The Green Fairy Book

This was meant to be the third and last of Andrew Lang's Fairy Books of many colours.

Fortunately for us it wasn't. First there was the Blue Fairy Book; then when Victorian children asked for more, the Red Fairy Book; and, when they wanted more still, the Green Fairy Book was put together.

The stories in all the books are borrowed from many countries; France, Germany, Russia, Italy, Scotland, England and even one rare Chinese tale.

However much these nations differ over policy and ideology, all their children agree to liking fairy tales.

As we grow up, we dismiss or forget the fairy tales of our youth and the lessons they taught.

But grandparents have long memories and the responsibility falls on them to tell them to their grandchildren: and when they, in their turn, become grandparents, they remember them, and tell them also.

In this way these tales are older than reading and writing, far older than printing.

The oldest fairy tales ever written down were written down in Egypt, in about Joseph's time, nearly three thousand six hundred years ago. Other fairy stories Homer knew, in Greece, nearly three thousand years ago, and he made them all up into a poem, the Odyssey, which all children should read some day.

But here you will find an enchanted watch, the golden blackbird, Jorinde and Joringel, the shoes of swiftness, that were worn later by Jack the Giant-Killer and perennial favourites like the three little pigs.

These fairy tales are the oldest stories in the world.

They were first made by men, who were childlike, for their own amusement, and so they amuse children still.

While these stories were made to amuse, they also teach goodness, unselfishness, courage and morals. 33% of the publisher's profit will be donated to charity.