The Crimson Fairy Book - Illustrated by H. J. Ford

This charming early work, first published in 1903, is the eighth book in a series of twelve ‘coloured’ fairy books published by Andrew Lang between 1889 and 1910. Each volume is distinguished by its own colour, and all in all, 437 tales from a wide array of cultures and countries are presented. The Crimson Fairy Book is illustrated with numerous black and white illustrations by the master artist H.J. Ford. This book is thoroughly recommended for inclusion on the shelf of all folklorists and lovers of fairy tales. A delightful read for both adult and child.

These 36 stories originated in Hungary, Russia, Finland, Iceland, Tunisia, the Baltic, and elsewhere. Tales include: Lovely Ilonka, The Boy who Could Keep a Secret, The Prince and the Dragon, Little Wildrose, The Gold-bearded Man, Montikatika, Niels and the Giants, The Crab and the Monkey and more.

Andrew Lang (1844 – 1912) was a Scots poet, novelist and literary critic, with a passion for folkloric storytelling. Most of his volumes (including this, ‘The Crimson Fairy Book’) are beautifully illustrated by Henry J. Ford (1860 – 1941), an inordinately talented artist who came to public attention with his illustrations for Lang. The books captured the imagination of British children and later became worldwide bestsellers in the 1880s and 1890s.