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Old Peter's Russian Tales
This is a book written far away in Russia, for English children who play in deep lanes with wild roses above them in the high hedges, or by the small singing becks that dance down the gray fells at home. Russian fairyland is quite different. Under my windows the wavelets of the Volkhov (which has its part in one of the stories) are beating quietly in the dusk. A gold light burns on a timber raft floating down the river. Beyond the river in the blue midsummer twilight are the broad Russian plain and the distant forest. Somewhere in that forest of great trees--a forest so big that the forests of England are little woods beside it--is the hut where old Peter sits at night and tells these stories to his grandchildren.
309 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1916
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507 people want to read
About the author
Arthur Ransome
298 books278 followersArthur Michell Ransome (January 18, 1884 – June 3, 1967) was an English author and journalist. He was educated in Windermere and Rugby.
In 1902, Ransome abandoned a chemistry degree to become a publisher's office boy in London. He used this precarious existence to practice writing, producing several minor works before Bohemia in London (1907), a study of London's artistic scene and his first significant book.
An interest in folklore, together with a desire to escape an unhappy first marriage, led Ransome to St. Petersburg, where he was ideally placed to observe and report on the Russian Revolution. He knew many of the leading Bolsheviks, including Lenin, Radek, Trotsky and the latter's secretary, Evgenia Shvelpina. These contacts led to persistent but unproven accusations that he "spied" for both the Bolsheviks and Britain.
Ransome married Evgenia and returned to England in 1924. Settling in the Lake District, he spent the late 1920s as a foreign correspondent and highly-respected angling columnist for the Manchester Guardian, before settling down to write Swallows and Amazons and its successors.
Today Ransome is best known for his Swallows and Amazons series of novels, (1931 - 1947). All remain in print and have been widely translated.
Arthur Ransome died in June 1967 and is buried at Rusland in the Lake District.
In 1902, Ransome abandoned a chemistry degree to become a publisher's office boy in London. He used this precarious existence to practice writing, producing several minor works before Bohemia in London (1907), a study of London's artistic scene and his first significant book.
An interest in folklore, together with a desire to escape an unhappy first marriage, led Ransome to St. Petersburg, where he was ideally placed to observe and report on the Russian Revolution. He knew many of the leading Bolsheviks, including Lenin, Radek, Trotsky and the latter's secretary, Evgenia Shvelpina. These contacts led to persistent but unproven accusations that he "spied" for both the Bolsheviks and Britain.
Ransome married Evgenia and returned to England in 1924. Settling in the Lake District, he spent the late 1920s as a foreign correspondent and highly-respected angling columnist for the Manchester Guardian, before settling down to write Swallows and Amazons and its successors.
Today Ransome is best known for his Swallows and Amazons series of novels, (1931 - 1947). All remain in print and have been widely translated.
Arthur Ransome died in June 1967 and is buried at Rusland in the Lake District.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
February 26, 2025
Blurb:
The stories in this book are those that Russian peasants tell their children and each other. In Russia hardly anybody is too old for fairy stories, and I have even heard soldiers on their way to the war talking of very wise and very beautiful princesses as they drank their tea by the side of the road. I think there must be more fairy stories told in Russia than anywhere else in the world. In this book are a few of those I like best. I have taken my own way with them more or less, writing them mostly from memory. They, or versions like them, are to be found in the coloured chap-books, in Afanasiev’s great collection, or in solemn, serious volumes of folklorists writing for the learned. My book is not for the learned, or indeed for grown-up people at all. No people who really like fairy stories ever grow up altogether. This is a book written far away in Russia, for English children who play in deep lanes with wild roses above them in the high hedges, or by the small singing becks that dance down the gray fells at home. Russian fairyland is quite different. Under my windows the wavelets of the Volkhov (which has its part in one of the stories) are beating quietly in the dusk. A gold light burns on a timber raft floating down the river. Beyond the river in the blue midsummer twilight are the broad Russian plain and the distant forest. Somewhere in that forest of great trees—a forest so big that the forests of England are little woods beside it—is the hut where old Peter sits at night and tells these stories to his grandchildren.
My review:
This collection of fairy tales is a favorite from childhood, and I was so excited to find a vintage, hardcover copy in excellent condition. We found our edition of Old Peter’s Russian Tales at Abebooks.com. It’s a reprint from 1967–the very year that Arthur Ransome passed away.
This lovely collection includes favorite tales retold like "Baba Yaga," "The Hut in the Forest," "Frost," and "Sadko." Arthur Ransome originally visited Russia before the Revolution and heard these tales from the people he met along the way. He then took these original tales and retold them with the characters of Old Peter (grandfather), Vanya and Maroosia (grandchildren). Connecting each tale, there’s conversation amongst them. Some stories are familiar, and some have only subtle differences. Regardless, this collection has great variety. His true life story is an interesting one as well.
Here are all the titles included:
-The Hut in the Forest
-The Tale of the Silver Saucer and the Transparent Apple
-Sadko
-Frost
-The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship
-Baba Yaga
-The Cat who became Head-Forester
-Spring in the Forest
-The Little Daughter of the Snow
-Prince Ivan, the Witch Baby, and the Little Sister of the Sun
-The Stolen Turnips, the Magic Tablecloth, the Sneezing Goat, and the Wooden Whistle
-Little Master Misery
-A Chapter of Fish
-The Golden Fish
-Who Lived in the Skull?
-Alenoushka and her Brother
-The Fire-Bird, the Horse of Power, and the Princess Vasilissa
-The Hunter and his Wife
-The Three Men of Power—Evening, Midnight, and Sunrise
Salt
-The Christening in the Village
It’s no wonder this book is loved by so many children and adults alike. The writing is lovely, yet easy enough for children to read on their own. The stories never get old. With that said, my only issue was the treatment and name-calling toward the female characters. Parents might want to be aware of this if they’re reading it with younger kids. The tales reflect the general attitudes toward women during this time, which is to be expected.
