#andrew lang

starswaterairdirt:

The Book of Dreams and Ghosts, 1897.

Andrew Lang.

This 1887 edition of Aucassin & Nicolette was translated from French to English by Andrew Lang. Includes two plates of reproduced etchings by P.J. Hood.

Details: Gold-tooled green morocco, tooled dentelles. Printed on Japanese paper.

Publisher: David Nutt

Printer: Chiswick Press

Binder: Zaehnsdorf

Newberry call number: Wing ZP 845 .C4402

                         Here stand my books, line upon line
                         They reach the roof, and row by row,
                         They speak of faded tastes of mine,
                         And things I did, but do not, know.

                                                            ~ Andrew Lang

This morocco binding rainbow comprises 11 of the 12 ‘Coloured’ Fairy Books, e.g. blue, red, yellow, green and so on, published between 1889 and 1910 by Scottish author Andrew Lang (1844-1912) and his wife Leonora (1851-1933). 

They were collected by Alexander Turnbull, who had each volume rebound in the rich colour of each title fairy. Only the Violet Fairy Book (1901) is lacking for reasons unknown.

Rather than see them discarded, Turnbull requested his binders affix the original gold-blocked covers to the front pastedown (and the original spine strip to the rear pastedown) in each book as shown here in the Brown Fairy Book (1904) and in this previous Turnbull Rare Books post:

https://turnbullrarebooks.tumblr.com/post/102849803244/a-decorated-publishers-bookbinding-from-the-1890s

danamartinillustration:

The Castle of Kerglas

In search of lesser-known tales, I recently read a few of the Color Fairy books that Andrew Lang edited in the early 1900s. I was expecting something rather pared-down and sanitized, but found that Lang actually worked hard to avoid this stereotype. Many of the stories feature characters that are more rounded (and chatty) than usually appear in such collections.

 

This painting is based off a character from The Castle of Kerglas, from Emile Souvestre’s Le Foyer Breton, which was collected into the Lilac Fairy Book. The story follows a dim young man called Peronnik on his quest to steal some objects from the magician of Kerglas. Just before he reaches the castle, he encounters a mysterious woman in a black satin dress. Peronnik thinks she’s Moorish; later she tells him that she can kill the magician for Peronnik with a touch of  her finger because, she says simply, she is the plague.

Andrew Lang, editor, Little Wildrose and Other Stories(fromThe Crimson FairyBook), (London: Longmans, Green & Co.,1906). Illustrated by Henry J. Ford.

…Paul sent them up, and told them to to be sure and let down the basket for him.

Andrew Lang, editor, Little Wildrose and Other Stories(fromThe Crimson FairyBook), (London: Longmans, Green & Co.,1906). Illustrated by Henry J. Ford.

‘I am Shepherd Paul,” said the young man, ‘and I have come to fight you, and as I am in a hurry we had better begin at once,’

‘Very good,’ answered the dragon. ‘I am sure of my supper, …’

Andrew Lang, editor, Little Wildrose and Other Stories(fromThe Crimson FairyBook), (London: Longmans, Green & Co.,1906). Illustrated by Henry J. Ford.

Thestorkflew away and soon returned carrying in his beak a baby wrapped in swaddlingclothes.

Andrew Lang, editor, Little Wildrose and Other Stories(fromThe Crimson FairyBook), (London: Longmans, Green & Co.,1906). Illustrated by Henry J. Ford.

… the giant opened it, saying: “I see you are a brave youth. Let there be peace between us.”

Andrew Lang, editor, Little Wildrose and Other Stories(fromThe Crimson FairyBook), (London: Longmans, Green & Co.,1906). Illustrated by Henry J. Ford.

Paperarello.

Andrew Lang, editor, Little Wildrose and Other Stories(fromThe Crimson FairyBook), (London: Longmans, Green & Co.,1906). Illustrated by Henry J. Ford.

Oh, ho! my good dragon, do not crow too soon! If the emperor’s daughter were only here, and she would kiss my forehead…

Andrew Lang, editor, Little Wildrose and Other Stories(fromThe Crimson FairyBook), (London: Longmans, Green & Co.,1906). Illustrated by Henry J. Ford.

…a fierytongue coiled around his waist … and he was seen no more.

Andrew Lang, editor, Little Wildrose and Other Stories(fromThe Crimson FairyBook), (London: Longmans, Green & Co.,1906). Illustrated by Henry J. Ford.

But every morning the princess passed him in food through the hole, and every third day the king sent his secretary to climb up a ladder and look down through a little window to see if he was dead.

Andrew Lang, editor, Little Wildrose and Other Stories(fromThe Crimson FairyBook), (London: Longmans, Green & Co.,1906). Illustrated by Henry J. Ford.

Andrew Lang, editor, Little Wildrose and Other Stories(fromThe Crimson FairyBook), (London: Longmans, Green & Co.,1906). Illustrated by Henry J. Ford.

She lived happily in hernest…

Andrew Lang, editor, Little Wildrose and Other Stories(fromThe Crimson FairyBook), (London: Longmans, Green & Co.,1906). Illustrated by Henry J. Ford.

Illustration from ‘The Blue Fairy Book’ by H. J. Ford