Do you think you know Russian folklore well? Alexander Afanasyev gathered what censorship preferred not to let out.
The boldest folkloric concept of the outstanding Russian ethnographer.
Plus 15 thorough analyses of fairy tales by author of books and cultural scholar Yu. R. Milovich-Sheralieva.
The dark underside of tradition. Uncensored classics.
In front of you is the most daring folkloric project by Alexander Afanasyev, the great collector of folk texts. Alongside the famous “proper” corpus of fairy tales, he compiled a collection of “forbidden” — intimate, hidden — folklore: explicit eroticism, a sharp mocking of power and the clergy, absurd black humor. Here you hear the people’s speech without embellishment — without censorship, moralizing, or literary polishing.
Why this edition is special:
• The selected texts are presented in modern spelling, while preserving the energy, slightly rough expressiveness, and the color of living language.
• 15 detailed fairy-tale analyses by Yu. R. Milovich-Sheralieva help you see the meaning, historical background, and cultural codes—linking provocative material with how today’s reader perceives it.
• Exclusive illustrations by the artist “ternovye,” created based on the plots, offer a contemporary look at archaic stories.
• Gift edition: stylish design, high-quality paper, a colored ribbon-lace and numerous illustrations.
The book will become a noticeable part of your home library and an excellent gift for those who value Russian folklore and are ready to look at culture without idealization.