The illustrations by Dmitri Mitrokhin are perfect but few and far between, and they are often misplaced in the text. For example, there’s an illustration in the beginning of the book for page 300. Not every tale has an illustration either.
If you’d like to read this book without hunting down a physical copy, you can read the original at Project Gutenberg. That version does contain the illustrations as well. There are also websites offering free public domain Librivox audio links.
The stories in this book are those that Russian peasants tell their children and each other. In Russia hardly anybody is too old for fairy stories, and I have even heard soldiers on their way to the war talking of very wise and very beautiful princesses as they drank their tea by the side of the road. I think there must be more fairy stories told in Russia than anywhere else in the world. In this book are a few of those I like best. I have taken my own way with them more or less, writing them mostly from memory. They, or versions like them, are to be found in the coloured chap-books, in Afanasiev’s great collection, or in solemn, serious volumes of folklorists writing for the learned. My book is not for the learned, or indeed for grown-up people at all. No people who really like fairy stories ever grow up altogether. This is a book written far away in Russia, for English children who play in deep lanes with wild roses above them in the high hedges, or by the small singing becks that dance down the gray fells at home. Russian fairyland is quite different. Under my windows the wavelets of the Volkhov (which has its part in one of the stories) are beating quietly in the dusk. A gold light burns on a timber raft floating down the river. Beyond the river in the blue midsummer twilight are the broad Russian plain and the distant forest. Somewhere in that forest of great trees—a forest so big that the forests of England are little woods beside it—is the hut where old Peter sits at night and tells these stories to his grandchildren.
My review:
This collection of fairy tales is a favorite from childhood, and I was so excited to find a vintage, hardcover copy in excellent condition. We found our edition of Old Peter’s Russian Tales at Abebooks.com. It’s a reprint from 1967–the very year that Arthur Ransome passed away.
This lovely collection includes favorite tales retold like "Baba Yaga," "The Hut in the Forest," "Frost," and "Sadko." Arthur Ransome originally visited Russia before the Revolution and heard these tales from the people he met along the way. He then took these original tales and retold them with the characters of Old Peter (grandfather), Vanya and Maroosia (grandchildren). Connecting each tale, there’s conversation amongst them. Some stories are familiar, and some have only subtle differences. Regardless, this collection has great variety. His true life story is an interesting one as well.
Here are all the titles included:
-The Hut in the Forest
-The Tale of the Silver Saucer and the Transparent Apple
-Sadko
-Frost
-The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship
-Baba Yaga
-The Cat who became Head-Forester
-Spring in the Forest
-The Little Daughter of the Snow
-Prince Ivan, the Witch Baby, and the Little Sister of the Sun
-The Stolen Turnips, the Magic Tablecloth, the Sneezing Goat, and the Wooden Whistle
-Little Master Misery
-A Chapter of Fish
-The Golden Fish
-Who Lived in the Skull?
-Alenoushka and her Brother
-The Fire-Bird, the Horse of Power, and the Princess Vasilissa
-The Hunter and his Wife
-The Three Men of Power—Evening, Midnight, and Sunrise
Salt
-The Christening in the Village
It’s no wonder this book is loved by so many children and adults alike. The writing is lovely, yet easy enough for children to read on their own. The stories never get old. With that said, my only issue was the treatment and name-calling toward the female characters. Parents might want to be aware of this if they’re reading it with younger kids. The tales reflect the general attitudes toward women during this time, which is to be expected.
The illustrations by Dmitri Mitrokhin are perfect but few and far between, and they are often misplaced in the text. For example, there’s an illustration in the beginning of the book for page 300. Not every tale has an illustration either.
If you’d like to read this book without hunting down a physical copy, you can read the original at Project Gutenberg. That version does contain the illustrations as well. There are also websites offering free public domain Librivox audio links.
August 13, 2016
More than merely a collection of short stories, this book sets the mood through using the character of a grandfather (Old Peter) telling tales to his two grandchildren. In between tales, we glimpse a bit of everyday family life through events and conversations in their hut in the forest.
As for the Russian folktales themselves, the theme of "three" frequently repeats: three brothers, three sisters, three princesses, a snake with three heads, etc. And quite a few stories are built around the main characters of an old man and his nagging wife (who often gets what's coming to her in the end). There are stories with morals, whimsical adventures, and the very short, funny story: Who Lived in the Skull?.
This collection is in the public domain, free at: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/16981/...
As for the Russian folktales themselves, the theme of "three" frequently repeats: three brothers, three sisters, three princesses, a snake with three heads, etc. And quite a few stories are built around the main characters of an old man and his nagging wife (who often gets what's coming to her in the end). There are stories with morals, whimsical adventures, and the very short, funny story: Who Lived in the Skull?.
This collection is in the public domain, free at: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/16981/...
January 28, 2026
I read this collection because it was donated to our school, and after a student of mine read it and gave it a poor review, I thought I’d see why she thought what she did. Turns out, I agree with her assessment. Every single story felt like the same boring plot… poor peasants find a magical token (or creature), make a wish, get rich, the end. Yuck. The word “slogging” comes to mind… I’m happy to put this one behind me.
This was a good reminder that not every “classic” book is great simply because it’s a classic, just as modern books should not be cast aside simply because they’re new and untried. The proof is in the pages.
This was a good reminder that not every “classic” book is great simply because it’s a classic, just as modern books should not be cast aside simply because they’re new and untried. The proof is in the pages.
June 5, 2021
I'd forgotten about this one. Really enjoyed it. At one stage (around 30 years ago or more) I was travelling from Exeter to Derby on the train with my 4 year old son. I was reading stories from this book to him and, after stopping to pick up a lot of passengers at Birmingham New Street the noisy carriage gradually went very quiet. I was reading (I believe) fairly quietly, but when I looked up, just about the entire carriage was listening. I apologised to the two ladies at my table seat; a young white nurse and a middle aged black nurse. They smiled and both said. "No carry on. We're enjoying it." A real highlight of my reading life. They listened right through to the end of the story and then made a wonderful fuss of my lovely boy. Life is sometimes wonderful!
