Russian Myths (The Legendary Past) - Softcover

Elizabeth Warner

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0714127434 ISBN 13: 9780714127439

Publisher: British Museum Press, 2002

Synopsis

This introduction to Russian mythology begins with the coming of Christianity to the state of Kievan Rus' at the end of the 10th century, heralding a state of co-existence between pagan and Christian practices that came to be known as "dual faith". The book deals with the mythic beliefs, notions and customs concerning nature, the cult of the dead, demons, witchcraft, the supernatural and more, many of which have their roots in the pre-Christian past, but which continue to survive. The author draws on a rich variety of sources to illuminate the evolution of major themes and motifs, and to give context to the mythology. These include anecdotal narrative forms, religious legends, epic songs, funeral laments, and folk tales.

About this title

About the Author:

Elizabeth Warner is Emerita Professor of Russian, University of Durham, where she was formerly Head of the Department of Slavonic Studies.

From Library Journal:

In this new addition to "The Legendary Past" series, Warner (Russian, emerita, Univ. of Durham), an authority on Russian folklore and ethnography, gives an overiew of the customs and themes underlying Russian beliefs. While the advent of Christianity at the end of the tenth century profoundly affected the development of the culture, pagan beliefs have continued to coexist with the new religion to the present day, resulting in a "dual faith." Drawing upon a variety of sources (e.g., epic songs, funeral laments, religious legends), Warner expertly discusses the most significant themes of this faith the cult of the dead, animism in nature, and magic to shed light on the development of major themes in Russian mythology. There is no formal bibliography, though a "Suggestions for Further Reading" section is included, as is an index and a selection of works in Russian used in preparation. A glossary would have been beneficial, as the author uses a variety of Russian folkloric terms, each defined once and briefly within the text. Nonetheless, this basic introduction to the subject provides information invaluable to understanding the primary sources; recommended for folklore collections in all libraries. [Other titles in the series include Aztec and Maya Myths, Celtic Myths, Chinese Myths, Egyptian Myths, and many more. Ed.] Katherine Kaigler-Koenig, The Ellis Sch., Pittsburg.
- Katherine Kaigler-Koenig, The Ellis Sch., Pittsburgh
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: British Museum Press
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0714127434
• ISBN 13: 9780714127439
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 80