The Brown Fairy Book

"The Brown Fairy Book" by Andrew Lang is a collection of fairy tales edited during the late 19th century. It features enchanting stories from various cultures around the world, showcasing a diverse array of folklore that appeals to children and adults alike. The tales encompass themes of adventure, love, and moral lessons, drawing readers into fantastical worlds filled with magic and wonder. The opening of "The Brown Fairy Book" contains a preface that introduces the collection's origin, explaining how tales like “What the Rose Did to the Cypress” and “Ball-Carrier and the Bad One” were gathered from different cultures—including Red Indian, Australian, African, and Persian folklore. It highlights the charm of storytelling across cultures, noting that despite geographical differences, the stories have universal appeal to children. The initial story introduces the brave Prince Tahmasp, who embarks on a perilous quest motivated by love, while also weaving in elements of fate, family, and tragedy related to a riddle posed by the beautiful Princess Mihr-afruz. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Andrew Lang was a Scottish poet, novelist, literary critic, and contributor to the field of anthropology. He is best known as a collector of folk and fairy tales. The Andrew Lang lectures at the University of St Andrews are named after him.