The Olive Fairy Book (Complete & Unabridged)

This book is an excellent collection. The tales in here are so great, they are so unique and have the quirkyness of old fairytales. This book is an old publication and the illustrations are great although black and white, they are drawn so well. This is a great addition to any fairytale or folktale collector!

"The Olive Fairy Book" has got to be one of Andrew Lang's best. In this volume, he strays from the more commonly known tales, and instead publishes a collection of exotic tales from Muslim/Hindu countries. I've never heard many of the PLOTS before, and we all know that many fairy tales share common plots. These tales are surprisingly different, and delightfully enjoyable. Anyone who is tired of the traditional Europeon tales that, while still fantastic, are just too well known, this book is a wonderful addition to anyone who enjoys folklore. The pictures are amazing, too.

This has got to be one of my favorites of Lang's color collection. "The Olive Fairy Book" contains tales mainly from the Hindu/Muslim countries, but also has a good amount from Anatole France and Denmark. These are the lesser known tales and fables that are certainly worth a read. They're fantastic! The drawings are beautiful, too. Many people only recognize the European tales, and should know of the fairy tales of other cultures. They are rich, beautiful, and full of creatures and places unheardof in Celtic tales.

This book of fairy tales, coming from Turkey, India, Denmark, Armenia, and the Sudan, opens you up to an entirely different culture and I enjoyed every page. I would also suggest reading this to children just as every fairy tale book to open them up to ideas of other ways of life (and also allow their imagination to run wild!) The drawings are also beautiful and fit the book perfectly.