Andrew Lang

Andrew Lang (1844-1912) was a Scottish poet, novelist, literary critic, and anthropologist who helped popularize folklore through his 'Coloured' Fairy Books series (1889-1910). Beginning with 'The Blue Fairy Book,' Lang and his wife Leonora compiled 12 volumes containing tales from around the world, introducing English-speaking audiences to stories from France, Germany, Russia, Japan, and beyond. Beyond folklore, Lang wrote extensively on anthropology, history, and literature, and his 'Custom and Myth' (1884) was an important contribution to comparative mythology.