अमृतफळे

by Leon Z. Surmelian, G.A. Kulkarni (Translator)

Collection of 40 tales from the rich oral tradition of Armenia. The English translation as they are actually told in Armenia is a unique attempt. Professor Leon Surmelian is an Armenian lyric poet and a master of English prose.

Paperback

First published January 1, 1968

About the author

Leon Zaven Surmelian is an Armenian-American author, was born in Trabezond, Turkey (Western Armenia). The most important literary work he did was translating the Armenian Epic, "Daredevils of Sassoun" (1964, Published by the Armenian General Benevolent Union) into English.

Reviews

[Mary Catelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection, starting with fairy tales and going on to other folktales of fools and clever characters, and such like mundane tales.

You have to know your fairy tales to recognize many of the types. Even the Cinderella variant -- The Red Cow features not only a quite different helper, but a brother and sister pair, and many are less familiar types. In particular, the hero is uncommonly likely to end up with two brides, not typical of European tales at all (except sometimes in Irish).

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous collection of Armenian folktales. Some of them were familiar, and several of them were delightful revelations--particularly "The Goat" and "Father Slik Goes to Paradise." There were also some wonderful proverbs throughout. I loved this one: "The flattering lamb can drink milk from seven ewes."

[Joel · Rating 4 out of 5]

For those who love medieval literature - Chaucer or the Brothers Grim - for those who love faerie tales from Ireland - you will love Apples of Immortality. They come from the olden Armenian traditions, handed down from father to son (or more probably grandfather to grandson); and are tales of giants and the devilish Divs who abduct fair maidens and the wicked kings who steal babies and the fights of the knights or the peasant heroes against injustice. In this rendering, Leon Surmelian - Armenia's arguably greatest (English speaking) writer brings his characteristic style to the retelling of the lore of his ancient patch of earth nestled between the seas, above Persia and below Colchis along a ridge of mountains that is still rising, the meeting-grounds of worlds. Buy this for your medieval collection; read it to your little boy (as I did, editing out some of the saltier stuff - the world 1000 years ago was a rough place) and use the stories to answer his question, "What's the lesson from this story daddy?" 'Three apples fell from a tree: one for the listener, one for the teller of the tale and one for he who heeded its lessons'.

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

They attained their wish, and may you likewise attain your wish.
Three apples fell from heaven, one for the teller of this tale, one for the listener, and one for him who heeds the teller's words.

Fabulous collection of folktales of Armenia, which beautifully reflect the melting pot of cultures of this ancient land halfway between the East and the West. Surprising!