THE FAIRY BOOK SERIES
by Unknown · from The Green Fairy Book
Adapted Version
Do you love stories? One kind man made many books. He made them just for you! Mr. Lang loved stories very much. He loved children too. He wanted children to read. So, he made special books. These books had many nice tales. They were good tales for all kids to hear.
These books were called Fairy Books. They had pretty colors. There was a Blue book. There was a Red book. A Green book was there too. Also Grey, Yellow, Pink, Violet, and Crimson books. There was a Brown book too. Each book had many pictures. Each book had many fun stories. So many stories were in each one!
Mr. Lang made other books too. He made books about creatures. These were creature stories. He made books about true things. These were true stories. He also made poetry books. And books about brave knights. All these books had many pictures. They had many fun tales. Kids loved these tales too.
A big book group helped Mr. Lang. This group printed all the books. They sent books to many places. Children all places could read them. It was a very good thing. It helped many kids read.
One special book was The Green Fairy Book. Mr. Lang put many stories in it. A kind artist drew pictures. His name was Mr. Ford. Mr. Ford made the pictures pretty. Dragons flew on the pages. Fairies danced in the trees. The pictures made the stories come alive.
The Green Fairy Book was very liked by many. Many children loved it. They read it a long, long time ago. Kids in many towns read it. They read it in many countries. It made them very happy. It still makes children happy today. It is a nice book. It is a book full of joy.
Mr. Lang made this book for a friend. Her name was Stella. Stella loved stories very much. He gave the book to Stella. It was a very kind gift. Stella was happy to read it. She read all the tales. Now you can read it too. You can find your own favorite story.
Original Story
THE FAIRY BOOK SERIES.
EDITED BY ANDREW LANG.
Crown 8vo. gilt edges, 6s. each.
THE BLUE FAIRY BOOK. With 138 Illustrations.
THE RED FAIRY BOOK. With 100 Illustrations.
THE GREEN FAIRY BOOK. With 101 Illustrations.
THE GREY FAIRY BOOK. With 65 Illustrations.
THE YELLOW FAIRY BOOK. With 104 Illustrations.
THE PINK FAIRY BOOK. With 67 Illustrations.
THE VIOLET FAIRY BOOK. With 8 Coloured Plates and 54 other Illustrations.
THE CRIMSON FAIRY BOOK. With 8 Coloured Plates and 43 other Illustrations.
THE BROWN FAIRY BOOK. With 8 Coloured Plates and 42 other Illustrations.
THE BLUE POETRY BOOK. With 100 Illustrations.
THE TRUE STORY BOOK. With 66 Illustrations.
THE RED TRUE STORY BOOK. With 100 Illustrations.
THE ANIMAL STORY BOOK. With 67 Illustrations.
THE RED BOOK OF ANIMAL STORIES. With 65 Illustrations.
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS. With 66 Illustrations.
THE BOOK OF ROMANCE. With 8 Coloured Plates, and 44 other Illustrations.
THE RED ROMANCE BOOK. With 8 Coloured Plates and 44 other Illustrations.
LONGMANS, GREEN, & CO., 39 Paternoster Row, London;
New York and Bombay.
GORGONZOLA FLIES OFF ON HER DRAGON
THE
GREEN FAIRY BOOK
EDITED BY
ANDREW LANG
WITH NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS BY H. J. FORD
SEVENTH IMPRESSION
LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO.
89 PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON
NEW YORK AND BOMBAY
1906
All rights reserved
TO
STELLA MARGARET ALLEYNE
THE
GREEN FAIRY BOOK
IS DEDICATED
Story DNA
Plot Summary
This text serves as an advertisement or catalog entry for 'THE FAIRY BOOK SERIES' edited by Andrew Lang, listing numerous titles including the famous colored fairy books and other story collections. It provides details such as illustration counts, publisher information, and geographical distribution. A specific focus is given to 'THE GREEN FAIRY BOOK', detailing its editor, illustrator, publication year, and dedication, highlighting its place within the broader series.
Themes
Emotional Arc
curiosity to delight
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Andrew Lang's Fairy Books were instrumental in popularizing fairy tales and folk lore from various cultures to English-speaking children during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The detailed publishing information reflects the common practices of the era.
Plot Beats (7)
- The text introduces 'THE FAIRY BOOK SERIES' edited by Andrew Lang, listing its general price and format.