August 6, 2021
I enjoyed these stories. Somehow I can't recall in detail any of them right now. They are kind of jumbled together. I'd probably take them in better if I was sitting down and reading them rather than listening to the YouTube audio book while at the gym. Some of them I was familiar with and others were new, and I liked them all.
August 7, 2018
Brilliant collection of Russian fairytales! Loved it! ( Note for parents/teachers - just be aware that a stepmother calls her stepdaughter a hussy and a whore in one story...your child may need an explanation!)
October 15, 2022
This collection of fairy/folktales ranges from funny and fantastical to violent and scary. Overall (as an adult silent reading), I enjoyed it. However, there are themes that could be troubling for young/sensitive kiddos, so I've provided notes here as a heads-up to any caregivers who would like to be aware of content they may potentially find too intense/grisly/otherwise inappropriate for their younglings (or to know if there may be need for preparation or discussion). See below for a brief description of each chapter/tale.
*possible spoiler alert for some tales*
"The Hut in the Forest" - the introductory story, wherein Old Peter the grandfather begins telling folktales to his young companions: Maroosia, the granddaughter, and Vanya, the grandson. They live with Grandfather because their parents are dead. This framing story begins and ends each tale and the book as a whole. It's a sweet tribute to the tradition of storytelling, the older generation lovingly passing on the folktales of its culture.
#1: The Tale of the Silver Saucer and the Transparent Apple | ⭐⭐⭐ | - A Cinderella-type story with elements of some Beauty and the Beast versions and a hint of biblical Joseph and his jealous brothers. Definitely a resurrection/forgiveness theme. Sisters receive gifts from father, youngest sister's gift magically shows the bearer images of things happening around the world (think magic mirror/crystal ball), older sisters are jealous and want the gift for themselves, contriving an exceedingly wicked plot in an attempt to gain it.
**Notes on potentially troublesome content: The youngest sister is called Little Stupid. The older sisters kill her with an axe and bury her in the woods. 😱 (She is later raised back to life.) Her dead body is exhumed but she looks asleep, then there's a quest to restore her life. The sisters are imprisoned and eventually are ordered to be executed. Little Stupid (the only name by which we know her) pleads for them to be spared, and her wish is granted.
#2: Sadko | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | - A rags-to-riches story with an element of biblical Jonah. A poor minstrel receives a gift and uses it wisely to improve his station in life. Eventually he plays for the Tsar of the Sea and marries one of the ruler's daughters. Enjoyable, somewhat mysterious and wistful.
**Nothing to note, except perhaps that there was some description of the newlyweds holding each other tenderly.
#3: Frost |⭐⭐⭐ | - Some similarities to Cinderella/Toads & Diamonds. Wicked stepmother tries to rid herself of girl by sending her to "marry" Jack Frost/Old Man Winter (i.e. freeze to death in the forest). **Note: Stepmother uses the words "hussy" and "slut" as insults. Stepsister says, "Shut up, you slut!" and "Go to the devil!" Two girls die of exposure. Stepmother threatens to murder the father with various household implements.
#4: The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship | ⭐⭐⭐⭐| - The classic setup of a series of impossible tasks. Tsar makes decree that whoever brings him a flying ship may wed his daughter. Of course he breaks his promise when the Fool shows up with one and instead demands crazy tests be passed. The Fool is helped to succeed by the many friends he picked up along the way. I really liked this one. It has quite similar elements to the Italian tale "The Booby" as featured in Kate Douglas Wiggin's compilation of "Tales of Laughter."
**Nothing negative to note, except perhaps that the Fool was regarded as simple and stupid, and was treated very poorly by his family.
#5: Baba Yaga |⭐⭐⭐⭐| - Short introduction to the notorious Russian witch of the forest.
**Note: Includes mention of glowing skulls on sticks and that she eats bad children (the good ones manage to escape her).
#6: Baba Yaga and the Girl with the Kind Heart |⭐⭐⭐⭐| - An evil stepmother drives a little girl into the woods on an errand to Baba Yaga. The witch plans to eat her, but the girl, through kindness, earns the willing aid of the animals and objects in and around Baba Yaga's hut and escapes.
**Note: similar to notes for the Baba Yaga intro story.
#7: The Cat who became Head-Forester |⭐⭐⭐⭐| - A funny story of misjudged character and accidental good fortune. Very similar but highly superior to "The Fox and the Cat" (denoted as a Cossack story) as related in the fairy tale collection "Tales of Laughter" compiled by Kate Douglas Wiggin.
**Note: Cat is sewn up in a bag and thrown into the woods. Some deception by the lazy cat and cunning fox.
#8: Spring in the Forest / The Little Daughter of the Snow |⭐⭐⭐⭐| - Winter thaws for Old Peter and the children. He tells them of the maiden crafted out of snow by a lonely, childless couple. Their love for her is eventually tested and found wanting.
**Note: Grandfather responds to a question with, "You are a stupid little pigeon." Old man exclaims, "God of mine!"
#9: Prince Ivan, the Witch Baby, and the Little Sister of the Sun |⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐| - What is the little Prince to do? His baby sister was born with iron teeth, foretold to be a fast-growing witch who would eat up her family. With the aid of a kindly groom and a noble steed, Prince Ivan gallops away and meets interesting characters on his quest for safety. His kindness to them is rewarded later. A cumulative story with repeated elements, this was very enjoyable and with a structure quite pleasing.
**Note: the word 'dumb' is used throughout to mean mute. A boy is neglected, shamed, and despised by his parents because he doesn't speak. A baby witch eats her parents (mentioned, not depicted), changes size to become a giant (yet still a baby), and tries to eat her brother.
#10: "The Stolen Turnips, the Magic Tablecloth, the Sneezing Goat, and the Wooden Whistle" (😂 What a title!) |⭐⭐⭐| - Old Peter shares this story whenever his grandchildren are quarrelsome. A meek old man is repeatedly abused by his selfish wife. This eventually backfires on her and she reaps the consequences of her unkindness.
