Andrew Lang
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The Prince and the Dragon by Andrew Lang is a classic fairy tale filled with adventure, bravery, and mythical creatures. In this timeless story, a courageous young prince sets out on a daring quest to defeat a fearsome dragon that has been terrorizing a kingdom. Armed with his wits, a gleaming sword, and an unbreakable spirit, the prince faces magical challenges, dangerous foes, and the ultimate test of heroism. Will he be able to slay the dragon...
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The Arabian Nights is the title which encompasses all of the Persian, Arabian and Indian folk tales which have made their way into western culture over hundreds of years. This collection was edited by Andrew Lang, and his selections were made with the purpose of making the tales more suitable and interesting to a general audience.
11) The Witch
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A widowed peasant man was left to raise his two twin children, a boy and a girl. He tried his best but nothing seemed to go right without a woman's touch. And so, he remarried and had more children but things were still not right - the stepmother was very mean to the twins, beating and starving them. This wasn't enough for the wicked stepmother and she decided to send them off into the woods where an evil witch lived. She tells the twins they are...
12) Hazelnut Child
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There was an old couple who were not able to have children and so they constantly prayed to be blessed with one -- even one the size of a hazelnut. And that is exactly what they were given -- a child the size of a hazelnut who never grew! When he reached the age of 15, his mother asked him what he planned on doing with his life, as he was so small but clever. He replied that he wanted to be a messenger, a thing which made his mother laugh because...
13) The Six Swans
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A king who was a fantastic hunter one day got himself lost in the forest. Unable to find his way back home, an old woman appeared and said she would help him get home, provided that he married her daughter. Although her daughter was beautiful and the king agreed, he did not trust his new wife. And so he hid away in a palace in the woods his seven children, six sons and a daughter, from his previous wife. The new queen began to suspect something was...
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A young princess, Fairer-than-a-Fairy, is kidnapped by a jealous, mean, old fairy named Lagree, who locks her away because none of the fairies can stand to have a mortal girl said to be more beautiful than them. Lagree locks her away in a palace, with her dog and cat, and tells her to tend to a fire and to never let it burn out. In her solitude, she one day meets a prince whom Lagree has captured and changed into the form of a rainbow that she discovers...
15) Magic Ring
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There lived an older couple with one son, Martin. When the husband died, he left behind only a small amount of money for his wife and Martin. Finding themselves without food, the wife, although she had wanted to keep the money for a rainy day, sent Martin into town with half of their money to buy grain for a year. When he walked into town, he found a dog that had been tied up and was being beaten for eating a pig of the butcher. Martin, unable to...
16) The White Duck
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Shortly after the queen and her new husband are married, he is forced to leave to fight in a war. He advises her that she must always remain inside and never to trust any visiting women. She listens at first, but when an old woman appears at her window and entices her to sit in her garden, she gives in and goes outside. The old woman is actually an evil witch who quickly tricks the queen and turns her into a white duck, then taking the form of the...
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Joan of Arcs tale is one of faith, courage, and destiny. In The Story of Joan of Arc, Andrew Lang recounts the extraordinary life of the young peasant girl who, guided by divine visions, led the French army to victory during the Hundred Years War. From her humble beginnings in Domrmy to her triumphant leadership in battle, and ultimately, her tragic trial and martyrdom, Joans story remains one of the most compelling in history.
Blending historical...
18) The Snake Prince
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A lovely Indian fairytale from Andrew Lang's Olive Fairy Book.
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...
19) The Wizard King
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After losing his beloved wife, a king, who was also a wizard, sets off on a voyage to foreign lands, as he can't stand to be reminded of his lost wife. Using his wizardry, he sets his sights on a princess who he locks up in a tower, hoping she will one day give in and marry him. He then finds out that the princess may have set her sights on his own son and sends his son away. His son travels to the kingdom that the captured princess had come from...
20) The Nixy
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The miller had always led a very prosperous life, but one day found himself down on his luck and without any money. While he is fretting, a nixy (a siren-like being) emerges from the mill-pond and strikes a deal with him. He can become prosperous once more, but he must give to her the youngest thing in his house. He agrees, thinking it will be a puppy or a kitten, but soon discovers his wife has just given birth to a son. Greatly despaired, he tells...