Slavic Folklore: A Handbook

by Natalie Kononenko

Slavic folklore has great cultural significance and international influence. Written for students and general readers, this book offers a brief but thorough introduction to Slavic folklore. Included are explanations of the different types of Slavic folklore, the role of Slavic folklore in literature and popular culture, and the state of criticism and scholarship on this field of interest. The volume provides numerous examples and cites print and electronic sources for further reading.

The people of Eastern Europe have a long and rich cultural history. Central to that history are the folktales, traditions, and customs of the region. Some elements of Slavic folklore, such as vampire legends and Easter eggs, are well known, while others are more obscure. And when the Slavs came to America, they brought much of their folklore to the new world, where it continues to flourish today. This book is a short but thorough introduction to Slavic folklore.

Written expressly for students and general readers, it systematically overviews Slavic folklore. It discusses the many different types of folklore and summarizes scholarship and research on the subject. It provides a wide range of texts and examples from the Slavic folk tradition and explores the role of Slavic folklore in literature and popular culture. The volume cites numerous print and electronic sources and closes with a glossary and selected, general bibliography. Literature students will enjoy learning about Slavic tales and customs, while students in social studies classes will learn more about the culture of Eastern Europe.

Genres: Nonfiction, Folklore, Russia, Ukraine, Mythology, History, Academic

232 pages, Hardcover

First published September 30, 2007

Reviews

[Igpy Kin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A solid survey of different aspects of Slavic folklore and folk culture; excellent if you're looking for a starting point for further research, with a wide range of references.

[Dean Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the work, but it was not something I expected. Rather than work on Slavic Folklore, it looked like a reader for instructing on Russian Folklore. Nothing wrong with that, and it was very scholarly. However, I think it's good to know that this is not a collection of folk tales. It is a very food reference that will help you find Slavic Folktale information. I would recommend this to Students, College instructors or Librarians.

[Celina M · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great anthropology textbook on Slavic folklore. To someone without professional training in the subject, this was a great way to get a wider (and more academic) understanding of the subject. The ethnography of traditional material culture was particularly interesting. The only thing it is lacking is I wish there was more discussion on Polish and west Slavic folklore.

[T.Z. Dancer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed it, although it mailny concentrates on the Russian and Ukrainian folklore. The writer has started that at the very beginning of her book so it was not a surprise. Still, it would have been nice to see something more about the Bulgarian folklore in there. All in all, a very good and informative book on Slavic folklore.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, would like to read more folk tales and mythology.