The Orange Fairy Book (ePub)

Andrew Lang (1844-1912) was a prolific Scottish writer and polymath who made significant contributions in various fields, including anthropology, mythology, poetry, and literary criticism. With a deep interest in folklore and fairy tales, Lang is best known for his 'Coloured' Fairy Books series, a twelve-volume collection of fairy tales from around the world, which he edited and to a lesser degree contributed to. 'The Orange Fairy Book' (1906), a part of this series, is one of his notable works, continuing Lang's tradition of compiling enchanting folk and fairy tales from diverse cultural traditions. A master of the folktale genre, Lang's editorial craft integrated a scholarly respect for the folk tradition with an understanding of the narratives' significance as entertainment. Lang's fairy tale books have cemented his reputation as a central figure for those interested in the literature of myth and the study of folklore. Besides his fairy tale collections, Lang was also an accomplished historian and a pioneer in the field of 'Psychical Research.' His literary style often incorporated a fusion of erudition with the fantastic, appealing to both young and mature readers. He was a contemporary of the literary giant figures of his time, such as Robert Louis Stevenson, with whom he maintained a correspondence. Lang's legacy is one of a foundational contributor to the literary form of the fairy tale, and his works continue to be read and appreciated for their richness, imagination, and scholarly significance.