Russian Folk Belief (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

A scholarly work that aims to be both broad enough in scope to satisfy upper-division undergraduates studying folk belief and narrative and detailed enough to meet the needs of graduate students in the field. Each of the seven chapters in Part 1 focuses on one aspect of Russian folk belief, such as the pagan background, Christian personages, devils and various other logical categories of the topic. The author's thesis - that Russian folk belief represents a "double faith" whereby Slavic pagan beliefs are overlaid with popular Christianity - is persuasive and has analogies in other cultures. The folk narratives constituting Part 2 are translated and include a wide range of tales, from the briefly anecdotal to the more fully developed narrative, covering the various folk personages and motifs explored in Part 1.

Product Details

• Paperback: 276 pages
• Publisher: M.E. Sharpe (November 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0873328892
• ISBN-13: 978-0873328890
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #114,139 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

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

By	Kelly L. (www.FantasyLiterature.com) (Columbia, MO United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

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.

10 of 11 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

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!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very informative, but slightly flawed, August 6, 2007

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

PROS:
-Ivanits makes all the information precise: she cites every reference, and does an excellent job at avoiding one-sided viewpoints.
-Almost everything is never confusing. There is no such thing as too much detail.
-The fables and myths in this book are very compelling, very entertaining to read.
-The relations between Orthodox Christianity and Paganism, and the genesis between them, certainly grabs the attention due to the author's way of descriptions and narratives.

CONS:
-While the second half contains the fables and myths, the first half is all non-fiction, giving details on the origins and structures of these many folk beliefs. Sometimes it drags, making you want to get on with the stories.
-You might need a dictionary handy, because there are some complex words that will be quite unfamiliar.

In conclusion, this is a provocative, excellent introduction to Russian folklore and its roots. A-