**Note: The wife is terrible and cruel. Several whippings. An implied death by falling down the stairs.
#11: "Little Master Misery" |⭐⭐⭐| - Somewhat allegorical, this features Misery as a living, breathing character in the vein of "Pilgrim's Progress," and reminiscent of "Pandora's box." It's both a rags-to-riches and riches-to-rags story, and has trace elements of "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves" in the relationship between the two brothers. Nice theme of generosity and repaying evil with good. Shows effects of visiting the tavern too frequently and subsequently coming to ruin.
#12: "A Chapter of Fish" |⭐⭐⭐⭐| - An origin story telling of the pike and how the other fishes managed to escape his clutches--er, teeth.
#13: "The Golden Fish" |⭐⭐⭐⭐| - A cautionary tale against greed and discontent. Poor fisherman catches a fish who speaks to him and pleads for its life. Afterwards let go, it offers to grant the old man wishes. Mean old wife demands bigger and bigger benefits and grows more abusive with each new success. One day, she asks for too much.
**Note: whippings and cruelty towards the old man. Threats of cutting head off and throwing body to the dogs. Name-calling: old fool, dolt, good-for-nothing, clown.
#14: "Who Lived in the Skull?" |⭐⭐| - A little fingerplay about animals entering a horse's skull much in the same way as the Ukrainian folktale "The Mitten" (author/illustrator Jan Brett did a good rendition). The animals squeeze inside one by one, until a big bear comes along.
**Note: *spoiler alert* in the end, the bear sits on the skull and crushes it. Implication is that everyone inside is now dead. Fingerplay ends with Old Peter giving a bear hug to grandchildren to "squash" them like the bear in the story squashed the animals.
#15: "Alenoushka and Her Brother" |⭐⭐⭐| - Two orphans are taken in by a kind gentleman. He marries the sister. A wicked hag comes along and puts spells on the girl, then takes her place in disguise.
**Note: Boy is magically turned into a lamb. Witch ties stone around girl's neck and throws her in the river. Orders are given for the lamb to be slaughtered. Mentions cutting its throat (*spoiler* but is spared and becomes a boy again). Sister sings to lamb from bottom of river. River is dragged and the drowned sister is found, looking asleep (*spoiler* but wakes up).
#16: "The Fire-Bird, the Horse of Power, and the Princess Vasilissa" |⭐⭐⭐⭐| - A young archer fails to heed the sage advice of his horse, picking up a lost feather of the firebird, thereby bringing much trouble upon himself. A greedy tzar repeatedly takes advantage of him until the archer is freed in the end by the joint efforts of the horse, a maiden, and his own courage/trust. The old villain is outsmarted, to his personal misfortune. (Some nice picture-book versions of this story include one by Toma Bogdanovic entitled "The Firebird: A Russian Folk Tale" and "The Firebird" by Brad Kessler.)
**Note: beheading is threatened multiple times. A girl is lured, drugged, and kidnapped in order to force her to become wife to the tzar. Magic potions implied. Someone enters a cauldron of boiling water and dies.
#17: "The Hunter and His Wife" |⭐⭐⭐| - Old Peter tells this tale when he needs a break from the children's incessant questions. Similar to a story in the "Arabian Nights" (called something like The Ox and the Donkey), a man is given the gift of understanding the speech of animals, with the warning that if ever he told the secret, he would meet death. His wife badgers him to tell her until he can't stand it anymore; he sets his affairs in order, prepares for death, and plans to tell her next time she asks. Then he hears his rooster both boasting of its impeccable control over his hens, and mocking the man himself over his out-of-control wife, and decides to take a different course than giving in to her demands.
**Note: the wife is ill-tempered and cruel. The man calls her a witch and beats her with his whip.
#18: "The Three Men of Power - Evening, Midnight, and Sunrise" |⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐| - Three brothers go questing to rescue the King's three lost daughters. Along the way, they are accosted by an angry dwarf and receive a good drubbing. This story has hidden palaces, Popeye-esque strength potions, dragons to slay, princesses to wed, and kingdoms to inherit.
**Note: mentions sheep being slaughtered, skinned, roasted. Several beatings and untruths told about what happened. Some teasing of dwarf in regard to his size. Description of beard having been torn out and leaving a trail of blood. Heads cut off serpents.
#19: "Salt" |⭐⭐⭐⭐| - After Old Peter claims there is a story for everything, Vanya, disbelieving, challenges him to tell a story of salt. There follows an amusing tale of an unlikely hero and the happy reversal of his circumstances, all because of salt (aaaand his cleverness, persistence, help from a giant, and a great dose of good fortune).
**Note: the main character is frequently called a ninny. His brothers dispose of him by throwing him overboard and leave him to die. A girl is kidnapped and forced to marry. There is some drinking and drunkenness.
#20: "The Christening in the Village" |⭐⭐⭐⭐| - Old Peter brings his grandchildren to see the christening of his new great-nephew/godson. [He tells a story along the way about two Russian rivers, the great Volga and the little Vazouza.] Detailed description of Russian customs regarding new babies: christening ceremony, visiting new mother, baby's cradle, etc. [Old Peter tells another tale on the way home, of Mr. Crane and Miss Heron, who repeatedly propose marriage and then insult one another. They are not very kind to each other and both somewhat stubborn.] The book ends as they arrive home at close of the busy, happy day.
[Read online courtesy of Project Gutenberg (gutenberg.org).]
*possible spoiler alert for some tales*
"The Hut in the Forest" - the introductory story, wherein Old Peter the grandfather begins telling folktales to his young companions: Maroosia, the granddaughter, and Vanya, the grandson. They live with Grandfather because their parents are dead. This framing story begins and ends each tale and the book as a whole. It's a sweet tribute to the tradition of storytelling, the older generation lovingly passing on the folktales of its culture.
#1: The Tale of the Silver Saucer and the Transparent Apple | ⭐⭐⭐ | - A Cinderella-type story with elements of some Beauty and the Beast versions and a hint of biblical Joseph and his jealous brothers. Definitely a resurrection/forgiveness theme. Sisters receive gifts from father, youngest sister's gift magically shows the bearer images of things happening around the world (think magic mirror/crystal ball), older sisters are jealous and want the gift for themselves, contriving an exceedingly wicked plot in an attempt to gain it.
