Russian Tales: Traditional Stories of Quests and Enchantments

Tales

by Dinara Mirtalipova (illustrator)

Rediscover the magic of Russian folktales in a breathtaking illustrated edition.This collection of traditional stories will sweep you away to the birch forests and ornate palaces of Russia. You'll meet a mysterious girl born from the snow, a terrifying Baba Yaga, and a series of dauntless heroines and heroes willing to fight dragons and cross fiery rivers. Blending whimsical magic with magnificent drama, these tales come to life alongside intricate contemporary art in this special illustrated edition.POPULAR The Tales series gives new life to traditional stories. Celebrating the richness of folklore around the world, and featuring the work of beloved contemporary illustrators, these books are treasured by adults and teens alike.ICONIC Russian stories hold a special place in the hearts of fairy tales fans. Unforgettable characters like Baba Yaga and the Fire-Bird have captured imaginations for generations. In this collection, readers are sure to find old favorites and discover something new.GORGEOUS SPECIAL With a mesmerizing full-page illustration for each story, as well as creamy paper, a ribbon page marker, and a handsome hardcover design, this edition is perfect for gifting and display.Perfect • Fans of fairy tales and folklore• Readers with Russian heritage or interested in Russian culture• Illustration and art lovers• Adults and teens• Collectors of illustrated classics• Fans of the illustrator Dinara Mirtalipova

Genres: Mythology, Fantasy, Fiction, Folklore, Fairy Tales, Short Stories, Russia

160 pages, Hardcover

First published September 7, 2021

Reviews

[Sasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I said it already for the Celtic Tales but i need all the books in that collection, I just need to collect all the tales! The illustrations are just amazing!

[Miriam Simut · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection reminded me quite a lot of the Brothers Grimm fairytales. Some were very nonsensical, some were quite dark, and others had a touch of humour. I definitely think I'm more of a "fairytale retelling" kind of girl but this was still enjoyable.

[Cerenela (Cherry Books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Cuento: El soldado y la muerte

Leído para el club: @clasicoesleerte

Una historia de la que muchos sabíamos gracias a la serie El narrador de cuentos. El relato nos habla de un soldado quien, a su retorno de la guerra, se encuentra con diferentes personas que le darán obsequios luego de qué él de muestras de su generosidad. El obsequió más valioso será un saco en el que puede encerrar a lo que sea que su propietario le ordene entrar en él, capturando así a la mismísima muerte.

Este relato siempre se me quedó en la memoria ya que se habla mucho de derrotar a la muerte como un objetivo, pero este relato nos hace ver las consecuencias de aquello para el mundo, una situación explorada también en libros como Las intermitencias de la muerte de Saramago o Scythe de Shusterman, aquí podemos ver cómo este deseo nos podría traer más sufrimiento que felicidad.

Sin embargo, también me gustó ver cómo la generosidad del soldado se ve recompensada y su necesidad de ser igualitario con todos aun a costa de su provecho propio.

Un cuento que definitivamente recomiendo.

[Fanny Storlund · Rating 5 out of 5]

Underbar. Älskar sagologiken. Kvinnor och män som förvandlas till djur för att det passar sig, hjältar som lyckas för att någon förutspått exakt hur de ska bete sig då de möter Baba Yaga etc. Fantastiska illustrationer.

[Anaide · Rating 3 out of 5]

I mean these are short, but kind of lifeless? I am not saying I am an expert on slavic folklore, but I encountered some stories, and these just felt like shadows of that. I loved the illustrations though.

[S.L. Baron · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this collection of Russian folktales, and the illustrations are beautiful.

[Wyatt Arnold · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a pretty enjoyable, nonsensical escape from reality. Definitely one of the most bizarre books I've read in a long time. Think Brothers Grimm if they had drunk too much vodka. Solid 3.5 stars.

[Clare Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Writing: bad. Illustrations: good.

[vn. · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a delightful little collection of folktales with stunning illustrations🤍. Probably the most gorgeous book that I own!

This book features well-known mythological beings such as Baba Yaga, Koschei, the Firebird, Marya Morevba, the Snow Child etc. but also some lesser known figures (like e. i Wednesday).

The prose is very charming and easy, making it a pleasure to read for people of all ages.

It was a pleasure reading this! Ofc I recommend🫶🏼

[Justine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of these were great, while others got lost in translation. This was still a fun read, though. Also, lots of stories about men named Ivan.

[Claire Riffle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why is every man in Russian folklore named Ivan? Lol!

