Sixty Folk-Tales from Slavonic Sources

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

—

Title

Sixty Folk-Tales from Slavonic Sources

Language

en

Book source

Global Grey

Description max 80 words

A lively anthology of sixty folktales drawn from Bohemian, Serbian, Polish, and other Slavic traditions. First published in 1889, this collection offers readers a vibrant glimpse into Eastern European folklore, featuring magical creatures, clever heroes, and timeless moral lessons rooted in diverse dialects and cultural histories.

Summary up to 500 words

Compiled by A. H. Wratislaw, *Sixty Folk-Tales from Slavonic Sources* presents a comprehensive anthology of sixty narratives translated exclusively from Slavonic dialects. Organized by regional linguistic families, the collection traverses the mythological landscape of the Slavonic world, beginning with Bohemian tales such as 'Long, Broad, And Sharpsight,' where a prince selects a bride from a tower of painted damsels, only to discover she is a captive of a wizard. These stories introduce supernatural entities like the Jezinkas and the Wood-Lady, alongside the unique duality of life and death waters found in Slavic tradition. The narrative progresses through Moravian tales featuring the grim 'Godmother Death' and Hungarian-Slovenish stories like 'The Three Lemons.' Upper and Lower Lusatian sections introduce familiar figures like 'Little Red Hood,' while Polish and Kashubian tales explore themes of the supernatural, including 'The Spirit Of A Buried Man.' White Russian narratives feature elemental personifications like 'The Frost, The Sun, And The Wind,' and tales of soul transmigration where spirits transform from fish to humans. Great Russian stories include celestial variants of 'The Fisherman's Wife,' while Bulgarian tales offer 'Cinderella' and 'The Golden Apples.' Serbian narratives highlight heroic figures like Kraljevitch Marko and the mysterious Kurent. The collection concludes with Croatian and Illyrian-Slovenish tales, including 'The Daughter Of The King Of The Vilas.' Throughout the anthology, Wratislaw preserves the simple national speech of the people, blending humor, horror, and wonder. The work serves as a significant contribution to comparative mythology, documenting the rich folklore of Western, Eastern, and Southern Slavonians before these traditions were fully exhausted or lost to modernization.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Folklore
• Mythology
• Fairy Tales