Home
/
Fiction
/
Russian Magic Tales from Pushkin to Platonov
Russian Magic Tales from Pushkin to Platonov
Dec 3, 2024 12:39 PM

Author:Robert Chandler,Elizabeth Chandler,Sibelan Forrester,Anna Gunin,Olga Meerson,Robert Chandler

Russian Magic Tales from Pushkin to Platonov

'She turned into a frog, into a lizard, into all kinds of other reptiles and then into a spindle'

In these tales, young women go on long and difficult quests, wicked stepmothers turn children into geese and tsars ask dangerous riddles, with help or hindrance from magical dolls, cannibal witches, talking skulls, stolen wives, and brothers disguised as wise birds. Half the tales here are true oral tales, collected by folklorists during the last two centuries, while the others are reworkings of oral tales by four great Russian writers: Alexander Pushkin, Nadezhda Teffi, Pavel Bazhov and Andrey Platonov.

In his introduction to these new translations, Robert Chandler writes about the primitive magic inherent in these tales and the taboos around them, while in the afterword, Sibelan Forrester discusses the witch Baba Yaga. This edition also includes an appendix, bibliography and notes.

Translated by Robert Chandler and Elizabeth Chandler

With Sibelan Forrester, Anna Gunin and Olga Meerson

Reviews

This is a unique, beautifully edited book: an essential addition to the library of any Russophile

—— Spectator

Orwell remains the gold standard by which everyone else’s efforts should be judged

—— Telegraph

A writer who is still vividly contemporary … Orwell told the truth

—— Christopher Hitchens

The greatest writer of the twentieth century

—— Observer

He made it his business to tell the truth at a time when many contemporaries believed that history had ordained the lie … His work endures, as lucid and vigorous as the day it was written

—— Time

Orwell saw … that the act of falsifying reality is only secondarily a way of changing perceptions. It is, above all, a way of asserting power

—— Adam Gopnik , New Yorker

[Orwell fought] the evils of the world and the weakness of his body to the day of his death, always striving, striving to tell the truth about what he saw and what he felt

—— Nicholas Walter , Anarchy: A Journal of Anarchist Ideas

The Wodehouse wit should be registered at Police HQ as a chemical weapon

—— Kathy Lette

The greatest comic writer ever

—— Douglas Adams

When it comes to humour, there is only one writer who can slay you with a mere flip of the pen. This, of course, is P.G. Wodehouse

—— Guardian

Superlative.

—— Jessie Burton, 'Best Books of 2016' , Observer

Could not be more timely.

—— Louise Daughty, 'Best Books of 2016' , Observer

The Good Immigrant is that rarest of beasts, a truly necessary book.

—— Jonathan Coe, 'Best Books of 2016' , Observer

I was deeply affected by The Good Immigrant, a vital and often bitingly funny series of personal essays

—— James Graham, 'Best Books of 2016' , Observer

Should become required reading for a new UK citizenship test – one to be taken by everyone who was born here, that is.

—— Books of the Year , Times Higher Education

A fascinating read

—— BBC Breakfast

I was expecting something serious, even upsetting. The Good Immigrant is both at times, but the 21 essays are also engrossing, human and hilarious.

—— Best Books for Christmas , i

Sticks two fingers up at a discriminatory publishing industry.

—— New Statesman

The essays, in turns witty, uncomfortable and inspiring, would make for great reading at any time, but were especially welcome this year.

—— Books of the Year , The Pool

Existentially challenging to the status quo. It could not be more timely.

—— Readers' Books of 2016 , Guardian

What a phenomenal book: timely, poignant and insightful. It deserves to be read as widely as possible.

—— Malorie Blackman

Warm, funny and often moving. A delight.

—— Shappi Khorsandi

Quite simply a wonderful antidote to the tired cliches.

—— Fatima Manji, Channel 4 News

A bold, beautiful and urgent book that should be read widely in these politically and racially charged times. It opened my eyes so much, and, in my opinion, is the most exciting publication of 2016.

—— Holly Muller , Big Issue

I am stupidly grateful for this book. It opened my eyes to my own experience and gave me words for feelings I had known but never acknowledged. I carry it with me whenever I travel, to remind me that the world is good. Buy this book, carry it with you everywhere, give it to everyone you know. We need it now more than ever.

—— Emmy the Great

Here are a bunch of brave writers actually doing something about representation … an important book.

—— Sathnam Sanghera

Incisive, funny, searingly honest … it contains work that should be read by all.

—— DJ Nihal

Brilliant, unclichéd, unique. A book of our time, which everyone must read.

—— Shazia Mirza

I want everyone to read this book. I found myself nodding along, feeling the pain, hilarity and anger.

—— Anita Rani

The Good Immigrant's strength not only comes in its numbers, but through the uniqueness of each essay inside, ranging from Coco Khan’s look at sexuality and fetishisation, through to Riz MC’s retelling of his typical treatment in airport security.

—— Complex

A stunning collection of original voices, challenging how we see race and difference.

—— Mishal Husain

I knew I'd be interested in this book. I didn't realise I'd be so moved. At a time when British identity is being claimed as the exclusive preserve of people who wish immigration had stopped with Hengist and Horsa, it does the heart good to be reminded of how many of us there are, and how deeply woven we are into the fabric of our country. It's a book that will make a lot of young Britons feel more powerful and less alone. Each essay is like another new friend standing up and saying to the reader, 'I see you.'

—— Hari Kunzru
Comments
Welcome to zzdbook comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Copyright 2023-2024 - www.zzdbook.com All Rights Reserved