**Notes on potentially troublesome content: The youngest sister is called Little Stupid. The older sisters kill her with an axe and bury her in the woods. 😱 (She is later raised back to life.) Her dead body is exhumed but she looks asleep, then there's a quest to restore her life. The sisters are imprisoned and eventually are ordered to be executed. Little Stupid (the only name by which we know her) pleads for them to be spared, and her wish is granted.
#2: Sadko | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | - A rags-to-riches story with an element of biblical Jonah. A poor minstrel receives a gift and uses it wisely to improve his station in life. Eventually he plays for the Tsar of the Sea and marries one of the ruler's daughters. Enjoyable, somewhat mysterious and wistful.
**Nothing to note, except perhaps that there was some description of the newlyweds holding each other tenderly.
#3: Frost |⭐⭐⭐ | - Some similarities to Cinderella/Toads & Diamonds. Wicked stepmother tries to rid herself of girl by sending her to "marry" Jack Frost/Old Man Winter (i.e. freeze to death in the forest). **Note: Stepmother uses the words "hussy" and "slut" as insults. Stepsister says, "Shut up, you slut!" and "Go to the devil!" Two girls die of exposure. Stepmother threatens to murder the father with various household implements.
#4: The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship | ⭐⭐⭐⭐| - The classic setup of a series of impossible tasks. Tsar makes decree that whoever brings him a flying ship may wed his daughter. Of course he breaks his promise when the Fool shows up with one and instead demands crazy tests be passed. The Fool is helped to succeed by the many friends he picked up along the way. I really liked this one. It has quite similar elements to the Italian tale "The Booby" as featured in Kate Douglas Wiggin's compilation of "Tales of Laughter."
**Nothing negative to note, except perhaps that the Fool was regarded as simple and stupid, and was treated very poorly by his family.
#5: Baba Yaga |⭐⭐⭐⭐| - Short introduction to the notorious Russian witch of the forest.
**Note: Includes mention of glowing skulls on sticks and that she eats bad children (the good ones manage to escape her).
#6: Baba Yaga and the Girl with the Kind Heart |⭐⭐⭐⭐| - An evil stepmother drives a little girl into the woods on an errand to Baba Yaga. The witch plans to eat her, but the girl, through kindness, earns the willing aid of the animals and objects in and around Baba Yaga's hut and escapes.
**Note: similar to notes for the Baba Yaga intro story.
#7: The Cat who became Head-Forester |⭐⭐⭐⭐| - A funny story of misjudged character and accidental good fortune. Very similar but highly superior to "The Fox and the Cat" (denoted as a Cossack story) as related in the fairy tale collection "Tales of Laughter" compiled by Kate Douglas Wiggin.
**Note: Cat is sewn up in a bag and thrown into the woods. Some deception by the lazy cat and cunning fox.
#8: Spring in the Forest / The Little Daughter of the Snow |⭐⭐⭐⭐| - Winter thaws for Old Peter and the children. He tells them of the maiden crafted out of snow by a lonely, childless couple. Their love for her is eventually tested and found wanting.
**Note: Grandfather responds to a question with, "You are a stupid little pigeon." Old man exclaims, "God of mine!"
#9: Prince Ivan, the Witch Baby, and the Little Sister of the Sun |⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐| - What is the little Prince to do? His baby sister was born with iron teeth, foretold to be a fast-growing witch who would eat up her family. With the aid of a kindly groom and a noble steed, Prince Ivan gallops away and meets interesting characters on his quest for safety. His kindness to them is rewarded later. A cumulative story with repeated elements, this was very enjoyable and with a structure quite pleasing.
**Note: the word 'dumb' is used throughout to mean mute. A boy is neglected, shamed, and despised by his parents because he doesn't speak. A baby witch eats her parents (mentioned, not depicted), changes size to become a giant (yet still a baby), and tries to eat her brother.
#10: "The Stolen Turnips, the Magic Tablecloth, the Sneezing Goat, and the Wooden Whistle" (😂 What a title!) |⭐⭐⭐| - Old Peter shares this story whenever his grandchildren are quarrelsome. A meek old man is repeatedly abused by his selfish wife. This eventually backfires on her and she reaps the consequences of her unkindness.
**Note: The wife is terrible and cruel. Several whippings. An implied death by falling down the stairs.
#11: "Little Master Misery" |⭐⭐⭐| - Somewhat allegorical, this features Misery as a living, breathing character in the vein of "Pilgrim's Progress," and reminiscent of "Pandora's box." It's both a rags-to-riches and riches-to-rags story, and has trace elements of "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves" in the relationship between the two brothers. Nice theme of generosity and repaying evil with good. Shows effects of visiting the tavern too frequently and subsequently coming to ruin.
#12: "A Chapter of Fish" |⭐⭐⭐⭐| - An origin story telling of the pike and how the other fishes managed to escape his clutches--er, teeth.
#13: "The Golden Fish" |⭐⭐⭐⭐| - A cautionary tale against greed and discontent. Poor fisherman catches a fish who speaks to him and pleads for its life. Afterwards let go, it offers to grant the old man wishes. Mean old wife demands bigger and bigger benefits and grows more abusive with each new success. One day, she asks for too much.
**Note: whippings and cruelty towards the old man. Threats of cutting head off and throwing body to the dogs. Name-calling: old fool, dolt, good-for-nothing, clown.
#14: "Who Lived in the Skull?" |⭐⭐| - A little fingerplay about animals entering a horse's skull much in the same way as the Ukrainian folktale "The Mitten" (author/illustrator Jan Brett did a good rendition). The animals squeeze inside one by one, until a big bear comes along.
**Note: *spoiler alert* in the end, the bear sits on the skull and crushes it. Implication is that everyone inside is now dead. Fingerplay ends with Old Peter giving a bear hug to grandchildren to "squash" them like the bear in the story squashed the animals.
