Medieval Russia's Epics, Chronicles, and Tales (Paperback)

~ Serge A. Zenkovsky (Editor) "LET us begin this tale in this way: after the Flood the sons of Noah-Shem, Ham, and Japheth-divided the earth among them..." (more)
Key Phrases: ornamental formalism, white cowl, fratricidal feuds, Holy Virgin, Holy Trinity, Crypt Monastery (more...)

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: Plume (May 1, 1974)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0452010861
• ISBN-13: 978-0452010864
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.3 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #103,138 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 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

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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).

2 of 2 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 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.