The Crimson Fairy Book

The Crimson Fairy Book

By Various

Edited by Andrew Lang

Each Fairy Book demands a preface from the Editor, and these introductions are inevitably both monotonous and unavailing. A sense of literary honesty compels the Editor to keep repeating that he is the Editor, and not the author of the Fairy Tales, just as a distinguished man of science is only the Editor, not the Author of Nature. Like nature, popular tales are too vast to be the creation of a single modern mind. The Editor's business is to hunt for collections of these stories told by peasant or savage grandmothers in many climes, from New Caledonia to Zululand; from the frozen snows of the Polar regions to Greece, or Spain, or Italy, or far Lochaber. When the tales are found they are adapted to the needs of British children by various hands, the Editor doing little beyond guarding the interests of propriety, and toning down to mild reproofs the tortures inflicted on wicked stepmothers, and other naughty characters.

CONTENTS

Preface

• Lovely Ilonka
• Lucky Luck
• The Hairy Man
• To Your Good Health!
• The Story of the Seven Simons
• The Language of Beasts
• The Boy Who Could Keep A Secret
• The Prince And The Dragon
• Little Wildrose
• Tiidu The Piper
• Paperarelloo
• The Gifts Of The Magician
• The Strong Prince
• The Treasure Seeker
• The Cottager And His Cat
• The Prince Who Would Seek Immortality
• The Stone-Cutter
• The Gold-Bearded Man
• Tritill, Litill, And The Birds
• The Three Robes
• The Six Hungry Beasts
• How The Beggar Boy Turned Into Count Piro
• The Rogue And The Herdsman
• Eisenkopf
• The Death Of Abu Nowas And Of His Wife
• Motiratika
• Niels And The Giants
• Shepherd Paul
• How The Wicked Tanuki Was Punished
• The Crab And The Monkey
• The Horse Gullfaxi And The Sword Gunnfoder
• The Story Of The Sham Prince, Or The Ambitious Tailor
• The Colony Of Cats
• How To Find Out A True Friend
• Clever Maria
• The Magic Kettle