Andrew Lang (1844 1912) was a Scots poet, novelist, literary critic, and contributor to the field of anthropology. He is best known as a collector of folk and fairy tales. The Andrew Lang lectures at the University of St Andrews are named after him. Lang was also a prolific author of works both fiction and non. The White Duck is a Russian fairy tale included it in The Yellow Fairy Book. The story follows a young beautiful queen, just married to king. Soon after the wedding the king had to go on a journey. He sternly warned his wife against leaving the women's quarters and listening to bad advice. But eventually she was lured outside into the garden and into a pool by a wicked evil witch.