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Russian Fairy Tales A Choice Collection of Muscovite Folk-lore
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426 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 4, 1887
118 people are currently reading
414 people want to read
About the author
William Ralston Shedden Ralston
78 books1 followerAlso known as W.R.S. Ralston
William Ralston Shedden-Ralston (born William Shedden and later known as William Ralston) was a noted British scholar of Russia and translator and Russian.
He was the only son of W. P. Ralston Shedden, who made his fortune as a merchant in Calcutta and set up home in Palmira Square, Brighton, when he returned to England. William spent most of his early years there. Together with three or four other boys he studied under the Rev. John Hogg of Brixham, Devonshire, until he went to Trinity College, Cambridge in 1846, where he graduated with a BA in 1850.
During this period William's father entered into a lengthy but unsuccessful litigation over his claim to Ralston estates in Ayrshire. The cost dissipated his fortune. The family pressed the claim for many years. Shedden's only sister took up the pleadings, and at one stage conducted the case before a committee of the House of Lords for more than thirty days. William had been called to the bar before the litigation began, but the change in the family's fortunes forced him to seek immediate remunerative employment. He also adopted the additional surname of Shedden.
In 1853 he went to work as a junior assistant in the printed-book department of the British Museum, where his zeal and ability won the respect of his superiors. The work began with the requisite two years copying titles for the printed books catalogue, and thereafter he rose slowly through the ranks. When he saw a need for someone who could catalogue Russian books, he began studying Russian, and even learned pages of the dictionary by heart.
He also studied Russian literature. He translated 93 of Ivan Andreevich Krylov's two hundred fables, and this work, published in 1868 as Krilof and his Fables, ran to numerous editions. The following year he brought out a translation of Ivan Turgenev's Nest of Gentlefolk as Liza; in 1872, his 439-page Songs of the Russian People as Illustrative of Slavonic Mythology and Russian Social Life, and in 1873 a bloodthirsty collection of Russian Folk Tales. He made two or three journeys to Russia, formed numerous literary acquaintances there, and had a lasting friendship with Turgenev. He also became a corresponding member of the Imperial Academy of Sciences of St. Petersburg. He visited Serbia twice, and made numerous visits to Germany, Belgium, and Switzerland.
In 1874 he published Early Russian History, the substance of four lectures delivered at the Taylor Institution in Oxford. His visits to Russia were mainly to collect material for another, more comprehensive account. Having contracted for its publication with Messrs. Cassell & Co, at the last moment he allowed them to cancel the agreement and publish instead Donald Mackenzie Wallace's book Russia.
He also possessed a gift for narrating stories orally. He devised a novel form of public entertainment, telling stories to large audiences in lecture-halls, making several successful appearances at St. George's and St James's Halls. He gave story-tellings to the young princes and princesses at Marlborough House, and to other social gatherings; and also, in aid of charities, to audiences in east London and the provinces.
His health failing, he resigned from the British Museum in 1875 and sought to devote himself to literary work, but he was susceptible to acute depression and became increasingly withdrawn. Nevertheless he wrote for the Athenæum magazine and the Saturday Review, as well as the Nineteenth Century and other magazines.
William Ralston Shedden-Ralston (born William Shedden and later known as William Ralston) was a noted British scholar of Russia and translator and Russian.
He was the only son of W. P. Ralston Shedden, who made his fortune as a merchant in Calcutta and set up home in Palmira Square, Brighton, when he returned to England. William spent most of his early years there. Together with three or four other boys he studied under the Rev. John Hogg of Brixham, Devonshire, until he went to Trinity College, Cambridge in 1846, where he graduated with a BA in 1850.
During this period William's father entered into a lengthy but unsuccessful litigation over his claim to Ralston estates in Ayrshire. The cost dissipated his fortune. The family pressed the claim for many years. Shedden's only sister took up the pleadings, and at one stage conducted the case before a committee of the House of Lords for more than thirty days. William had been called to the bar before the litigation began, but the change in the family's fortunes forced him to seek immediate remunerative employment. He also adopted the additional surname of Shedden.