- It then enumerates several 'Fairy Book' titles, distinguished by color (Blue, Red, Green, Grey, Yellow, Pink, Violet, Crimson, Brown), each noting the number of illustrations.
- The list expands to include other themed collections: 'THE BLUE POETRY BOOK', 'THE TRUE STORY BOOK', 'THE RED TRUE STORY BOOK', 'THE ANIMAL STORY BOOK', 'THE RED BOOK OF ANIMAL STORIES', 'THE ARABIAN NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS', 'THE BOOK OF ROMANCE', and 'THE RED ROMANCE BOOK', also with illustration counts.
- The publisher, Longmans, Green, & Co., and their locations are provided.
- A specific section focuses on 'THE GREEN FAIRY BOOK', reiterating its title, editor Andrew Lang, and illustrator H. J. Ford.
- Publication details for 'THE GREEN FAIRY BOOK' are given, including 'SEVENTH IMPRESSION', publisher, locations, and the year 1906.
- The 'GREEN FAIRY BOOK' is formally dedicated to Stella Margaret Alleyne.
Characters
Andrew Lang
A man of academic bearing, likely of average height and a somewhat slender to medium build, consistent with a scholar of the late 19th/early 20th century. His features would suggest a thoughtful and studious nature.
Attire: A formal Victorian or Edwardian era suit, perhaps a dark wool three-piece suit with a waistcoat, a starched white shirt, and a dark tie. His attire would be practical yet respectable for a literary editor.
Wants: To collect, edit, and popularize fairy tales and stories for a wide audience, particularly children, ensuring their accessibility and continuation.
Flaw: Potentially overly academic or detached in his presentation, focusing more on compilation than personal narrative.
As an editor, his 'arc' is more about the ongoing legacy of his work rather than personal transformation within a narrative. He establishes himself as a foundational figure in children's literature.
Diligent, scholarly, meticulous, dedicated to preserving and presenting folklore.
H. J. Ford
An artist of the late Victorian/Edwardian era, likely of a slender to medium build, with hands that show dexterity and precision. His appearance would suggest a creative and observant nature.
Attire: Practical yet respectable attire for an artist of the period, perhaps a tweed jacket over a shirt and waistcoat, or a more formal dark suit when presenting work. His clothing would allow for movement and comfort while drawing.
Wants: To bring the stories to life through detailed and evocative illustrations, complementing Andrew Lang's text and capturing the magic of the fairy tales.
Flaw: As an illustrator, his 'weakness' might be the constraints of the text or the expectations of the editor, limiting his full artistic freedom.
His 'arc' is the development and refinement of his artistic style over the many volumes he illustrated, establishing his reputation as a master of fairy tale art.
Imaginative, meticulous, dedicated, skilled in visual storytelling.
Gorgonzola
A large, powerful dragon, likely with scales of a deep, rich color, possibly green or blue, given the book's title. Its body would be muscular and capable of flight, with strong wings and a long tail. It would possess a formidable presence.
Attire: None, as a dragon. Its 'attire' is its natural, scaled hide.
Wants: To fly, to explore, or to carry out some dragon-like purpose (though not specified in this snippet).
Flaw: Not specified, but dragons often have vulnerabilities to specific weapons or magic in folklore.
No arc within this brief mention; its role is to perform a single, dramatic action.
Implied to be a creature of action and perhaps a bit dramatic, given the phrase 'flies off'. Likely strong-willed and independent.
Stella Margaret Alleyne
As a dedicatee, her physical description is not provided. She would be a person of the late 19th or early 20th century, likely a child or young person given the nature of the book's dedication.
Attire: Not specified. If a child, perhaps a simple, well-made dress of the era, possibly linen or cotton, with a sash or ribbons.
Wants: Not applicable; her role is as the recipient of the dedication.
Flaw: Not applicable.
No arc within the context of the book's narrative.
Implied to be cherished and significant to Andrew Lang, suggesting a sweet or beloved disposition.
Locations
Paternoster Row, London
A bustling street in London, likely with Victorian-era commercial buildings housing publishing houses.
Mood: Busy, commercial, intellectual
The publishing location of the Green Fairy Book and other titles.
New York City
A major urban center in the early 20th century, representing a global reach for the publisher.
Mood: Energetic, expansive, modernizing
One of the international distribution points for the published books.
Bombay (Mumbai), India
A vibrant colonial port city in India, reflecting the British Empire's reach.
Mood: Exotic, bustling, colonial
Another international distribution point, highlighting the global presence of the publisher.