The Orange Fairy Book

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

—

Title

The Orange Fairy Book

Language

en

Book source

Global Grey

Description max 80 words

Andrew Lang's eighteenth Fairy Book gathers thirty-three tales from diverse global traditions, including Jutland, Rhodesia, Uganda, and India. Edited for children, these stories soften savage elements while celebrating courage, cunning, and the universal nature of folklore.

Summary up to 500 words

In 'The Orange Fairy Book,' Andrew Lang presents a collection of global folklore, primarily adapted for young readers from tales told by grandmothers across Europe, Africa, and indigenous cultures. Lang explains in his preface that while original stories often contained savage or cruel elements, these have been softened to emphasize virtues like courage and kindness, though the cleverness of the underdog remains a central theme. The narratives illustrate how similar stories travel across cultures via wanderers, slaves, and traders, revealing a shared human imagination. The collection features diverse tales, including African folklore from Rhodesia and Uganda. 'The Story of the Hero Makoma' follows a tall, silent boy who proves his greatness by defeating giant crocodiles and subduing elemental giants who create mountains, rivers, forests, and fire. Makoma gathers these powers in a sack until he finds a peaceful home, only to discover his companions have been captured by a river giant; he rescues them, establishing a harmonious community. Another significant portion is dedicated to the classic 'Jack and the Beanstalk' narrative. A poor boy named Jack, driven away by his greedy brothers, discovers magic treasures: a table serving endless feasts, a cornet summoning armies, and a bag producing castles. After his brothers steal the table, Jack uses his remaining magic to defeat the sky-giant, marry the giant's daughter, and become a king. He eventually loses his magic items to a foolish king who tries to steal them, but Jack's cunning and the items' restored power allow him to reclaim his throne and rule wisely, contrasting with the pride of his descendants. The book also includes 'The Rover of the Plain,' where a young man travels far to find a wife, encountering strange lands and people. Other familiar tales like 'The Ugly Duckling' and animal fables such as 'The Fox and the Wolf' appear alongside stories of trickery and transformation, like 'The Adventures of a Jackal.' Through these varied narratives, the collection highlights the universality of fairy tales and the enduring power of human imagination to create stories that transcend borders and time.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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https://www.globalgreyebooks.com/ebooks/andrew-lang_orange-fairy-book.epub

Local file path

data/epubs/url-389862f802da5995.epub

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2026-06-30 15:43 UTC

Categories

• Fiction
• Folklore and Mythology