escape an unwanted fate, finding refuge and menial work in a stranger’s palace. Through secret appearances at royal feasts in splendid dresses of sun, moon, and stars, she captivates the king’s heart, revealing her true self in due course and winning a happy conclusion.

In which a gallant Prince rescues a bewildered gazelle and journeys slowly yet determinedly to a mysterious Green Castle, where secrets of enchantment and transformation unfold. The tale gently explores the virtues of patience and love through the trials of two cousins, whose affection brings about unexpected joy and harmonious rule.

In which three bears live harmoniously in their snug woodland home, each with their own porridge, chair, and bed perfectly suited to their size. An unwelcome visitor enters their house uninvited, disturbing their belongings and provoking the bears to discover the intruder in a most surprising fashion.

In which a restless Prince Vivien abandons his kingdom in search of adventure and encounters a peculiar old woman named Patience, whose slow and measured ways test his impulsive nature, and after a mysterious and trying sojourn at a sombre castle, he finds himself embarked on a strange voyage aboard a ship of white paper. Meanwhile, the tranquil Princess Placida, already marked by indolence, faces new demands that trouble her gentle spirit, casting a shadow upon the realm they are meant to inherit.

In which a young prince, tasked by his ageing father with three seemingly impossible challenges, finds unexpected aid from a singularly peculiar toad named Puddocky. This curious ally leads him through trials woven with enchantment and wit, revealing beauty and worth in places least anticipated.

In which a seemingly industrious man named Hok Lee conceals a secret life of nightly thievery, leading to a mysterious and afflicting swelling that baffles both him and his neighbours. Seeking relief from a travelling doctor’s advice, he ventures to a moonlit wood where he must dance before a band of dwarfs whose approval holds the key to his cure.

In which a gentle and faithful maiden named Helena endures the cruelty of a harsh stepmother and receives the aid of a kind Fairy to accomplish impossible tasks, leading to her rightful happiness in a splendid castle. Thereafter, the tale takes a tender turn as Helena's love, Prince Fickle, tests the fidelity of his heart through a series of enchanting encounters before their joyful reunion beneath the lime-tree.

In which a shrewd old man named Simon, having been tricked by three rascals into losing a mule, devises a clever plan to outwit the same knaves using goats and a cunning ruse involving a blood-filled bladder. The tale unfolds with amusing reversals and a touch of justice served to those who seek to deceive.

In which King Kojata, troubled by a mysterious promise made at a well, faces the return of his son Prince Milan who embarks on a perilous adventure into the underworld, aided by the enchanting Hyacinthia, the daughter of a mighty magician. Their trials and transformations illustrate themes of loyalty and cleverness, woven through with the magic and wonder characteristic of this old fairy tale.

In which a longing mother dotes upon a remarkable serpent who seeks to wed a princess, prompting the king to set impossible tasks that are miraculously fulfilled, revealing wonders beyond the ordinary. The tale then follows the princess’s brave quest, aided by a cunning fox, to restore her enchanted beloved, weaving a delicate thread of love, enchantment, and perseverance.

In which a King tests the love of his two daughters, only to misunderstand the younger’s sincere and humble comparison of her affection. Disguised as a dirty shepherdess, she endures hardship and learns the value of patience and true devotion, leading to unexpected recognition and reconciliation.

In which a gentle and timorous young man, ill-used by his elder brothers, sets forth upon the wide world guided by the kind counsel of a mysterious old woman, and gains possession of a magical swan with an enchanting and mischievous power. Through a series of whimsical encounters, he draws a curious procession and the laughter of a grave princess, thus altering his fortune forever in a manner both unexpected and delightful.

In which a brave little soldier returns home from war and encounters a mysterious serpent-woman princess trapped by enchantments, embarking on a perilous quest to free her and win her hand. Along the way, he discovers magical fruits, deceits, and the true meaning of happiness beyond wealth and royal favour.

In which a young man discovers a magical snuff-box that grants his every wish and sets him upon a wondrous journey involving kings, lost treasures, and celestial beings such as the moon, sun, and wind. Therein he must summon courage and cunning to reclaim what has been stolen from him and restore his happiness.