In 1853 he went to work as a junior assistant in the printed-book department of the British Museum, where his zeal and ability won the respect of his superiors. The work began with the requisite two years copying titles for the printed books catalogue, and thereafter he rose slowly through the ranks. When he saw a need for someone who could catalogue Russian books, he began studying Russian, and even learned pages of the dictionary by heart.
He also studied Russian literature. He translated 93 of Ivan Andreevich Krylov's two hundred fables, and this work, published in 1868 as Krilof and his Fables, ran to numerous editions. The following year he brought out a translation of Ivan Turgenev's Nest of Gentlefolk as Liza; in 1872, his 439-page Songs of the Russian People as Illustrative of Slavonic Mythology and Russian Social Life, and in 1873 a bloodthirsty collection of Russian Folk Tales. He made two or three journeys to Russia, formed numerous literary acquaintances there, and had a lasting friendship with Turgenev. He also became a corresponding member of the Imperial Academy of Sciences of St. Petersburg. He visited Serbia twice, and made numerous visits to Germany, Belgium, and Switzerland.
In 1874 he published Early Russian History, the substance of four lectures delivered at the Taylor Institution in Oxford. His visits to Russia were mainly to collect material for another, more comprehensive account. Having contracted for its publication with Messrs. Cassell & Co, at the last moment he allowed them to cancel the agreement and publish instead Donald Mackenzie Wallace's book Russia.
He also possessed a gift for narrating stories orally. He devised a novel form of public entertainment, telling stories to large audiences in lecture-halls, making several successful appearances at St. George's and St James's Halls. He gave story-tellings to the young princes and princesses at Marlborough House, and to other social gatherings; and also, in aid of charities, to audiences in east London and the provinces.
His health failing, he resigned from the British Museum in 1875 and sought to devote himself to literary work, but he was susceptible to acute depression and became increasingly withdrawn. Nevertheless he wrote for the Athenæum magazine and the Saturday Review, as well as the Nineteenth Century and other magazines.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 24, 2024
If you're looking for a collection of fairy tales a la Brothers Grimm, this is not it. Try Afanasyev's Russian Fairy Tales.
But if you're nerdy like me and don't mind an academic bent, this is an intriguing analysis of "skazki." I appreciated that Ralston offered some idea of the culture and norms surrounding these tales. He regularly summarized a popular story and then pointed out other variations of that story among different Slavic regions as well as around the world; to me, that was one of the most interesting aspects of the book. It is so fascinating to see the same basic stories reiterated across time and cultures!
At the conclusion of the book, Ralston says that he will be glad if he succeeds "in interesting the general reader in the tales of the Russian People." I can say with confidence that for at least one general reader, Mr. Ralston, you accomplished your aim.
Would love to own a physical copy of this book someday so I can take copious notes in the margins :)
But if you're nerdy like me and don't mind an academic bent, this is an intriguing analysis of "skazki." I appreciated that Ralston offered some idea of the culture and norms surrounding these tales. He regularly summarized a popular story and then pointed out other variations of that story among different Slavic regions as well as around the world; to me, that was one of the most interesting aspects of the book. It is so fascinating to see the same basic stories reiterated across time and cultures!
At the conclusion of the book, Ralston says that he will be glad if he succeeds "in interesting the general reader in the tales of the Russian People." I can say with confidence that for at least one general reader, Mr. Ralston, you accomplished your aim.
Would love to own a physical copy of this book someday so I can take copious notes in the margins :)
Read
April 30, 2019Read it for work research. It's covering the most common fairy tales from Russian Folklore and gives extra explanations on similarities between these stories and ones from other cultures. It feels a bit westernized compared to reading the other translations but for extracting themes and common tropes it's good.
April 14, 2020
There ought to be a disclaimer on this book saying that it's a compendium of repeated fairy tales in slightly different versions from across the globe. I've picked up this book on and off, and it has been a painful slog to get through. The stories are not well organized (I read the digitized version), with no clear separation between stories/chapters.
Most of the time, this book felt like a vehicle for the author to espouse EVERYTHING he knew, even if it only connected in some obscure way. There needed to be more transitions between the author's ramblings and the actual stories, and the title should be renamed to "Russian" fairy tales that also somehow span into Indian, Greek and far western folklore.
Aside from the author's frustrating tangents. There were a few amusing stories like the one where a girl "disappeared leaving nothing left but her back hair."
