“The taste of the world”: a re-evaluation of the publication history and reception context of Andrew Lang’s Fairy Book series, 1889-1910
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Date
04/07/2013Author
Hines, Sara M.
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Abstract
This thesis examines Andrew Lang’s Fairy Book series (1889-1910) as a material and
cultural commodity, thereby re-evaluating neglected or overlooked aspects of its
significance as a printed collection of fairy tales. First, it defines the publishing
context for fairy-tale collections printed in Britain prior to the publication of The Blue
Fairy Book in 1889. As such, Chapter One addresses pervasive claims that Lang’s
series systematically revived a waning interest in fairy tales. The chapter first offers
context for Lang’s series by providing a bibliographic history of the classic fairy tales
– most of which are included in The Blue Fairy Book – in English from 1691 to 1889.
It then focuses specifically on the decade of the 1880s to examine types of fairy-tale
collections that were available in print prior to the series’ first volume and suggests
that the fairy tale as a publishing phenomenon was more prominent in the late
nineteenth century than has been assumed. Chapter Two seeks to establish how the
diverse literary, cultural, and intellectual course of Lang’s career made him
particularly suitable to edit a collection of fairy tales. His academic interests in
literature as well as his ongoing study of fairy tales influenced his editorial strategies
for The Blue Fairy Book, which then provided a model for the remainder of the
series. Chapter Three examines the phenomenon of the “literary series” through an
exploration of paratextual elements, such as Longmans’ production, branding, and
marketing strategies as well as Henry J. Ford’s book illustrations and designs. The
seasonal context in which the books were published provides a further framework for
situating Lang’s series within the history of publishing fairy tales in Britain. Chapter
Four considers the series’ printings and sales numbers, along with themes that are
present throughout the published reception of the series. While Longmans capitalizes
on Lang’s name in their branding strategies, in the popular press Lang’s name
became synonymous with fairy-tale narratives. Furthermore, the series’ immediate
reception challenges more recent scholarly positions regarding the very significant
group of translators who contributed towards the series. Finally, Chapter Five
recognizes the colonial context of the period and positions interest in fairy tales
within the wider nineteenth-century phenomenon of collecting objects and narratives
from across the Empire. It further demonstrates how narratives of race and
colonialism influenced both text and illustration in the Fairy Books. The conclusion
consists of a brief overview of Fairy Book editions that have been produced from
1910 to the present. Not only did the series achieve immediate popularity during its
initial publication, but it has also remained in print for over a century. Through an
exploration of the series as a material, publishing phenomenon, and by attending
closely to presentational devices, this thesis re-examines the cultural significance of
Lang’s Fairy Books.