Andrew Lang (1844 – 1912) was a Scottish historian, poet, novelist, and literary critic.

He is best known as one of the most important collectors of folk and fairy tales. The twelve fairy tale books he edited contain stories from around the world, collected from various sources, and translated mainly by his wife and other enthusiasts. The Green Fairy Book was the third in the series and was first published in 1892 with Lang stating that it would “probably be the last in the collection”. This is the Superb Folio Society edition with an introduction by Joan Aitken.

The book assembled a wide range of tales, with seven from the Brothers Grimm, five from Madame d’Aulnoy, three from the Arabian Nights, and four Norse stories, among other sources. This book contains; The Bronze Ring; Prince Hyacinth and the Dear Little Princess; East of the Sun and West of the Moon; The Yellow Dwarf; Little Red Riding Hood; The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood; Cinderella or the Little Glass Slipper; Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp; The Tale of a Youth Who Set Out to Learn What Fear Was; Rumpelstiltskin; Beauty and the Beast; The Master Maid; Why the Sea Is Salt; The Master Cat or Puss in Boots; Felicia and the Pot of Pinks; The White Cat; The Water-lily. The Gold-spinners; The Terrible Head; The Story of Pretty Goldilocks; The History of Whittington; The Wonderful Sheep; Little Thumb; The Forty Thieves; Hansel and Gretel; Snow-White and Rose-Red; The Goose-girl; Toads and Diamonds; Prince Darling; Blue Beard; Trusty John; The Brave Little Tailor; A Voyage to Lilliput; The Princess on the Glass Hill; The Story of Prince Ahmed and the Fairy Paribanou; The History of Jack the Giant-killer; The Black Bull of Norroway; The Red Etin.

‘Once upon a time…’ For readers everywhere, these familiar words hold the promise of transport to a land full of marvels and magic, a world of enchanted forests and cobwebbed castles, of giants, witches, kidnapped princesses and caskets brimming with precious gems; a world of startling contrasts, where fate can deal a cruel blow yet wishes can also come true. Andrew Lang’s Rainbow Fairy Books remain the greatest collection of such tales in the English language, celebrated for their breadth, variety, and clear, lively prose.