[Miz Lizzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an eye-opening collection for me as a folklorist and storyteller as I was only familiar with two of the stories. I particularly appreciated, for a first introduction to most of these tales, that this collection was not a re-telling or new interpretation of the old tales but drawn from out of copyright sources that were collected, translated, and published in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries – and those sources are identified for each story. Of course, there was interpretation and editing that happened in the original publication and translation but they are closer to the original oral tales. As a companion to my reading of Katherine Arden’s Winternight Trilogy, discovering the characters, folklore, and worldview that she was drawing on for her fantasy set in medieval Russia in these tales deepened my understanding and appreciation.

Book Pairings:
Katherine Arden’s Winternight Trilogy, starting with The Bear and the Nightingale

[Grace RS · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely book with beautiful illustrations. The stories are delightful. I noticed that the Russian folktales seem to appreciate clever deception, for the heroes, through their cunning stratagems, have a happy ending. Another repeated trope is that of helpfulness: a generous or friendly offer will always be rewarded, especially if nature is assisted. Death is constantly imagined as a sleep, which the water of life has the power to awaken--even Death itself succumbs to sleep in "The Soldier and Death." Throughout the book, princes will rescue princesses, men will go out on quests to prove themselves; however, the protagonists are typically less than capable to succeed without somebody else's aid, especially from the supernatural or nature. More importantly, the spiritual world/miraculous is almost always present, whether that be depicted through demons, Jesus Christ himself, Woodsprites, the snow-child, the genie-like Schmat-Razum, the grey wolf, etc.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Once upon a time..."

Russian Tales are another delightful entry by Chronicles Books, highlighting fairytales from all over the world. I love these books! They are so beautifully illustrated, I love how they suit the culture and stories so much. I always wish there were even more illustrations because I love looking at them so much. And of course, it is so much fun to learn about mythology and fairytales from other countries in the world; it really gives a fascinating glimpse into their values and beliefs. However, I will say that Russian Tales was at times very hard to read: The sentence structures were so weird, so I really had to concentrate when reading it. But still a very enjoyable read, and I am excited to grow my collection of these tales!

[David Cain · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book includes 16 traditional Russian fairy tales, organized into three sections: The Impossible, A Helping Hand, and Wishes. The stories (as written and translated into English) were taken from four works that are in the public domain. The language can be a bit old-fashioned, with the original publication dates of 1874, 1887, 1890, and 1915. What's new to this volume are the beautiful illustrations by Dinara Mirtalipova. Definite recommendation for all ages, except for perhaps very young children.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 4 stars is for the illustrations, which are beautiful. The stories are all public domain which, as people have mentioned, means that they can sometimes be a little archaic, but this doesn't make them difficult to understand or enjoy in my opinion. Some traditional tales were missing (not a single tale of Vasilisa!) and there were some that I had never heard of. For people who grew up on Russian skazki or are interested in Slavic culture, this is a good book.

[Delie Dell Chua · Rating 3 out of 5]

Find this collection so-so. Though I liked the illustrations though its Only one illustration per story :( I was not that impressed with the collated stories. I just realized that some of stories that ive heard during childhood were actually Russian stories.

If youre planning to collect this book as part of your collection, I do not recommend it.

[Nicole Mosley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous illustrations and decent if occasionally awkwardly worded translations.

[Niamh · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Angela · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am a very big fan of Russian Folklore and this is a great beginner for anyone curious of some traditional stories.

[Jennifer]

I am sure this is for a story graph challenge and maybe more. Got this through Inter Library Loan and it was worth waiting for.

The illustrations are incredible.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous illustrations and classic tales. The tale of Moroz (Frost) is my new fave, but Ivan and the Grey Wolf will always be my childhood fave.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The tales themselves were fun and strange but my biggest draw to this edition was the amazing artwork!

[Kathrin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Retellings, so this year I want to read a lot of the source material, so that I can understand better what elements the retellings take.

[Jule Van Wilde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the illustrations and enjoyed the stories, some familiar and some not!

[Maja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Užasno mi je žao što ovo ne mogu pročitati u originalu, čak i na hrvatskom mislim da bi uz dobrog prevoditelja bilo bolje.. Puno mi se izgubilo u prijevodu na engleski..

[harriet]

gonna save and read to my kids

[Susan Siow · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I enjoyed some stories more than others, I'm giving this 4 stars mainly because of the stunning illustrations.

[Catherine Morris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Terrible storytelling, magical pictures.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the illustrations paired with the folklore and tales! I took my time reading a story or a few a day as I knew eventually I'd run out.