The Satin Surgeon

Andrew Lang (1844 – 1912) was a Scots 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. Lang was also a prolific author of works both fiction and non; he wrote his own fairy tales such as Prince Prigio and Prince Ricardo of Pantouflia, and wrote numerous historical texts.


This fairy-tale tells us about a king who has three daughters. The elder was ugly and full of hatred towards the world, but she was rather smart and the father loved her. The younger daughter got both beauty and kindness. And a neighbouring country was ruled by a young king who had achieved the glory of a great warrior. And when the time came for him to get married he went to a ball where he met the sisters… which one of them would he choose?