#15: "Alenoushka and Her Brother" |⭐⭐⭐| - Two orphans are taken in by a kind gentleman. He marries the sister. A wicked hag comes along and puts spells on the girl, then takes her place in disguise.
**Note: Boy is magically turned into a lamb. Witch ties stone around girl's neck and throws her in the river. Orders are given for the lamb to be slaughtered. Mentions cutting its throat (*spoiler* but is spared and becomes a boy again). Sister sings to lamb from bottom of river. River is dragged and the drowned sister is found, looking asleep (*spoiler* but wakes up).
#16: "The Fire-Bird, the Horse of Power, and the Princess Vasilissa" |⭐⭐⭐⭐| - A young archer fails to heed the sage advice of his horse, picking up a lost feather of the firebird, thereby bringing much trouble upon himself. A greedy tzar repeatedly takes advantage of him until the archer is freed in the end by the joint efforts of the horse, a maiden, and his own courage/trust. The old villain is outsmarted, to his personal misfortune. (Some nice picture-book versions of this story include one by Toma Bogdanovic entitled "The Firebird: A Russian Folk Tale" and "The Firebird" by Brad Kessler.)
**Note: beheading is threatened multiple times. A girl is lured, drugged, and kidnapped in order to force her to become wife to the tzar. Magic potions implied. Someone enters a cauldron of boiling water and dies.
#17: "The Hunter and His Wife" |⭐⭐⭐| - Old Peter tells this tale when he needs a break from the children's incessant questions. Similar to a story in the "Arabian Nights" (called something like The Ox and the Donkey), a man is given the gift of understanding the speech of animals, with the warning that if ever he told the secret, he would meet death. His wife badgers him to tell her until he can't stand it anymore; he sets his affairs in order, prepares for death, and plans to tell her next time she asks. Then he hears his rooster both boasting of its impeccable control over his hens, and mocking the man himself over his out-of-control wife, and decides to take a different course than giving in to her demands.
**Note: the wife is ill-tempered and cruel. The man calls her a witch and beats her with his whip.
#18: "The Three Men of Power - Evening, Midnight, and Sunrise" |⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐| - Three brothers go questing to rescue the King's three lost daughters. Along the way, they are accosted by an angry dwarf and receive a good drubbing. This story has hidden palaces, Popeye-esque strength potions, dragons to slay, princesses to wed, and kingdoms to inherit.
**Note: mentions sheep being slaughtered, skinned, roasted. Several beatings and untruths told about what happened. Some teasing of dwarf in regard to his size. Description of beard having been torn out and leaving a trail of blood. Heads cut off serpents.
#19: "Salt" |⭐⭐⭐⭐| - After Old Peter claims there is a story for everything, Vanya, disbelieving, challenges him to tell a story of salt. There follows an amusing tale of an unlikely hero and the happy reversal of his circumstances, all because of salt (aaaand his cleverness, persistence, help from a giant, and a great dose of good fortune).
**Note: the main character is frequently called a ninny. His brothers dispose of him by throwing him overboard and leave him to die. A girl is kidnapped and forced to marry. There is some drinking and drunkenness.
#20: "The Christening in the Village" |⭐⭐⭐⭐| - Old Peter brings his grandchildren to see the christening of his new great-nephew/godson. [He tells a story along the way about two Russian rivers, the great Volga and the little Vazouza.] Detailed description of Russian customs regarding new babies: christening ceremony, visiting new mother, baby's cradle, etc. [Old Peter tells another tale on the way home, of Mr. Crane and Miss Heron, who repeatedly propose marriage and then insult one another. They are not very kind to each other and both somewhat stubborn.] The book ends as they arrive home at close of the busy, happy day.
[Read online courtesy of Project Gutenberg (gutenberg.org).]
dnf-or-set-aside-for-now
February 9, 2015This is an entertaining collection of Russian folk tales. I love that the tales are connected through the three characters: old Peter, and his grandchildren Vanya and Maroosia. He is telling the children these tales and there are small bits of conversation at the beginning and/or end of each tale.
We took our time reading this book and even had to bring it back to the library once in order to check it back out. We had heard some of the stories before, but many were new to us. Some were quite stark in the reality of living in the Russian winter, and others presented some very evil people. Still, we really enjoyed reading these stories together, and our girls especially loved hearing familiar tales told in a slightly different way, like Baba Yaga.
interesting quote:
"The old man listened till she was out of breath and could not say another word. That, my dears, is the only wise thing to do when a woman is in a scolding rage." (p. 43)
We took our time reading this book and even had to bring it back to the library once in order to check it back out. We had heard some of the stories before, but many were new to us. Some were quite stark in the reality of living in the Russian winter, and others presented some very evil people. Still, we really enjoyed reading these stories together, and our girls especially loved hearing familiar tales told in a slightly different way, like Baba Yaga.
interesting quote:
"The old man listened till she was out of breath and could not say another word. That, my dears, is the only wise thing to do when a woman is in a scolding rage." (p. 43)
April 8, 2015
A collection of fairy tales from Russian, rewritten for English children. . . .
You can tell the rewritting not only because it's done up in a frame story of Old Peter telling his two grandchildren, but because of literary effects in some of them. Still some interesting tales, variants on familiar Russian tales. And the tale of the snow child got combined with the tale of the Russian Snowwhite, who got lost in the woods and got offers from animals to guide her back.
You can tell the rewritting not only because it's done up in a frame story of Old Peter telling his two grandchildren, but because of literary effects in some of them. Still some interesting tales, variants on familiar Russian tales. And the tale of the snow child got combined with the tale of the Russian Snowwhite, who got lost in the woods and got offers from animals to guide her back.
October 16, 2016
I love Russian folktales and these are nicely retold by Arthur Ransome. I enjoyed the way he connected all of the stories by having a grandfather relate them to his grandchildren. I need to read about Arthur Ransome's Russian period, apparently he was suspected of being a spy and married Trotsky's secretary.
