Medieval Russia's Epics, Chronicles, and Tales [Paperback]

Serge A. Zenkovsky (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1974

Rear cover notes: "The medieval period in Russia lasted from the eleventh through the seventeenth century, and with the possible exception of the Lay of Igor's Campaign the literature of these early centuries is almost completely unknown to the public that reads so enthusiastically the works of Pushkin, Gogol, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, and Chekhov. First published in 1963, this unique and pioneering anthology has been continuously used as an invaluable text in the field of Russian studies, for it presented over sixty selections from the finest of Russia's medieval authors, and much of the material published in the anthology had never before been available in English. In the light of recent scholarship, the author has completely revised the text. He has also enlarged the book by adding almost one hundred pages of new material, including the following: Sviatoslav's Early Campaigns; The Siege of Kiev and Olga's Death; Vladimir Monomakh: Instruction to His Children; Tale of the Life and Courage of the Pious and Great Prince Alexander [Nevsky]; Narrative of the Pious Prince Dovmont and His Courage; The Writing of Daniil the Prisoner; Orison on the Life and Death of Grand Prince Dmitry Ivanovich; Afanasy Nikitin's Journey Across Three Seas; Ivan Funikov: Message of a Nobleman to a Nobleman; Epic of Sukhan; Simeon Polotsky: Excerpt from Ode on the Birth of Peter I; Simeon Polotsky: The Law; Simeon Polotsky: The Merchant Class; Tsar Alexis Mikhailovich: The Rules of Falconry. In addition to a comprehensive introduction, the editor has prefaced each selection with detailed information about its literary and historical background, and has included a glossary and brief chronology of Russian history and culture."

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, Russian (translation) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 544 pages
• Publisher: Meridian; Revised & enlarged edition (May 1, 1974)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0452010861
• ISBN-13: 978-0452010864
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.3 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #92,412 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Brethren and warriors! It is better to be killed in battle than to become a captive.", April 22, 2008

By 

Eric S. Kim (Southern California) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Medieval Russia's Epics, Chronicles, and Tales (Paperback)

Who would've thought that many of Kievan Russia's chronicles, tales, and epic poems would be in this one book? Brilliant! The texts seem almost ethereal and fluid like the Finnish epic, The Kalevala. Many of the poems and chronicles, including "Epic of Sukhan", deal mostly of Orthodox Christianity, hierarchy, the military, and way of life. Meanwhile, the epics, including "The Lay of Igor's Campaign" consist of religious prophets, quests, and war. Some poems and chronicles tend to drag a bit, but nonetheless, this book is for lovers of Russian culture (and for those who are introducing themselves to Russian culture).

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rich Overview of Medieval Russian Literature, December 31, 2008

By 

J. Beebe (Wisconsin, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Medieval Russia's Epics, Chronicles, and Tales (Paperback)

This compendium of medieval Russian literature is an amazing collection. It has excerpts or the entire texts of almost every famous piece of writing and rhetoric from this time period, all in one place and translated into English, which is helpful for those wanting to learn more about Kievan Rus' culture from primary sources. This is a must-own for those studying medieval Russian history and culture.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly Good Reading, April 8, 2010

By 

JP "J in the US" (Mid-Atlantic US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Medieval Russia's Epics, Chronicles, and Tales (Paperback)

I was actually surprised how much I'm enjoying this. I've always loved Russian history and have always scrounged about looking for whatever I could find to satisfy my yen for all things Russian. When I ran across this book, I figured I'd give it a try & didn't really place high hopes on it. I'm glad I have it! My father picked it up & almost didn't give it back to me! And two other friends of mine seem to want copies. It's written rather well & explains things concisely without going over the reader's head - all while being interesting, historical, and fun. It's just a good read.