The Olive Fairy Book

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

27826

Title

The Olive Fairy Book

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Edited by Andrew Lang, this collection gathers enchanting fairy tales from diverse cultures, including Turkish, Armenian, and Indian folklore. Featuring whimsical illustrations by H.J. Ford, the book offers timeless stories of magic, transformation, and moral lessons, perfect for young readers and lovers of classic fantasy.

Summary up to 500 words

The Olive Fairy Book, edited by Andrew Lang, is a vibrant anthology of folktales drawn from diverse traditions including Turkish, Armenian, and Indian sources. The collection opens with the tale of Madschun, a lazy youth whose life transforms after catching the eye of the Sultan's daughter. He impulsively demands her hand in marriage, forcing his mother to petition the Sultan. The narrative then shifts to the story of Geirlaug and Grethari, children raised by a witch queen who are separated and must navigate magical trials to reunite. In one version, the queen, revealed to be a witch, attempts to kill the children by sending guards to slay beasts, only to be thwarted by the children's transformation into a whale and a shark. Geirlaug eventually uses her knowledge of magic to restore Grethari's memory after he is separated and loses his identity upon drinking from a forbidden spring. Another prominent story features a Sultan's daughter who tests her suitors with a vow of silence. A prince, aided by a clever nightingale, eventually wins her heart by solving a complex riddle involving three men and a wizard. The riddle reveals that the tailor, who clothed the wooden statue, the carpenter who carved it, and the student who prayed for its soul, all contributed, but the student's prayer was the essential spark that gave the figure life. Themes of identity, loyalty, and the power of speech run through these tales, which blend humor, danger, and wonder. The book concludes with a variety of adventures involving fairies, dragons, and clever protagonists who outwit villains. Illustrated with colored plates and numerous drawings, the volume captures the spirit of classic fairy tales while adapting them for modern young readers, offering a rich tapestry of legends that explore the boundaries between the mundane and the magical.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Local file path

data/epubs/pg27826.epub

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2026-07-04 00:34 UTC

Categories

• Fairy Tales