Most of the time, this book felt like a vehicle for the author to espouse EVERYTHING he knew, even if it only connected in some obscure way. There needed to be more transitions between the author's ramblings and the actual stories, and the title should be renamed to "Russian" fairy tales that also somehow span into Indian, Greek and far western folklore.
Aside from the author's frustrating tangents. There were a few amusing stories like the one where a girl "disappeared leaving nothing left but her back hair."
January 29, 2019
I now see where so much from the Winternight trilogy came from! However, I have serious issues with the unfortunate formatting and layout of this book. Stories were told in weird conglomerations - oh, in another version instead it goes like THIS etc. - and there weren't good paragraphing and indentations used. It just looked like a load of text thrown into these pages. It was neat to hear how the same folklore shows up globally - for example, the Russian Rip Van Winkle is in here - and how Frost becomes personified, like our own Jack Frost legends... a good reference book perhaps, but not a wise choice for a smooth cover-to-cover read.
March 18, 2018
What is it with 19th century folk tale scholars?
It's like they have to include a bunch of scholarly obscurities in order to justify their passion! Still, the translation slash story telling redeems the scholarship. Highly recommended. Just skip the intro if you aren't on caffeine!
It's like they have to include a bunch of scholarly obscurities in order to justify their passion! Still, the translation slash story telling redeems the scholarship. Highly recommended. Just skip the intro if you aren't on caffeine!
August 29, 2018
Here is a collection put together in the mid 19th century. For those interested in folk tales, myth, and the like, familiar with tales collected by the brothers Grimm, this will be a fascinating study in contrast. Ralston is a scholar who was truly interested in the authentic versions of Russian tales. He didn't care about making them cozy for worried parents.
August 3, 2020
I have enjoyed reading fairy tales they are short and there is so much more I wish they went into but I love seeing where so many of the books I have read get their ideas for stories and tropes. It was also interesting to see how these fairy tales were like those from the brothers grim and how they were different.
November 16, 2023
If you're looking for lovely, if a little twisted Slavic tales,
go find a different book. Absolutely wacked stories. Not for children. Not for bedtime.
Doesn't include fun Russian tales that people love. More like some weird ghost stories.
go find a different book. Absolutely wacked stories. Not for children. Not for bedtime.
Doesn't include fun Russian tales that people love. More like some weird ghost stories.
December 23, 2022
There is some very dark stories here and there is very little in terms of actionable takeaways. that being said the stories are nice
September 8, 2021
What I expected this book to be, and what it is, are different.
I expected a collection of Russian Fairy Tales, told in narrative form and possibly laid out in chronological order, or by theme, perhaps.
What I got was an academic analysis of Russian tales, with a deeper discussion of the origins, themes, meanings, and cultural context in which they were told. The tales were still there, but were selected to demonstrate particular cultural ideas.
To criticize the tone or approach based on my mistaken expectations as if it were the author's fault that I misunderstood the purpose of the book (as I've seen in some other reviews here) would be an arrogant, conceited, and ultimately worthless exercise.
For the book that it was, I appreciated the depth of research that went into it, as well as the stories themselves.
I expected a collection of Russian Fairy Tales, told in narrative form and possibly laid out in chronological order, or by theme, perhaps.
What I got was an academic analysis of Russian tales, with a deeper discussion of the origins, themes, meanings, and cultural context in which they were told. The tales were still there, but were selected to demonstrate particular cultural ideas.
To criticize the tone or approach based on my mistaken expectations as if it were the author's fault that I misunderstood the purpose of the book (as I've seen in some other reviews here) would be an arrogant, conceited, and ultimately worthless exercise.
For the book that it was, I appreciated the depth of research that went into it, as well as the stories themselves.
April 9, 2016
More stories less commentary
This book was an interesting read. I enjoyed learning some of the Russian tells . I would have preceded more of the stories and less of the commentary , but that was the style of the book and the intent of the author was to reference tales from other nations and the origins of the tales.
This book was an interesting read. I enjoyed learning some of the Russian tells . I would have preceded more of the stories and less of the commentary , but that was the style of the book and the intent of the author was to reference tales from other nations and the origins of the tales.
Want to read
March 20, 2015kindle
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews