"Legends, folk tales and fairy tales all had a profound impact on Russian painting of the nineteenth and early twentieth century. The Russian artists who dealt with these subjects chose sometimes to paint large canvases in which the greatness and grandeur of the Russian countryside fuses with the magical world of the imagination. The paintings of Viktor Vasnetsov, Nikolai Roerikh, and Mikhail Vrubel, the illustrations of Ivan Bilibin and Elena Polenova, and the works of Vasily Kandinsky register most impressively the worlds of fantasy and the imagination." "This book presents more than 90 illustrations of these fascinating works, while the essays shed interesting light on how these stories contributed to and influenced the visual arts. The book also contains summaries of the fairy tales depicted in these paintings, whereby the reader is given an overview of the major Russian folk tales."--BOOK JACKET.

Richly represented in the Russian folktale tradition, the legends are religious tales (types 750-849 in the Aame-Thompson index) in a peasant village setting. Among the standard themes is the return of Christ, who wanders through rural Russia with his disciples. Satan appears here too, as do a cast of spirits and lesser devils. Pre-Christian gods may be recognized in tales of saints Ilya and Nikolai (Elijah and Saint Nicholas). The hapless peasant in these tales - cheated, betrayed, impoverished, foolish, orphaned, crippled - take the reader deep into the traditional village culture of Russia and into the imperfect human quest for moral choice and justice on this earth.

Collection of traditional tales from the villages and towns of Russia.

Covers the myths and legends of the Russian Empire at its greatest extent as well as other Slavic people and countries. Includes historical, geographical, and biographical background information.

This volume offers the first comprehensive guide in English to the myth and legend of the Russian Empire and other Slavic countries and peoples. There are few stories more stirring than those of ancient Russia. Russian and other Slavic beliefs weave a rich tapestry in which real-world elements coexist with those from fantasy, such as dragons, monsters, and shape-changing wolves. Though Russia adopted Christianity as the state religion in A.D. 988, paganism remained popular through the end of the 19th century and survives in isolated pockets even today. In Russian myth and legend, Christian themes are interwoven with pagan ideas: dragons fight priests, saints encounter nymphs, and witches enter the kingdom of heaven. Encyclopedia of Russian and Slavic Myth and Legend includes extensive historical, geographical, and biographical background to deepen the reader's understanding of the myth and legend. Numerous illustrations are included in this fascinating volume, which will be of great interest to students, scholars, and everyone who wishes to explore the cultural heritage of ancient Russia.

This introduction to the Russian folktale considers the origin, structure and language of folktales; tale-tellers and their audiences; the relationship of folktales to Russian ritual life; and the folktale types which are translated in subsequent volumes of "The Complete Russian Folktale".

The Russians very well know how to weave intriguing stories that keep readers hooked till the end. This ebook represents a thoughtful and beautifully illustrated collection of some of the finest Russian fairy and folk tales for people of all ages: Picture Fables for the Little Ones: The Cock and the Bean, The Goat and the Ram, The Hungry Wolf, The Peasant and the Bear, The Dog and the Cock, King Frost, The Bear's Paw, The Bear and the Old Man's Daughters, The Straw Ox, The Fox and the Blackbird; Fairy Tales: Snegorotchka, Fire Bird, Winged Wolf, Self-Playing Harp, Seven Brothers Ivan, Story of the Golden Mountain, Robber Nightingale, Renowned Hero, Mild Man, Duck with Golden Eggs, Bulat the Brave, Tsarevich and Ivashka with White Smock, Knight Yaroslav and Princess Anastasia, The Golden Mountain Morozko, Flying Ship, Muzhichek-As-Big-As-Your-Thumb, Tsarevich Ivan, Tale of Little Fool Ivan, The Feather of Fenist, Peasant Demyan, Enchanted Ring; Folk Tales: The Fiend, The Dead Mother, The Dead Witch, The Treasure, The Cross-Surety, The Awful Drunkard, The Bad Wife, The Golovikha, The Three Copecks, The Miser, The Fool and the Birch-Tree, The Mizgir, The Smith and the Demon, The Water Snake, The Water King and Vasilissa the Wise..