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This anthology presents translations of thirty songs about Ilya Muromets, Dobrynya, Sadko, and other legendary characters of Russian folklore.An extensive introduction provides basic background about Russian epics, their poetics, the history of their collection, their performance context, and their main interpretations. In addition, there is a short introduction to each song, explaining its plot, allusions, and interpretations. A glossary of common terms and a selected bibliography of studies about the Russian epic in English and Russian are also included in the volume.
List of contents
Foreword, Preface, The Russian Oral Epic Tradition: An Introduction, I. Epics About the Oldest Heroes, 1. Volkh Vseslavyevich, 2. Svyatogor, II. Kievan Cycle, Epics About [lya Muromets, 3. Ilya Muromets and Nightingale the Robber, 4. Ilya Muromets and Falconer, 5. Ilya Muromets and Kalin Tsar, 6. Ilya Muromets Quarrels with Prince Vladimir, Epics About Dobrynya, 7. Dobrynya and the Dragon, 8. Dobrynya and Marinka, 9. Dobrynya Nikitich and Vasily Kazimirovich, Epics About Alyosha Popovich, 10. Alyosha Popovich, His Squire Yekim, and Tugarin, 11. Dobrynya and Alyosha Popovich, Epics About Other Kievan Heroes, 12. Mikhailo Potyk, 13. Ivan Godinovich, 14. Dunai, 15. Solovei Budimirovich, 16. Vasily Ignatyev, 17. Churila Plyonkovich, 18. Dyuk Stepanovich, 19. Stavr Godinovich, 20. Khoten Bludovich, III. Novgorod Cycle, 21. Sadko, 22. Vasily Buslayev, 23. Vasily Buslayev Travels to Jerusalem, IV. Epics with Biblical or Religious Subjects, 24. Tsar Solomon and Vasily Okulovich, 25. Forty Pilgrims and One, V. Historical Songs of the Sixteenth Century, 26. Ivan the Terrible and His Sons, 27. Kostryuk, VI. Skomoroshina, 28. Agafonushka, 29. About the Merchant Terenty, VII. Ballad, 30. The Mother of Prince Mikhailo Kills His Wife, Glossary, Bibliography
About the author
James Bailey, Tatyana Ivanova
Summary
This anthology presents translations of 30 songs recorded from a living epic tradition over the past two hundred years. The authors have captured the distinctive poetic language of Russian oral epics. All subgenres of the Russian epic are covered and previously untranslated variants included.
