Essential Russian Mythology: Stories That Changed the World (Stories That Change the World) [Paperback]

Pyotr Simonov (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1997 | Series: Stories That Change the World

The variety and color of Russian myths are as wide ranging as the country of Russia itself.

Product Details

• Paperback: 184 pages
• Publisher: HarperSanFrancisco (April 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1855384752
• ISBN-13: 978-1855384750
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,917,550 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Informative and entertaining, May 30, 2001

By 

Louisa M Smith (State College, PA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Essential Russian Mythology: Stories That Changed the World (Stories That Change the World) (Paperback)

Simonov's collection of Russian myths is extensive, covering several topics. The stories are written in an interesting, entertaining way, easy to read aloud if desired. Some Russian myths are very confusing, though, for those who are used to the coherence of Grimm's fairy tales. In my opinion, the best part of the book aren't the fairy tales themselves, but the informational paragraphs that precede them. Most stories have some explanatory introduction, teaching readers about such things as house spirits called the Domovoi, and the ways that the spirits of girls who died young have of tormenting the living. Overall, this book gives a wonderful look at Russian folktales and mythology.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Simple, and straightforward, October 15, 2004

By 

Red Lori "folklore aficianado" (Long Island, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Essential Russian Mythology: Stories That Changed the World (Stories That Change the World) (Paperback)

This book is a fairly good introduction to Russian folk belief and folktales. While it is not a large book, nor a very detailed one, it covers the basic topics succinctly, and clearly. The tales included are classic Russian stories, and provide a good starting point for folklore mavens looking for an introduction to the Russian culture in that area. It's a bit simplistic for anything more than an introductory work, however.