It is almost impossible to envision what childhood would be like without the enchanting world of fairyland. The snow-queen, the mermaid's son, ogres and dwarfs, monsters and magicians, fairies and giants—these are the companions who thrill young boys and girls of all lands and times, as Andrew Lang's phenomenally successful collections of stories have proved. From the day that they were first printed, the Lang fairy tale books of many colors have entertained thousands of boys and girls, as they have also brought pleasure to the many parents who have read these unforgettable classics to their children.
The Pink Fairy Book contains 41 tales from Japan, Scandinavia, Sicily, Africa, and the Catalonian tradition. They range from such familiar stories as Hans Christian Andersen's "The Snow Queen" and "The Fir Tree" to virtually unknown tales of the Tanuki, and unforgettable Japanese creature; of the strange labors demanded by a generous troll; of the cruel treatment given lovely Maiden "Bright-eye" and of many other people and happenings that are different enough to captivate young imaginations, but familiar enough so that boys and girls everywhere will listen and understand.
All the stories, are narrated in the clear, lively prose for which Lang was famous. Not only are Lang's generally conceded to be the best English versions of standard stories, his collections are the richest and widest in range. His position as one of England's foremost folklorists as well as his first-rate literary abilities makes his collections unmatchable in the English Language.
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