The Magic of the Slavic Folk Tale

The Magic of the Slavic Folk Tale is a unique anthology that exposes students to the stories, songs, tales, and oral rituals that comprise the rich tapestry of Slavic folklore. The collection features translations of folktales collected during the nineteenth century, when Western Europe began to show distinct interest in the Slavic people and their storytelling traditions.

The anthology is divided into seven sections. The first section includes tales that explain the origins of people, events, and phenomena of the ancient Slavs. The second section includes readings that demonstrate the mystical connection between the Slavic people and animals. The third section is devoted to tales of heroism and adventure. The fourth section contains stories of wisdom, truth, and societal ideals. The fifth section addresses evil and the dark side, including stories of vampires, witches, werewolves, and more. The sixth section includes stories of magic and beauty. The final section shares tales of death, departing, and the life hereafter.

The engaging stories in The Magic of the Slavic Folk Tale provide students with a window into ancient Slavic life through the study of their rich cultural traditions and beliefs. The text is ideal for courses in Slavic studies and folklore.

Tomislav Longinovic is a professor of Slavic literature, comparative literature, and visual culture at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, as well as a visiting professor at Harvard University. He earned his Ph.D. in comparative literature and his M.F.A. in creative writing from the University of Iowa. Dr. Longinovic's research interests include South Slavic literatures and cultures, literary theory, Central and East European literary history, comparative Slavic studies, translation studies, and cultural studies.

Other Cognella titles by Tomislav Longinovic:

Vampires Over the Ages: A Cultural Analysis of Scientific, Literary, and Cinematic Representations (First Edition)