Polish Magical Tales

The folklore of each nation plays an important role in shaping its culture: epics, sagas, and fairy tales. This book introduces readers to the fairy tales of old Poland. They reflect the peculiarities of the everyday life of Poles in past centuries, their way of life, thinking, and beliefs. And of course, as in the fairy tales of other nations around the world, these tales are filled with magic, mystery, the mystical, and sometimes even fear. The plots of some Polish fairy tales resemble Russian stories or fairy tales in their structure, while others are not similar at all. For example, the plot of the tale "The Invisibility Cloak" is somewhat reminiscent of Gogol's "Viy," while the tale "The Wonderful Ring" is reminiscent in places of the well-known story by Shergin, in which a dog and a cat help their rescuer. On the other hand, the plot of the tale "The Raspberry House" is completely original. Comparing Polish fairy tales included in this collection with already known fairy tale plots is an interesting activity. It will certainly bring you pleasure. Eighteen Polish fairy tales that make up this book were first published by the famous Moscow publisher Ivan Dmitrievich Sytin in 1914. He made a fantastic career from being an assistant in a bookstore to becoming a prominent publisher and owner of a large chain of bookstores and shops. Ivan Dmitrievich tried to make books inexpensive and attractive to readers. To do this, he involved the best artists in Russia in the design of his products. Such masters of painting as Ilya Efimovich Repin and Ivan Yakovlevich Bilibin collaborated with Sytin. For the illustrations of the collection of Polish fairy tales, Sytin engaged the talented artist Valery Nikolayevich Kurdyumov. His drawings adorn this modern edition as well. Just looking at any of his illustrations is enough to understand immediately—this is the work of a genuine master. Kurdyumov had a great command of composition and the technique of line drawing. With the help of thin lines, he perfectly conveyed the fur of a bear, the folds of clothing, or the play of light and shadow on the stones in the forest thicket. His style shows the influence of both the unique Bilibin style and the fashionable artistic trends of the early 20th century. Interestingly, Kurdyumov was the founder of the famous Moscow communal house in Lefortovo, where many artists from various directions lived and engaged in painting. In 1905, Kazimir Malevich, who had warm friendly relations with Kurdyumov, was settled there. Unfortunately, little information about the life of V.N. Kurdyumov has survived in history; the best monument to the artist remains his timeless drawings.