Showing results for "Andrew Lang" in Classics

Full of mischief, valor, ribaldry, and romance, The Arabian Nights has enthralled readers for centuries. These are the tales that saved the life of Scheherazade, whose husband, the king, executed each of his wives after a single night of marriage. Beginning an enchanting story each evening, Scheherazade always withheld the ending: A thousand and one nights later, her life was spared forever.

Andrew Lang (1844 - 1912) was a Scottish poet, novelist, and literary critic. His 12 collections of fairy tales are known as Andrew Lang's Coloured Fairy Books or Andrew Lang's Fairy Books of Many Colors. The third in the series, the Green Fairy Book, contains tales from around the world, from Grimm (“The White Snake” and “Spindle, Shuttle, and Needle”), France de Caylus, Fenelon, Kletke, and D'Aulnoy. The stories include "The Crystal Coffin", "The Three Snake-Leaves", "The Riddle", "Jack My Hedgehog", "The Golden Lads", and many more.

The vengeful King Schahriar agrees to stave off the execution of Queen Scheherazade until she finishes a particularly compelling story. Her plan? Bleed one tale into another. Through fanciful histories, romances, tragedies, comedies, poems, riddles, and songs, Scheherazade prolongs her life by holding the king’s rapt attention. With origins in Persian and Eastern Indian folklore, the stories of The Arabian Nights have been reworked, reshaped, revised, collected, and supplemented throughout the centuries by various authors and scholars.

It is almost impossible to envision what childhood would be like without the enchanting world of fairyland. Three-headed trolls, horses that carry their masters up mountains of glass, giants and dwarfs, monsters and magicians, fairies and ogres - these are the companions who will thrill young boys and girls of all lands and all times, as Andrew Lang's phenomenally successful collections of stories have proved.

The third novel in the Waverley series, and Scott's personal favorite, The Antiquary centers on a young man called Lovel who meets Jonathan Oldbuck, a loquacious old antiquary, on a trip to Scotland. There Lovel falls in love with the daughter of Sir Arthur Wardour, a local landowner. However, with no wealth or title to offer, Lovel's feelings go unrequited until an extraordinary act of courage.

The historian, scholar, and anthropologist, Andrew Lang, began publishing collections of fairy tales from around the globe in the late 19th century. His status as one of England's foremost folklorists and his superb literary abilities make his collections unique in the English language. The Grey Fairy Book contains more than 30 stories from Africa, Germany, Greece, France and Lithuania. The overlap in the theme, plot and characters of narratives from across the world is remarkable.

Tales of Troy and Greece by classicist and gifted storyteller Andrew Lang is an ideal introduction to the The Iliad and The Odyssey, recounting the Homeric legend of the wars between the Greeks and the Trojans. Paris, Achilles, the lovely Helen of Troy, Penelope, Hector, Ulysses, the Amazons, and the Wooden Horse all feature in this evocative introduction to one of the greatest legends ever told.

This condensed version of the King Arthur narrative was compiled by folklorist Andrew Lang from traditional sources and features all the familiar iconography: the sword in the stone, Excalibur, the Round Table, Camelot, Merlin, knights and chivalry, and the quest for the Holy Grail.

The stories collected in the twelve volumes of Andrew Lang's Fairy Books of Many Colors have captivated generations of readers. In The Blue Fairy Book, the first in his legendary series, Lang compiled and edited tales from the Brothers Grimm, Madame d’Aulnoy, and French, Scandinavian, and Middle Eastern sources. He captured the folkloric traditions and dark origins of dozens of the world's best-known fairy-tale characters, including Sleeping Beauty, Little Red Riding Hood, Snow-White, Cinderella, and Rumpelstiltskin.

In The Story of Sigurd, master storyteller Andrew Lang retells one of the most powerful and haunting legends of Norse mythology. From the blood-soaked battlefields of fallen kings to the treasure hoards guarded by monstrous dragons, Sigurd’s journey is one of valor, betrayal, enchanted love, and tragic fate. Guided by the wisdom of birds and wielding the reforged blade of his father, Sigurd slays the fearsome dragon Fafnir and becomes a legendary Dragonslayer.

A tale of bravery, betrayal, and true love, The Golden Mermaid follows the youngest son of a powerful king as he sets out to uncover the thief of his father's golden apples. Mocked as the “foolish” son, he wins the help of a magical wolf and embarks on a journey across kingdoms, facing enchanted birds, golden horses, and a mysterious mermaid who may hold the key to his destiny. Through acts of kindness and courage, he overcomes deadly trials, betrayal by his own brothers, and even death itself in a richly woven fairy tale filled with magic, romance, and redemption.

A timeless legend of chivalry, magic, and destiny, The Tale of King Arthur and the Round Table weaves together the epic adventures of King Arthur, his noble knights, and the mystical powers that shaped their world. From the sword in the stone to the founding of Camelot, the formation of the Round Table, and the quest for the Holy Grail, this collection of Arthurian tales explores the values of honor, loyalty, and sacrifice.

An old woman, impoverished and hungry, sets out for the river to fish and wash herself. After coming out of the river, she discovers a venomous snake in her cooking pot. Hoping for an end to her misery, she takes it home, allowing it to bite her. However, when she opens the pot, instead of a snake, she finds a valuable necklace. She sells this necklace to the king, who places it in a chest. Shortly after, when the king opens the chest to show the queen, he is surprised to find a baby boy inside.

Andrew Lang (1844 - 1912) was a British poet, novelist, literary critic, and collector of folk and fairy tales. In this essay, he investigates the mystery of the man in the iron mask of Alexander Dumas' novel. Lang traces the progress of the romantic legend, as it blossomed after the death of the man whose mask was not of iron, but of black velvet. The legend struck root and flowered, from the moment when the poor valet, Martin (“Eustache Dauger”), was immured in the French fortress of Pignerol.

Step into the world of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, one of the most thrilling and enduring tales from The Arabian Nights, retold by Andrew Lang. This legendary story follows Ali Baba, a humble woodcutter, who stumbles upon a secret cave filled with unimaginable riches, hidden by a band of ruthless thieves. As he uncovers the magical words—“Open, Sesame!”—that grant access to the treasure, Ali Baba’s life is forever changed. But with fortune comes peril, as the forty thieves seek vengeance, leading to a battle of wits, deception, and daring escapes.

Grasp All, Lose All tells the story of a poor oil-seller in India named Dena, who is in debt to a banker for three hundred rupees. This banker persists in harassing Dena and his wife so much that Dena decides to run away, not knowing where he will go. He climbs a tree to sleep and wakes up the next morning not in the forest in which he went to sleep but on a deserted beach.

An entertaining retelling of this classic folk tale from Arabian Nights.

A collection of English fairy tales taking you into a magical world of wit and mystery. Learn about Simpleton and how he succeeded in a tough situation where his older brother failed. Find out how one little piglet outwitted the streetwise old, grey wolf. A crafty cat, Puss, saves the life of his master and befriends the mighty Marquis Carabas. The collection includes some of the most memorable tales, such as 'The Golden Goose', 'The Three Little Pigs', 'Puss in Boots', 'The Three Bears', and 'Tom Thumb'.