An optical circulator has a first collimator; a first block of birefringent material; a first compound polarization rotator; a light angle deflector (e.g., Wollaston prism); a second compound polarization rotator; a second block of birefringent material; and a second collimator. Light from the first fiber exits the first collimator along a first path into a first collimated beam that first hits the central plane on a crossing line between the interface and the central plane such that the first collimated beam exits the light angle deflector along a second path substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction and is received by the second fiber. Light from the second fiber exits the second collimator along the second path into a second collimated beam that exits the light angle deflector along a third path and is received by the third fiber.