Showing results by author "Andrew Lang" in All Categories

Helen of Troy has been the inspiration for writers for centuries. According to the myth, her beauty was the cause of the Trojan War that would rage on for 10 long years, a war that brought death and suffering to thousands. Because of the universal appeal of the story of Helen of Troy, differing versions of the tale can be found throughout history. From the ancient poet Homer to the dramatist Euripides, from classical academic scholars to Stephen Fry to Hollywood, Helen seems to continue to intrigue us all.

'The Donkey Skin' is a strange fairy tale of a princess who escapes an unwanted marriage by running away from the palace dressed in a donkey skin, to a hard life of poverty as a hen-wife. When a young prince happens to catch a glimpse of her without her donkey skin, he falls in love with her. But how is he to find the beautiful maiden again?

A village was being plagued by a witch in the form of a hawk and three brothers tried to stop her. The older two failed, but the youngest was able to shoot down the hawk and he found a strange abyss where the hawk was shot down. With the help of his brothers, he descends into the abyss and finds a palace full of beautiful princesses and boundless treasure. He discovers that the witch is their mother and she must be killed in order for the princesses to be freed from the underground prison they are being held in.

Fairies play a large role in the lives of Prince Saphir and Serpentine and their families. The fairies place magical mirrors in the rooms of both the young boy and the young girl, enchanted so that each youth gazes upon the other. Saphir discovers a little frog that leads him on a series of adventures that eventually lead to a happy ending once he has proved himself honest and worthy.

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.

This is a story from the Tales from the Arabian Nights collection.

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 Two Frogs' is the story of two amphibians who live in different cities in Japan. Each desires to see the world, so each sets out on a journey towards the other's home city. When they meet at the top of a mountain, the two frogs make friends and devise a plan to work out whether their journey is worthwhile - with unintended consequences.

On 28 May, 1828, a boy of around 16 appeared in the Bavarian city of Nuremburg holding a letter in his hand. The lad was unable to speak, apart from three odd phrases which he repeated parrot-like, one of which was: "Want to be a soldier, as father was." The letter, addressed to the captain of the local infantry regiment, told a bizarre story. It appeared that the boy had been kept shut up in isolation in the dark for his entire life, had never learned to speak and knew nothing of the world.

A poor miller with a beautiful daughter had an audience with the king. In order to appear important, the miller told the king that he had a daughter who could spin straw into gold. The king was impressed by this talent and asked for the girl to come to him. When the girl was brought to him he led her into a room full of straw, gave her a spinning wheel and spindle, and told her that if all the straw was not spun into gold by morning, she will die....

The blue fairy book is one of the most famous collections of fairy tales of all time. Andrew Lang, prolific writer and collector of folk tales, published it at the end of the 19th century. It contains fairy tales from all over the world, including: The bronze ring, East of the sun and west of the moon, Aladdin and the wonderful lamp, The white cat, Beauty and the beast, Ali Baba and the forty thieves, The history of Whittington, Gulliver's voyage to Lilliput, Jack the giant-killer, and many more! Also included: a pdf document with complete track list.

Turn your bedtime routine into a magical adventure with this collection of calming fairy tales that will have your children and whole family drifting off to the deepest, calming sleep they have ever have! With "Bedtime Fairy Tale Collection for Kids" you are not only just hitting play, you are unleashing 25 classic fairy tales which have been passed down for generations, unleashing adventures that will make dreams come alive.

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 and restore peace, or will the beast’s power prove too great?

Make bedtime the best part of the day with this delightful collection of 25 five-minute stories, specially written to help children wind down, relax, and fall asleep with a smile. Each story in 5 Minute Bedtime Stories for Children is the perfect length for busy evenings, gentle enough to calm little minds, and packed with heartwarming characters, magical moments, and comforting themes. Whether it's one story or a few, this collection makes bedtime easy, enjoyable, and full of imagination.

This is a story from the Tales from the Arabian Nights collection.

To save herself from certain death, the beautiful Scheherazade must beguile a Persian sultan with her enchanting stories. In two of her most well-known tales, Aladdin's and Ali Baba's cleverness and quick-thinking save the day - and a great treasure. Andrew Lang's masterful version of these ancient Middle Eastern folk tales will captivate listeners of all ages, just as they did when Scherazade was the storyteller.

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 of his size. He proved her wrong though and showed that he could use his size as an advantage.

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 amiss, so she bribed the servants to reveal the truth to her.

Robert O'Hara Burke (1821-1861) was one of the great Victorian explorers. In 1860 he was appointed to lead the Victorian Exploring Expedition, which aimed to cross the Australian continent from south to north. The expedition left Melbourne on Monday, 20 August 1860 with a total of 19 men, 27 (rum fuelled) camels, and 23 horses. The expedition was dogged by disputes and poor leadership decisions from the start. Even at the first staging post the second in command and the medical officer resigned.

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