
The Olive Fairy Book (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. 29 Fairy Stories, Epic Tales & LegendsBy Andrew LangLength10h 38m
About this audiobook
The Olive Fairy Book, first published in 1907, is one of Andrew Lang's celebrated "coloured" fairy-tale collections, gathering stories from a wide range of oral and literary traditions, including European, Turkish, Indian, and African sources. Its tales of enchanted animals, perilous quests, clever heroines, and uncanny transformations are rendered in Lang's lucid, elegant prose, a style that preserves the directness of folklore while adapting it for Edwardian young readers. Positioned within the late Victorian and early twentieth-century revival of comparative folklore, the volume reflects both literary charm and ethnographic curiosity. Andrew Lang was a Scottish poet, critic, classicist, anthropologist, and tireless popularizer of myth and legend. Although many stories in the series were translated and adapted with the assistance of his wife, Leonora Blanche Alleyne Lang, his editorial vision shaped the books' distinctive range and tone. His scholarly interests in Homer, mythology, and primitive belief help explain his attraction to narratives that reveal recurring patterns of wonder across cultures. This collection is recommended to readers seeking more than nursery entertainment: it offers a historically important window into global storytelling as understood by Lang's age. The Olive Fairy Book will reward lovers of folklore, children's literature, and comparative myth with its variety, grace, and enduring imaginative power.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
Audiobook details
GenreChildren's Literature
Length10 hrs 38 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateJun 10, 2020
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1The Holy Night & Other Christmas Stories by Selma Lagerlöf (Annotated)
20The Golden-Headed Fish
2Introduction
21Dorani
3Historical Context
22The Satin Surgeon
4Synopsis (Selection)
23The Billy Goat and the King
5Preface
24The Story of Zoulvisia
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6Madschun
25Grasp All, Lose All
7The Blue Parrot
26The Fate of the Turtle
8Geirlaug the King’s Daughter
27The Snake Prince
9The Story of Little King Loc
28The Prince and Princess in the Forest
10‘A Long-Bow Story’
29The Clever Weaver
11Jackal or Tiger?
30The Boy Who Found Fear at Last
12The Comb and the Collar
31He Wins Who Waits
13The Thanksgiving of the Wazir
32The Steel Cane
14Samba the Coward
33The Punishment of the Fairy Gangana
15Kupti and Imani
34The Silent Princess
16The Strange Adventures of Little Maia
35Analysis
17Diamond Cut Diamond
36Reflection
18The Green Knight
37Memorable Quotes
19The Five Wise Words of the Guru