Andrew Lang was a Scottish poet, novelist, literary critic, historian, and folklorist, best remembered for his celebrated collections of fairy tales. Born in Selkirk, Scotland, and educated at St Andrews University and Balliol College, Oxford, Lang became one of the most versatile men of letters of the Victorian era. Though he began his career as a classical scholar and poet, he achieved lasting fame through his "Coloured Fairy Books," in which he gathered and translated folk and fairy tales from around the world, working closely with his wife, Leonora Blanche Lang, who retold many of the stories.
Major Works:
- The Blue Fairy Book (1889) — the first and most popular of his fairy tale collections, featuring classics such as "Cinderella" and "Little Red Riding Hood"
- The Red Fairy Book (1890), The Green Fairy Book (1892), and nine further coloured volumes published until 1910
- Custom and Myth (1884) and Myth, Ritual and Religion (1887) — influential studies of mythology and anthropology
- Homer and the Epic (1893) — a notable contribution to Homeric scholarship
- A History of Scotland from the Roman Occupation (1900–1907)
Lang's blend of scholarship and storytelling made world folklore accessible to generations of children, securing his place as a foundational figure in children's literature.