Want to read
May 18, 2008Arthur Ransome, author of the Swallows and Amazons series of books, collected these Russian tales and I finally found a copy in the library. Fun stuff!
March 6, 2014
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 20, 2020
I remember these stories fondly from my childhood. My father read them to me when I was very young, and then I read them myself when I was a little older. I remember in particular being rather scared by the witch with iron teeth, Baba Yaga! Now, nostalgically reading these stories again as an adult and grandparent, they still hold their charm. My only irritation is the portrayal of women. As is so common in fairy tales and fables, women are either bad: ugly crones, evil sisters or step mothers, witches, scolding wives... or good: unusually beautiful or exceptionally kind. Women have little say in who they marry, and are usually either victims or powerless.
Arthur Ransome is a master story-teller. The language is poetic and flowing, and the predictable and repetitious aspects of the telling, that children so love, are always delightfully rendered and never dull. I had not remembered that the tales are told within the story of Old Peter and his grandchildren, Maroosia and Vanya. This in itself is delightful, and gives a picture of peasant life in Russia, although it may be a romantic view.
All in all, I find this collection of stories more satisfying than many collections of fantasy stories for children, or of fairy tales. There is great variety in these stories (apart from the predictable nature of the womenfolk) and the magical happenings are not so predictable and following a prescribed pattern as in other collections.
Arthur Ransome is a master story-teller. The language is poetic and flowing, and the predictable and repetitious aspects of the telling, that children so love, are always delightfully rendered and never dull. I had not remembered that the tales are told within the story of Old Peter and his grandchildren, Maroosia and Vanya. This in itself is delightful, and gives a picture of peasant life in Russia, although it may be a romantic view.
All in all, I find this collection of stories more satisfying than many collections of fantasy stories for children, or of fairy tales. There is great variety in these stories (apart from the predictable nature of the womenfolk) and the magical happenings are not so predictable and following a prescribed pattern as in other collections.
December 26, 2021
I like folk tales and this is a splendid collection of unfamiliar ones - unless you're Russian! Written in 1916 by Arthur Ransome, they still seem fresh and lively and haven't dated, although maybe a modern retelling would dispense with Old Peter's pipe! Many of the characters are universal - wicked stepmothers, kind/evil kings, wicked siblings, witches, wise animals, idiots etc., but the only characters I've actually come across before are the Firebird and Baba Yaga, although I had no knowledge of their stories. The witch, Baba Yaga, is great, with her iron teeth and hut on hen's legs - rather a departure from more usual fairy tale witches. Linking the stories with scenes in Old Peter's hut in the forest and his grandchildren, cat and dog is a nice device - I especially liked the final chapter with the trip to the christening - which put the tales into a real context and give a glimpse of Russian life. These are clearly stories that still resonated in Russia 100 years ago, as Ransome comments in his introduction: "I have even heard soldiers on their way to the war talking of very wise and beautiful princesses as they drank their tea by the side of the rode." A charming thought.
November 26, 2023
The stories in this book were too boring. I'm not sure why I expected that they would be darker. Maybe the image of the legendary witch Baba Yaga on the cover made me think that. But I do actually think that these were the actual tales that were told in old Russia. Incredibly plain and boring. Even the Baba Yaga story was lame. You'd think that one of the most creative mythical creatures ever would have some sort of back story or something. Nope. For the rest of them, replace the word kind with Tsar and have all the trees be birch and all the animals be either a cat, mouse, goose, fox, wolf or bear. The farmers wife is often annoying and step mothers are also evil. Good little princes and princesses always the heroes. The one good thing about this work which has more to do with Arthur Ransome is how he structures the book like a grandfather telling his grandchildren various stories in various occasions. It makes the reader become one of his grandchildren. They occasionally interrupt or ask questions. That was a nice creative touch to tie all of it together. I add a star for that reason.
December 16, 2025
This was a favourite book in childhood. We still have the copy from my mother's own childhood in the 1940s a lovely Red bound hardback. As a child I found the stories magical, combs that turn into forests etc. It made me long to visit Russia with its vast landscapes of forests, lakes, sea and its glittering palaces. Re-reading as an adult it is still magical. However, I now find the repeated misogyny distasteful - too many stories with a nagging wife who gets the beating she deserves etc. Also, reading between the lines is the extreme poverty of the Russian peasant. The trope of 'simple but happy' life is a romantic fantasy. There was a reason for the 1917 revolution. Of course, all these stories reflect a real cultural mindset that existed. But I'd be cautious about the messages that a young girl or boy would take from some of the stories.
March 15, 2022
After hearing of Baba Yaga (thank you John Wick) I was curious to learn more about Russian folktales. This volume was a good start. Ransome’s retelling of these stories struck me as a cross between the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm and many of the stories in the Thousand and One Nights. It speaks to the universality of folk tradition everywhere that tropes like the jealous sibling, the mean parent and the greedy spouse all make an appearance. Ransome selection also allows the reader to see the impact of Russia’s cold climate and marked social classes reflected in the details of the stories.
April 11, 2018
This is an entertaining mix of old fairytales - some myths, some fables, but most just stories set in traditional Russia. It would be very interesting to see Russian versions of these and compare them to Arthur Ransome's edition/translation - just how far has he Anglicised it all? How much of the style is his, and how much Russian? Is the setting (Old Peter and his grandchildren, Vanya and Maroosia) Ransome's or is it something older?
Not as dark or as blunt as Grimm's fairy tales, these are still at times pretty strange by English standards. Worth reading, as a child or an adult.
Not as dark or as blunt as Grimm's fairy tales, these are still at times pretty strange by English standards. Worth reading, as a child or an adult.
February 4, 2024
This collection of Russian folk tales, narrated by Old Peter to his grandchildren, is an entertaining introduction to Russian folklore but are darker and more gruesome than the sanitised Disney fairytales that most children these days are used to. Anyone reading them should be aware of misogyny (cruel old women who complain a lot abound), chauvinism, domestic abuse (men beating women and, occasionally, vice versa), and an emphasis on physical beauty (epitomised by golden hair and blue eyes).
