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In the mid-19th century, inspired by the Brothers Grimm's work in Germany, Alexander Afanasyev embarked on an ambitious endeavour to sift through the vast repository of Russian folklore tales and curate the finest selections from written and oral sources. The result was an eight-volume collection comprising around 600 stories, which became one of the most influential and enduringly popular works in Russian literature. This substantial selection from Afanasyev's work, presented in a new translation by Stephen Pimenoff, offers English readers the opportunity to discover one of the founding texts of the European folkloristic tradition.
Featuring a vast array of unforgettable characters, such as the Baba-Yaga, Ivan the Fool, Vasilisa the Fair, and the Firebird, these tales – by turns adventurous, comical, and downright madcap – will enchant readers with their raw beauty and constant ability to surprise and excite.
In the mid-19th century, inspired by the Brothers Grimm's work in Germany, Alexander Afanasyev embarked on an ambitious endeavour to sift through the vast repository of Russian folklore tales and curate the finest selections from written and oral sources. The result was an eight-volume collection comprising around 600 stories, which became one of the most influential and enduringly popular works in Russian literature. This substantial selection from Afanasyev's work, presented in a new translation by Stephen Pimenoff, offers English readers the opportunity to discover one of the founding texts of the European folkloristic tradition.
Featuring a vast array of unforgettable characters, such as the Baba-Yaga, Ivan the Fool, Vasilisa the Fair, and the Firebird, these tales – by turns adventurous, comical, and downright madcap – will enchant readers with their raw beauty and constant ability to surprise and excite.