The Andrew Lang Library

In which a clever tanuki and his fox wife, skilled in magic, devise a cunning plan to survive the harsh food shortage caused by relentless hunters in their forest. In this tale of prudence and betrayal, their little son discovers his own magical powers and sets forth to claim a quiet justice.

In which a young Danish huntsman named Niels, journeying with his family to Rome, encounters three quarrelsome giants whose magical strife and a guarded princess’s castle draw him into an adventure of courage and cunning. Throughout the night by the forest and beyond the castle gates, Niels’s skill with a gun and a mysterious enchanted sword shape a tale of unexpected fortune amidst the quiet moor...

In which a tender husband’s efforts to care for his ailing wife lead to a perilous bargain with an ogre, and a clever baby, gifted with magic and wit, devises cunning plans to outsmart the fearsome creature. The tale unfolds with a gentle blend of kindness, danger, and resourcefulness, set in a vividly imagined sunlit land.

In which the clever and ever-resourceful Abu Nowas contrives a curious jest involving his own and his wife's alleged deaths, much to the consternation of the Sultan and Sultana. This droll tale unfolds with playful deception and ends in laughter, revealing the wit of a man who turns misfortune into merriment.

In which a poor young man named Peter receives a mysterious nut as wages that produces countless livestock, and after promising a strange figure named Eisenkopf never to marry, he journeys to faraway lands to escape his pursuer following a breached vow. Along the way, he finds refuge with three old women, encounters magical helpers, and discovers love and loyalty in unexpected places.

In which a lazy youth, sent forth by his patient but weary father, attempts to fulfil the arduous tasks of a king’s chief herdsman, employing wit to manage wild herds in unexpected ways. Observing shrewd cleverness amid trials with pigs, sheep, and oxen, the tale unfolds with a gentle moral on industry and resourcefulness.

In which a lazy youth comes into curious fortune through the aid of a clever little fox, whose wiles and wisdom transform his humble circumstances and embroil him in royal affairs. With patience and resourcefulness, the fox guides the young man from poverty to prosperity, ensuring that true gratitude and friendship are not forgotten.

In which a sorrowful tale unfolds of six hungry beasts whose uneasy fellowship is fraught with hunger and cunning, leading to a fox’s crafty dealings with a magpie and the other woodland creatures. The story gently reveals how wit and guile serve amidst the hardships of forest life, culminating in the fox’s narrowly evaded misfortune and the origin of a fox’s distinctive white tail tip.

In which a grieving king remarries a mysterious lady from a fog-bound island, leading his children to flee for safety and conceal themselves in enchanted trees, while distant princes seek the hand of the disguised princess. The tale unfolds with weaving tasks of magical robes and an unmasking of dark secrets that threaten the kingdom’s peace.

In which three brothers set out into the world, each encountering strange old men and a daunting ogress in a mysterious cave whose tasks prove insurmountable. The youngest, kind-hearted and helped by magical friends, faces these challenges with patience and cleverness, setting the stage for an adventure full of unexpected rewards.

In which a young prince, cruelly mistreated by his stepfather and imprisoned after the capture of a mysterious gold-bearded stranger, embarks on a solitary wander through forests and kingdoms, his kindness to animals bringing him unexpected aid. Through trials set by a suspicious king, and with the secret help of grateful creatures, he proves his worth and wins a royal bride, while those who sough...

In which a young man, burdened by his father’s ill-gotten wealth and guided by a mysterious dream, sets out on a humble journey with only a peculiar cat for company. Through the cat’s strange and wonderful gifts, he finds his way to the king’s court and a fate far different from the poverty he once knew.

In which a humble stone-cutter, content with his simple life, becomes enraptured by the wealth and power he observes around him, prompting a series of wondrous transformations granted by a mysterious mountain spirit. Yet as he experiences the might of sun, cloud, rock, and man, he slowly comes to understand the true nature of happiness and contentment.

In which a young prince, burdened by the shadow of mortality, sets forth on a quest to discover the Land of Immortality, encountering curious kings and enchanted gifts along the way. With steadfast resolve and gentle enchantments, he journeys through realms where life and death are bound by strange spells, seeking a place beyond the reach of time.

In which a wandering shepherd encounters a mysterious mountain spirit who reveals the secret of a hidden treasure guarded by enchantments, setting into motion a bold quest undertaken by a poor innkeeper named Master Peter Bloch. The story unfolds with Peter’s clever pursuit of fortune and the charming resolutions that follow, all told with a gentle sense of wonder and old-world wisdom.

In which a young prince, wandering in a forest with his mother, discovers a magical sword that grants him extraordinary strength, leading them to a robber's cave and a mysterious castle. Amid trials of cunning and courage, he finds allies in a giant and eventually wins a noble bride in a splendid wedding celebrated far and wide.

In which a young boy, having ventured into a mysterious forest and rescued a magician from wolves, receives enchanted gifts and a remarkable horse that leads him to adventures in a royal court. Amidst royal intrigues and perilous commands, his magical instruments and loyal steed offer aid in times of dire need, weaving a tale of courage, loyalty, and unexpected fortune.

In which a young king, betrayed by his own mother and rescued by benevolent fairies, grows to manhood before venturing into the world with a magical token from his fairy wife. Disguised as the lowly goose-boy Paperarello, he performs wondrous deeds that earn royal rewards and, at last, reveals his true noble identity, winning admiration and restoring justice.

In which a lazy youth named Tiidu discovers the power of his musical gift and sets out to earn fortune by playing his pipes, embarking on adventures that lead him far from home to the wondrous land of Kungla, where riches abound. Amidst trials and transformations, he learns the value of humility and the true joys of life, all the while enchanting those around him with his beguiling tunes.

In which an aged couple’s longing for a child leads to a mysterious forest adventure and a magical child being raised by an eagle amidst nature’s wonders. The story then turns to a prince’s quest to find this enchanting maiden, whose unusual upbringing sparks curiosity and wonder in the court.

In which a youngest prince, cautious and clever, seeks to unravel the mystery of his brothers' disappearance linked to a fearsome dragon by donning shepherd’s garb and venturing into a distant kingdom by a great lake. Through courage, wit, and the aid of a forlorn old woman, he confronts the dragon and ultimately unravels a hidden secret, leading to a splendid reunion and royal promise.

In which a poor widow’s son, gifted with a mysterious sword and a vow to keep his secrets until they come true, is taken to a king’s palace, where his silence and strength bring both trouble and wonder. Through trials involving riddles, imprisonment, and the menace of a witch, the youth’s steadfastness and cleverness eventually lead to a remarkable destiny.

In which a faithful shepherd rescues a serpent caught in a forest fire and is granted the wondrous gift of understanding the language of beasts, a secret that proves both precious and perilous. The tale then unfolds the shepherd’s newfound ability as he overhears the speech of animals, leading to both fortune and a curious household mystery that tests patience and prudence.

In which a noble king, longing for a bride as clever and beautiful as himself, learns of the distant Princess Helena and enlists the help of his six skilled brothers and their mischievous seventh sibling to reach her across vast seas. Their remarkable talents and cunning plans bring about unexpected adventures that test loyalty, courage, and wit in a land ruled by pride and power.

In which a daring shepherd with peculiar eyes defies a proud king’s command to utter a customary blessing, braving perilous trials with wit and courage that captivate the heart of a fair princess. By steadfastly holding to his demand for her hand, he turns the king’s wrath into joyous celebration and earns the love of the realm.