I didn't love these tales and they did tend to merge together after a while, but I thought they were mildly entertaining. It was also interesting to compare them to the Grimm fairytales that I am more familiar with. I wouldn't recommend this book for very young children as a number of the tales are not appropriate for that age group (I can see my young self getting nightmares if they were read to me). Older children (8 or over) may enjoy them with parental guidance.
I didn't love these tales and they did tend to merge together after a while, but I thought they were mildly entertaining. It was also interesting to compare them to the Grimm fairytales that I am more familiar with. I wouldn't recommend this book for very young children as a number of the tales are not appropriate for that age group (I can see my young self getting nightmares if they were read to me). Older children (8 or over) may enjoy them with parental guidance.
March 1, 2025
A reread from my childhood, and it was still as magical.
Yes the stories have dated, and there are some very stereotypical characters, still these are fun fairytales and a nice way to lose oneself in Russian folklore.
Yes the stories have dated, and there are some very stereotypical characters, still these are fun fairytales and a nice way to lose oneself in Russian folklore.
December 8, 2025
A great little book of Russian fairytales. A little less dense than the Pantheon Alexander Afanasyev collection and therefore a bit more accessible to some, maybe. Both are worth owning if you’re into these kind of things.
September 26, 2018
A childhood favourite. Still got my rather threadbare copy and still enjoy reading it.
January 2, 2019
Read it for research. It's a very westernized approach to Russian fairy tales.
It didn't help much but it was short and got me into the "fairy tale" research mood.
It didn't help much but it was short and got me into the "fairy tale" research mood.
January 4, 2021
Amazing folks/fairy tales. Not quite appropriate for my kids yet (5 and 7y/o), but can’t wait to read it to them. A needed escape during these cold snowy days.
July 4, 2022
Would recommend to anyone any age. Good stories well told.
March 8, 2025
AB. Fun stories about some crazy Russian fairy tales.
November 16, 2025
lol em fan llegir coses ben bé curioses
September 14, 2019
Fabulous tales retold by a master storyteller.
December 11, 2009
Reason for Reading: read aloud to the 9yo, a story a day, every other week.
Comments: One of the wonderful aspects about this collection of Russian folk tales is that they are centred around Old Peter who looks after his grandchildren, a boy and a girl, because their parents are dead. Old Peter is known for his storytelling and the children are always clamouring for another story and sometimes Old Peter will start to tell one all on his. So at the beginning or ending of each story we have a little scene with Old Peter, Vanya and Maroosia that ties the whole book together.
Russian folk tales (or fairy tales) are absolutely splendid. This is the first time I've read this book, but I've run across a few of the tales in other compilations and in picture book format so not all were new to me but many were. The Russian folk tale is built upon some basic elements: more often than not the story is about peasants or the hero will be a peasant, they often involve the three sons or three daughters with the third less witty or most plain being our hero and finally repetition, repetition, repetition. The same scenario will repeat itself over and over and over until someone or something (perhaps an animal character) is smart enough to change the scene.
Another wonderful thing about Russian tales is that you often get three or four stories wrapped up into one tale. With common titles such as "Prince Ivan, the Witch Baby and the Little Sister of the Sun" the story will start out one way and just when you think it's ended it takes a turn on a new plot and just when that has been solved the tale up and finds another plot to follow. It's all wonderful great fun and a delight to read!
Some things to consider; these tales are not politically correct. Women are often spoken to/of in a demeaning way which is expected of 15th-17th century Russia but that doesn't mean there aren't some feisty women characters in some of the tales. There is also implied violence, people die if they have to whether it be quietly or by the edge of a sword. And finally, the tales are written with the Eastern Orthodox religion obviously being an everyday part of any self-respecting peasant's life with God being thanked and blessed many times.
I've always been fond of Russian tales (yes, there is a Baba Yaga tale here, as well as the famous "The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship") but I'm ever more so now having read this collection. Oh, I suppose I should mention, since I did read the book aloud to my son, that it was a big hit with him as well. It is actually rather sad now that we have finished this book, since we've had such a grand time together with it.
Comments: One of the wonderful aspects about this collection of Russian folk tales is that they are centred around Old Peter who looks after his grandchildren, a boy and a girl, because their parents are dead. Old Peter is known for his storytelling and the children are always clamouring for another story and sometimes Old Peter will start to tell one all on his. So at the beginning or ending of each story we have a little scene with Old Peter, Vanya and Maroosia that ties the whole book together.
Russian folk tales (or fairy tales) are absolutely splendid. This is the first time I've read this book, but I've run across a few of the tales in other compilations and in picture book format so not all were new to me but many were. The Russian folk tale is built upon some basic elements: more often than not the story is about peasants or the hero will be a peasant, they often involve the three sons or three daughters with the third less witty or most plain being our hero and finally repetition, repetition, repetition. The same scenario will repeat itself over and over and over until someone or something (perhaps an animal character) is smart enough to change the scene.
Another wonderful thing about Russian tales is that you often get three or four stories wrapped up into one tale. With common titles such as "Prince Ivan, the Witch Baby and the Little Sister of the Sun" the story will start out one way and just when you think it's ended it takes a turn on a new plot and just when that has been solved the tale up and finds another plot to follow. It's all wonderful great fun and a delight to read!
Some things to consider; these tales are not politically correct. Women are often spoken to/of in a demeaning way which is expected of 15th-17th century Russia but that doesn't mean there aren't some feisty women characters in some of the tales. There is also implied violence, people die if they have to whether it be quietly or by the edge of a sword. And finally, the tales are written with the Eastern Orthodox religion obviously being an everyday part of any self-respecting peasant's life with God being thanked and blessed many times.
I've always been fond of Russian tales (yes, there is a Baba Yaga tale here, as well as the famous "The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship") but I'm ever more so now having read this collection. Oh, I suppose I should mention, since I did read the book aloud to my son, that it was a big hit with him as well. It is actually rather sad now that we have finished this book, since we've had such a grand time together with it.
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