الغزال الأبيض

by Lyudmila Kopylova (Retold by), بسمة ناجي (Translator), عبد العزيز السماحي (Illustrator)

اسمع وانتبه.. هذه حكاية، عن غزال أبيض ضخم، قرونه متينة، يراه الجميع، ولا يقدر على صيده أحد...
حكاية شعبية من لاتفيا

Genres: Childrens, Folk Tales, Picture Books

28 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1973

Reviews

[Smitha Murthy · Rating 2 out of 5]

The typical Russian fairytale - men who shine as knights while “fair maidens” beg to be rescued. It’s tough to read fairytales anymore, I have realized, once you become more attuned to the intrinsic misogyny. On the plus side, there were some gorgeous illustrations.

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two brothers set off to become hunters in this Latvian folktale, but instead find themselves sparing the lives of two antelope, two wolves, and two hares, all of whom address them in human speech. Winning faithful animal allies through their compassion, the two brothers eventually go their separate ways, one falling victim to a wicked enchantment, the other battling a terrible sea monster, and saving three princesses. Naturally, it then falls to the successful brother to rescue his sibling...

I have a kindness for all things Latvian, as my brother-in-law and his wonderful family hail from that small Baltic country, and I enjoyed Fainna Solasko's retelling of this old folk legend. I did wonder a little that it was named after "The White Deer," as that elusive animal really played only a peripheral part in one half of the story. However that may be, it was an entertaining tale, and it was amusing to trace the narrative development in Nikolai Kochergin's smaller margin illustrations.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

This definitely has an exotic/foreign feel, partly due to the story, partly the art.

Translation is awkward in a couple of places. (especially wrt use of the word 'riddle')

If the animals had a role, I missed it. Was this a translation problem?

The tale is another spin on the beautiful (and unwed) daughter of a king.

[Shahriar Fahmid · Rating 1 out of 5]

খটমটে অনুবাদ তবে ছেলেবেলার কথা মনে পরলো 🤍

[Protyasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

মনোমুগ্ধকর অনুবাদ!