In which a young man, grievously wronged by his elder brother and father, is gifted a magical ring by a fairy that grants invisibility and the power of disguise, enabling him to win favour at Court and bring about justice through courage and wisdom. Yet warned of the perils of deceit and ambition, he seeks to restore honour and peace to his family, mindful of the heavy burden that power may bring.

In which a devoted youngest son sets forth on a perilous quest to find the fabled Golden Blackbird that alone can heal his ailing father, encountering enchanting creatures and cunning tests along the way. Through steadfast courage and the aid of a little hare, he perseveres where his brothers falter, leading to unexpected discoveries and trials that reveal true loyalty and bravery.

In which a foolish King and Queen unwittingly offend a mysterious Fairy at their son’s christening, leading to the child’s peculiar upbringing under the care of the benevolent Fairy Genesta. Prince Mannikin, small in stature but great in spirit, embarks upon a perilous quest that leads him to strange lands inhabited by wondrous creatures and enchanted misfortunes.

In which Prince Mannikin, despite his diminutive stature and modest retinue, embarks on a perilous quest to win the hand of Princess Sabella, whose heart has been stolen and hidden away in a remote, icy mountain by a spiteful fairy. Through encounters with magical guides, courtly rivals, and daunting challenges, he strives to prove that true worth lies beyond appearance and name, all against a backdrop of enchanted kingdoms and earnest endeavour.

In which the brave Prince Mannikin faces the insults and threats of a haughty ambassador, earning esteem in war while enduring the cold indifference of Princess Sabella, whose heart lies frozen atop a mighty Ice Mountain. With the aid of faithful spaniels and the kind Fairy Genesta, he undertakes a perilous journey to retrieve her heart, leading to astonishing transformations and the joyful uniting of kingdoms in a grand fairy ball.

In which a mother pig, mindful of her advancing years, endeavours to build suitable homes for her three very different children to shield them from the wiles of a cunning fox. The tale unfolds with the pigs’ contrasting choices of shelter and the inevitable test of their wisdom and courage against the sly intruder.

In which a kind-hearted King and Queen, having lost everything through their generosity, find refuge in a fairy-protected valley where enchantments and lessons in humility shape the lives of their son, Prince Featherhead, and the spirited Princess Celandine. The tale gently unfolds their encounters and transformations, weaving themes of vanity, love, and the true nature of happiness amidst the whims of magic and human folly.

In which a young prince, gifted with an invisibility ring and guided by a kind fairy, discovers the hidden Princess Potentilla, whose beauty and gentle nature belie the cruel tales spread by her jealous mother. Amidst enchanting entertainments and enchanted rivals, the tale unfolds with grace and gentle courage, painting a world where love and magic intertwine beneath the watchful eye of fairy guardians.

In which a delicate contest between two fairies sets the stage for a tale replete with enchantment, as a royal babe named Rosanella mysteriously vanishes and twelve bewitching maidens emerge to console a grieving queen. Amidst courts adorned with charm and trials of constancy, the interweaving fates of princes and princesses unfold beneath the watchful eyes of their fairy patrons.

In which Princess Sylvia, under the Flower Fairy’s gentle guidance, visits various princesses who have received different enchanting gifts, each revealing the hidden burdens and limits of their bestowed graces. After thoughtful reflection upon the trials of beauty, eloquence, charm, and wit, Sylvia chooses a gift of quiet spirit, embracing a serene contentment that brings joy both to herself and to those around her.

In which two children of a quarrelling village family grow up inseparable and beloved by the Fairy of the Meadows, who promises to keep them together so long as they tend her favourite fountain each morning. Their devotion is tested by unforeseen trials, and after a long journey, they find comfort in the fairy’s care and a humble but happy home where a tale of fortune and misfortune is told to illuminate the virtues of contentment and faithfulness.

In which a most extraordinary little chick, quite unlike his brothers and sisters in form and spirit, resolves to leave his humble farmyard for the great city of Madrid despite his mother’s counsel. Along his journey, his refusal to aid others in need brings him a singular and memorable fate that lingers above the city to this day.

