Russian Folk Belief [Hardcover]

Linda J. Ivanits (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: M E Sharpe Inc; reprint edition (April 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0873324226
• ISBN-13: 978-0873324229
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,943,713 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This is cool!, July 27, 2001

By 

Kelly (Fantasy Literature) (Columbia, MO United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Russian Folk Belief (Paperback)

Ok, so "This is cool" isn't exactly a profound, erudite statement. It *is* true, however. _Russian Folk Belief_ is fascinating and engaging from the first page to the last, if you are interested in myth, religion, or the faery world. Drawing from history and from personal testimony, Ivanits puts together a chronicle of the beliefs of the Russians as they were converted to Christianity--albeit a sometimes unusual Christianity in which much old pagan belief remained. The book talks about the pagan faith of the Russian lands, and the major holidays associated with that faith, and then talks about the Russian Orthodox church and the *un*orthodox religion still practiced in some rural areas. Ivanits has put together a large collection of folk tales rich with faeries, witches, and sorcerers. If you are interested in the pagan gods and faeries of Russia, this book is a must-have.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful reference for folklore and culture mavens!, October 14, 2004

By 

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

This review is from: Russian Folk Belief (Paperback)

Ivanits' Russian Folk Belief is a very useful, straightforward, and engrossing book about the beliefs of the Russian people, specifically focused on the dvovorie (dual-faith) Russian Orthodoxy/paganism practiced throughout the culture's history in the last millennium. It is well-written, does not condescend, and yet, is very readable and informative. This is a good place to start, for those curious about Russian historical folklore and spiritual belief. Highly recommended!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Introduction to Russian Popular Belief, June 3, 2008

By 

E. A. Kinzel "Thracophile" (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Russian Folk Belief (Paperback)

This book consists of two roughly equal parts. In the first part, which is more scholarly in tone and scope, the author summarizes the Russian pagan background, and thoroughly explores the themes and especially the characters of the Russian folk pantheon: the Devil; Christian personages such as Nicholas, George, and Elijah; the various household spirits such as the Domovoi (household spirit), Dvorovoi (yard), Bannik (steam bath), Ovinnik (threshing floor); and nature spirits such as the Leschii (forest spirit), Vodianoi (water spirit, inhabiting lakes, streams, and water mills), Polevoi (spirits of the fields and meadows), and the famous Rusalka, made iconic in Russian literature for the beauty which is at once entrancing and treacherous. There is also a section on Russian magic and sorcery.

As a previous reviewer noted, this first section, while very interesting, drags at times. I think the author belabors her points too much in an effort to ensure the reader remembers them for the second part, which consists of actual tales. But since these themes and characters are not difficult to digest, stating them once is sufficient.

The second part is composed of eighty-nine actual tales recorded by Russian and Soviet folklorists from different regions of Russia, which illustrate and characterize the motifs put forth in part one. These tales are very simply and beautifully told, and would be by themselves worth the price of the book.