The Red Fairy Book

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

—

Title

The Red Fairy Book

Language

en

Book source

Global Grey

Description max 80 words

Andrew Lang's 'The Red Fairy Book' offers a vibrant collection of tales from diverse traditions, including Norse, French, and German sources. Featuring classics like 'The Twelve Dancing Princesses' and the Norse saga of 'Sigurd,' this anthology blends enchanting magic with moral complexity. With vivid imagery and timeless themes of love, betrayal, and courage, it appeals to readers seeking rich, atmospheric storytelling that bridges folklore and fantasy.

Summary up to 500 words

Andrew Lang's *The Red Fairy Book* serves as a curated treasury of global folklore, drawing primarily from the works of Madame d'Aulnoy, the Brothers Grimm, and Scandinavian legends. The collection opens with the enchanting tale of 'The Twelve Dancing Princesses,' where a humble cow-boy named Michael, known as the Star Gazer, discovers a magical realm inhabited by twelve princesses who dance until dawn. Guided by dreams and aided by enchanted laurels that grant him invisibility, Michael witnesses their lavish lives and falls for the youngest, Lina, before joining their midnight revels in a hidden kingdom of princes and diamond-spangled woods. Another prominent narrative, 'Graciosa and Percinet,' follows a princess locked in a tower by a cruel queen. Through a series of seemingly impossible tasks—sorting mixed bird feathers and carrying a forbidden box—she is aided by her true love, Percinet, who appears magically. Their romance is tested when the queen imprisons Graciosa in a well, but she escapes into a crystal palace, leading to a joyous union. The book also features 'The Three Princesses of Whiteland,' where a young fisherman endures brutal beatings from trolls to free three princesses trapped in the earth, ultimately choosing the third for his fortune. The narrative shifts to Norse mythology with the condensed story of 'Sigurd.' The dragon-slayer kills Fafnir and gains the cursed treasure of the dwarf Andvari. After tasting Fafnir's heart, Sigurd understands bird speech, which warns him of his foster-father Regin's treachery. He beheads Regin and rides through a wall of fire to awaken the valiant warrior maiden Brynhild, whom he loves. However, under a witch's spell, he forgets her and marries Gudrun instead. When the magic wears off, Sigurd realizes his mistake but remains silent. The tragedy culminates in Sigurd's death at the hands of Gunnar's brother, followed by Brynhild's suicide. Both lovers and their horse are burned on a funeral pyre, fulfilling the dwarf's curse. The collection concludes with a preface detailing the various translators and sources, highlighting the book's role in preserving and adapting global folklore.

LLM editorial rating

4.5/5

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https://www.globalgreyebooks.com/ebooks2/andrew-lang_red-fairy-book.epub

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