In which a simple young man named Jenik is granted leave to travel by his wealthy father and, through a chance act of kindness, comes into possession of an enchanted watch with wondrous powers. As Jenik returns home and uses the watch to transform his fortunes and surroundings, he encounters both joy and tribulation, accompanied faithfully by a dog and a cat he once saved.

In which Caliph Chasid of Bagdad acquires a mysterious powder promising transformation into any creature, and in his curiosity, he and his Grand Vizier venture forth to test this wondrous magic among the storks by the pond. Their adventures lead them to unexpected companionship and a peculiar enchantment that entwines their fates with that of a sorrowful screech owl residing in ancient ruins.

In which a noble Princess, imprisoned and adorned with dazzling jewels, maintains secret communion with a mysterious Blue Bird despite the jealous machinations of a spiteful Queen. The Princess embarks upon a perilous journey aided by enchanted gifts, leading to a marvelous reunion and the triumph of love over enchantment and deceit.

In which the reader is courteously introduced to the Green Fairy Book, the final volume in a charming trilogy that gathers timeless tales from various lands and ages, treasured for their age-old magic and gentle lessons. The preface reflects on the enduring appeal of fairy tales through generations, their capacity to enchant and instruct, and offers a glimpse of the splendid stories contained within.

In which a grieving King, newly remarried to a sorrowful Queen with a difficult daughter, becomes enamoured with his own radiant daughter Fiordelisa rather than the Queen’s unfavoured child, leading to a chain of jealousies and deceptions. Through enchantments and trials, a transformed King in the guise of a Blue Bird and the imprisoned Princess sustain their tender affection amidst the intrigues of the court and the caprices of fairy power.

In which vividly wrought verses lead us through the misty glens of Yarrow, where the haunting beauty of the river and its surrounding landscapes stir the imagination and memory with tender melancholy. We then encounter haunting tales and dirges steeped in folklore, setting a somber tone through spectral fishers, tragic figures, and stirring odes that evoke ancient passion and prophecy.

In which the somber tale of the Baron of Smaylho’me unfolds, weaving a spectral encounter and veiled secrets beneath the watchful beacon’s flame on the eve of St. John. Interspersed with rural musings and stirring ballads, this episode gently carries us through the poignant echoes of love, battle, and elegy that lend their voice to the Scottish Border’s rich tapestry.

In which the solemn stillness of a country churchyard evokes the dignity of humble lives and the inevitable peace of death, inspiring reflections on unrecognised greatness and the gentle solace found in memory’s keeping. There follows a vivid narrative of a moonlit meeting between the kind-hearted lady Christabel and the mysterious Geraldine, whose uneasy presence and haunting tale set an intriguingly spectral mood within the quiet castle night.

In which the stirring valor of King Henry of Navarre at Ivry is celebrated with loyal fervour, followed by a haunting maritime ballad of Sir Patrick Spens that contemplates the perilous summons of duty. A sequence of vivid and intimate poems then unfolds, from the ethereal enchantment of Keats’s fairy lady to Wordsworth’s gentle observation of a kitten’s play and Bunyan’s steadfast pilgrim, closing with meditations on solitude and the human spirit as echoed in Cowper’s reflective verses.

In which an ancient mariner, met en route to a wedding feast, captivates a wedding-guest with a haunting tale of a sea voyage beset by icy mists, a mysterious albatross, and eerie supernatural happenings that unfold far from land. Through vivid and somber verses, the mariner recounts his lonely wanderings and supernatural penance upon the wide, wide sea, imparting a solemn message about the love and respect owed to all creatures great and small.

In which the gentle art of poetry is displayed through a varied collection of verses that range from the tender and lyrical to the solemn and haunting, celebrating nature, love, and the echoes of history. These poems, by diverse hands, invite the reader to drift amid reflections on beauty, sorrow, battle, and the passage of time, all under a softly woven canopy of language and sentiment.

