Russian Fairy Tales: A Choice Collection of Muscovite Folk-lore

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

22373

Title

Russian Fairy Tales: A Choice Collection of Muscovite Folk-lore

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

W. R. S. Ralston presents a choice collection of Muscovite folk-lore, drawing primarily from the seminal works of Alexander Afanasief. This volume offers English readers an authentic, literal translation of Russian skazkas, ranging from humorous tales of simpletons to mythological narratives involving demons, witches, and supernatural beings. Ralston prioritizes fidelity to the original text over literary polish, aiming to familiarize readers with the unique spirit and structure of Russian storytelling traditions.

Summary up to 500 words

In *Russian Fairy Tales: A Choice Collection of Muscovite Folk-lore*, W. R. S. Ralston presents a rigorous translation of fifty-one Russian *skazkas*, drawing primarily from the extensive archives of Alexander Afanasief, with supplementary material from Khudyakof, Erlenvein, and Chudinsky. Ralston explicitly distances his work from the commercial distortions of earlier 'chap-book' literature, which he views as mere adaptations of foreign adventures like *Rustem* or *Buovo di Antona*. Instead, he aims to provide a faithful transcript of the Russian story-teller's voice, avoiding heavy mythological interpretation to let the narratives speak for themselves. The collection offers a comprehensive window into Slavic belief systems, balancing the grotesque and magical with the mundane. Readers encounter a vast supernatural tapestry featuring fearsome entities like the deathless Koshchei, the multi-eyed goats guarding the celestial hut, and the fearsome Baba Yaga. The tales explore profound themes including the dangers of avarice, the power of hasty words, and the thin veil separating the earthly realm from the underworld. Specific narratives, such as the 'Fiddler in Hell,' illustrate the complex relationship between the living and the dead, where a musician plays for three years to avoid torment before returning to the world of the living. Ralston includes ghost stories, vampire legends, and accounts of saints, providing an ethnographic record of pre-scientific Russian folklore. The volume covers everything from the 'heaven-tree' myth, where a beanstalk reaches the sky, to legends about rivers, demons like the Leshy, and the specific customs surrounding death, burial, and wailing. By prioritizing fidelity over polish, Ralston creates a valuable resource that not only entertains but also preserves the authentic spirit of Muscovite folk-lore, serving as both an anthology of wonder and a serious study of cultural history.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Folklore
• Russia