The Olive Fairy Book by Andrew Lang and H. J. Ford

(11 User reviews)   5801
By Robert Nguyen Posted on Dec 30, 2025
In Category - World Cultures
English
Ever wondered what happens when fairy tales travel the world? 'The Olive Fairy Book' is the final stop in Andrew Lang's famous color-coded series, and it's packed with stories you've probably never heard before. Forget the usual European castles and princesses—this collection takes you to places like Persia, India, and Armenia. We're talking clever heroes outsmarting jinn, brave girls rescuing their kingdoms, and magical objects with rules that will make your head spin. It’s the perfect book for when you want something familiar yet completely new, like finding a secret room in a house you thought you knew. Ready for an adventure that feels both classic and surprising?
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In the plain text version Italic text is denoted by _underscores_. Small caps are represented in UPPER CASE. The sign ^ represents a superscript; thus e^ represents the lower case letter “e” written immediately above the level of the previous character. The musical files for the musical examples discussed in the book have been provided by Jude Eylander. Those examples can be heard by clicking on the [Listen] tab. This is only possible in the HTML version of the book. The scores that appear in the original book have been included as “jpg” images. In some cases the scores that were used to generate the music files differ slightly from the original scores. Those differences are due to modifications that were made by the Music Transcriber during the process of creating the musical archives in order to make the music play accurately on modern musical transcribing programs. These scores are included as PNG images, and can be seen by clicking on the [PNG] tag in the HTML version of the book. Obvious punctuation and other printing errors have been corrected. New original cover art included with this eBook is granted to the public domain. * * * * * THE ART OF MUSIC The Art of Music A Comprehensive Library of Information for Music Lovers and Musicians Editor-in-Chief DANIEL GREGORY MASON Columbia University Associate Editors EDWARD B. HILL LELAND HALL Harvard University Past Professor, Univ. of Wisconsin Managing Editor CÉSAR SAERCHINGER Modern Music Society of New York In Fourteen Volumes Profusely Illustrated [Illustration] NEW YORK THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF MUSIC [Illustration: The Singing Angels] _Altar piece by Hubert and Jan van Eyck_ THE ART OF MUSIC: VOLUME SIX Choral and Church Music ROSSETTER GLEASON COLE, M.A. Introduction by FRANK DAMROSCH, Mus. Doc. Director Institute of Musical Art in the City of New York Conductor, Musical Art Society of New York, etc. [Illustration] NEW YORK THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF MUSIC Copyright, 1915, by THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF MUSIC, Inc. [All Rights Reserved] PREFATORY NOTE The field of choral and church music is so vast and the subject so inclusive that the author has felt the constant pressure of the necessity for sifting and abbreviating and condensing the voluminous material at hand in order not to go far beyond the prescribed limits of this volume. He has resolutely shut his eyes to the allurements of the many by-paths that constantly beckoned away from the historical highway he was appointed to tread; and he has endeavored to keep this object constantly in mind--to trace the development of the forces and tendencies from which have sprung the various musical forms that have gone to make up the literature of choral and church music as century followed century. In this volume, therefore, the great personalities of musical history will receive far less attention than the particular musical forms and art-tendencies that flowed from their, oft-times, combined creative activities. While a large number of choral and organ works of every class have been analyzed with much detail and a still larger number given definite classification, it is hoped that the historical summaries and the discussions of styles and periods, scattered throughout this volume, will be even more helpful to the reader in enabling him to place any given musical work in its true musical, as well as historical, perspective. It is a matter of some regret that from sheer lack of space several interesting and wholly relevant topics--such as hymnology, contemporaneous church music, the whole relation of music to the present-day church, etc.--must be left untouched. In the chapters on contemporaneous choral music, it was necessary...

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Let’s clear something up first: this isn't one long story. 'The Olive Fairy Book' is a collection of 33 short fairy tales from all over the world, gathered by Andrew Lang and illustrated by H.J. Ford. It’s the last of his famous 'color' fairy books.

The Story

There isn't a single plot. Instead, you get a passport to different lands. You'll meet a prince who must solve three impossible tasks to marry a princess, a young man who gets help from a magical bird, and a poor boy whose kindness to an animal brings him incredible luck. The settings shift from bustling Indian bazaars to quiet Armenian villages, and the magic feels fresh because the rules are often different from the Western tales we know best.

Why You Should Read It

I love this book because it feels like a global celebration of storytelling. It shows us that the desire for a good tale—where cleverness beats brute force, kindness is rewarded, and a little magic helps—is universal. The characters are resourceful and smart, and the stories move quickly. H.J. Ford's illustrations are a charming bonus, giving you a glimpse of how these far-off places and creatures might look.

Final Verdict

This is a fantastic pick for anyone who loves fairy tales but is ready to explore beyond the Brothers Grimm or Hans Christian Andersen. It's also great for reading aloud to kids (though some stories are more complex). If you're a fantasy writer looking for inspiration from different cultures, or just a curious reader who wants a bedtime story with a twist, 'The Olive Fairy Book' is a delightful and eye-opening read.



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Jackson Miller
6 months ago

I came across this while browsing and the pacing is just right, keeping you engaged. Definitely a 5-star read.

Steven Lee
2 years ago

Text is crisp, making it easy to focus.

Andrew Rodriguez
1 year ago

If you enjoy this genre, the author's voice is distinct and makes complex topics easy to digest. Worth every second.

Karen Thompson
1 year ago

Honestly, it manages to explain difficult concepts in plain English. This story will stay with me.

Emily Lewis
2 months ago

As someone who reads a lot, the content flows smoothly from one chapter to the next. Definitely a 5-star read.

5
5 out of 5 (11 User reviews )

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