On the Banks of the Yaryn
A Demonological Novel
©2004
Monographs
XXVIII,
226 Pages
Series:
Middlebury Studies in Russian Language and Literature, Volume 28
Summary
On the Banks of the Yaryn by Aleksandr Kondratiev was published in Berlin in 1930, but only appeared in Russia in 1993 as the country reclaimed some of its forgotten talents. This remarkable novel represents one of the finest examples of the interest in Slavic folklore that profoundly influenced Russian literature in the first decades of the twentieth century. Kondratiev’s work brings to life popular demonic spirits of water, field, and forest by portraying their physical environment, emotional life, and interaction with the human world. The novel also depicts the life of magic healers, sorceresses, and witches who live among village folk but engage in practices that make them part of the dark world. The inclusion of pagan gods, folk beliefs and narratives, magical rituals, celebrations, and holidays that reflect pre-Christian and Christian traditions enhances the folkloric richness of Kondratiev’s highly engaging narrative.
Details
- Pages
- XXVIII, 226
- Publication Year
- 2004
- ISBN (Hardcover)
- 9780820467467
- Language
- English
- Keywords
- Russian fiction in translation demonology and witchcraft folk beliefs pagan and christian beliefs and traditions Aleksandr Konsratiev life and art 20th century Russian novel russian /ukrainian folklore
- Published
- New York, Bern, Berlin, Bruxelles, Frankfurt/M., Oxford, Wien, 2003. XXVIII, 226 pp., 2 ill.