In which we are led through a tapestry of poetic visions—from the melancholic decline of a once-glorious palace haunted by spectral echoes, to the fierce cries of a bard weaving woes and vengeful fate upon the loom of history, and the somber finality of humanity's solitary witness to the world's twilight. Interspersed with stirring ballads of loyalty and daring escapades across borderlands, the verses offer a delicate blend of solemn reflection and ardent spirit, evoking times both heroic and mournful.

In which gentle musings unfold in a tapestry of poetry, from the tender blush of a garden’s fruit to the solemn and stirring reflections on love, memory, and fate, all touched by the soft light of evening and the whisper of the sea. Herein, voices both ancient and new conjure scenes of nature, war, and the human heart’s quiet yearnings, presenting a chorus of song and sentiment that reverberates through the very fabric of time.

In which the solemn mood of Milton’s *Il Penseroso* summons a reverent darkness where contemplation and melancholy hold sway, inviting the reader to wander amid shadowy groves and the quiet mysteries of night, whilst the pastoral and heroic verses that follow evoke tender human passions and valiant deeds. These poems, ranging from the gentle grace of lovers to the stirring courage of Mary Ambree, are interwoven with the evocative beauties of nature and the rich traditions of English song and legend.

In which bold Allen-a-Dale, though without lands or title, commands respect and romance with an indomitable spirit, while spectral armies and mighty music reveal hidden depths of human emotion and imagination. Various poetic visions, from pastoral love to enchanted domes and joyful mirth, invite the reader into realms both melancholic and merry, where nature, myth, and melody intertwine with timeless grace.

In which tender verses celebrate the steadfast loyalty and affectionate vigour of a dog who watches faithfully beside a sickbed, while rustic ballads and stirring songs evoke the wild greenwood, the pangs of love and loss, and the heroic calls of Scottish history. The collection gently carries the reader through a sequence of heartfelt emotions, from wistful farewells and sweet melodies to the solemn pride of patriotism and the soothing power of music.

In which voices from the past and spirit-haunted places mingle in song and verse, telling tales of love, loss, and spectral visitations that hover between the mortal world and the uncanny. These poems and ballads evoke a time when the borderlands whispered of sorrow and valor, and the quiet valleys and hillocks bore witness to both tender farewell and haunting unrest.

In which a variety of poems unfold, ranging from wistful laments and tender loves to stirring calls to arms and contemplations on nature’s fleeting beauty, each suffused with a gentle melancholy or noble intent. Among these verses, the voices of ancient corbies, warlike clans, solitary reapers, and timeless lovers murmur softly, inviting reflection on life’s transience and the heart’s enduring passions.

In which we are gently invited into a variety of pastoral and stirring scenes, from the joyous echo of children's laughter upon the green to the solemn reflection on nature and innocence encapsulated in tender laments and lively ballads. The verses, rich with imagery of moorlands, midnight angels, and the spirited chase, entwine the innocence of childhood with wartime courage and the delicate beauty of the natural world, all rendered with a softly observant and timeless grace.

In which the editor gently unfolds the purpose and spirit of a carefully chosen collection of poems, reflecting on the rich predominance of Northern ballads and the youthful delight in verse that evokes adventure, beauty, and the unfathomable world of childhood imagination. He muses on the delicate balance between simplicity and depth in poetry for the young, urging a tender respect for their capacity to appreciate the unknown and the music of language, while cautioning against the sterility of over-explanation that might choke the natural love of verse.

In which the stirring and sometimes whimsical verses recount tales of soldiers' dreams, gallant adventures, solemn battles, and the simple, honest lives of village folk, evoking scenes both heroic and tender. These poems paint a vivid landscape of human experience that ranges from the thunder of naval warfare to the quiet loyalty of a faithful dog beside a gentle river.

In which the valiant Sigurd, heir to a broken sword and a legacy of ancient grudges, sets forth on a perilous quest to confront a fearsome dragon and unearth a treasure steeped in dark curses. Along the way, he encounters enchanted maidens and tangled vows, revealing a world where love and loyalty are tested by magic and fate.