Overview

In Sixty Folk-Tales from Exclusively Slavonic Sources, readers encounter a vibrant world shaped by ancient forests, prophetic maidens, clever peasants, enchanted rulers, and the unseen forces that guide human destiny. Selected from the celebrated anthology of Karel Jaromír Erben, one of the founding figures of Czech folklore studies, these tales preserve the oral traditions of the Slavonic peoples in their most vivid form. Translated in the nineteenth century by A. H. Wratislaw and now presented with a new introduction, this volume reveals the moral imagination, poetic symbolism, and mythic depth that characterize Slavic storytelling. Echoing the spirit of collectors such as the Brothers Grimm, yet distinct in tone and worldview, these stories speak of fate, justice, transformation, and enduring hope. The cover image, La Prophétesse Libuse (1893) by Karel Vítězslav Masek, evokes the legendary Czech prophetess Libuse and reflects the Romantic rediscovery of national myth that inspired Erben's work. An indispensable volume for lovers of folklore, mythology, and the cultural history of Central and Eastern Europe.

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9781804842706

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This landmark collection brings together sixty tales drawn from the great Czech folklorist Karel Jaromír Erben, whose work helped define the Slavonic fairy-tale tradition. Carefully translated by A. H. Wratislaw, the volume preserves the cadence and symbolic richness of the originals. The new introduction by Jack Monro situates these stories within the broader landscape of Slavic myth and Romantic nationalism, making this edition both a literary treasure and an essential cultural document.

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