The Frogs Who Begged for a Tsar: (and 61 other Russian fables)

Title

The Frogs Who Begged for a Tsar: (and 61 other Russian fables)

Description

en_US Language note: Bilingual: English/Russian

en_US Ivan Kyrlov; Translated by Lydia Razran Stone; Illustrated by Katya Korobkina

Creator

Krylov, Ivan Andreevich See all items with this value

Contributor

Korobkina, Katya

Date

2016-02-16T15:08:32Z

'2015-08

2015

Date Available

2016-02-16T15:08:32Z

Date Issued

en_US 2015

Abstract

en_US This is an impressive book. It is a Russian book published in the USA. It is a contemporary book that recognizes what Krylov was doing in his moment of history. It combines classic texts with present-day translations and present-day illustrations. Well done! The translator's introduction (9-13) is a good introduction to both Krylov and this edition. The colored illustrations are lively and engaging. It is so good to see Krylov presented as contemporary and fun! I give a prize to "The Man and His Shadow" for both text and illustration (20-21). Enjoy the thrush to the squirrel: "Well, it's clear./You run like mad, but never get an inch from here" (23). I never thought that I would see "The Swan, the Pike and the Crab" illustrated as a human fable (24-25)! The control of English verse may be at its best in "The Titmouse" (41). "Two Dogs" (47) is excellent. Fifi's great talent is that she can walk on two paws! "The Cuckoo and the Rooster" (53) is right on target: This is Krylov's kind of satire. The Russian and English are presented throughout on facing pages. "The Wolf and the Cat" presents a fine count-down of possibilities for the wolf who has outraged everyone (51). Typical of Krylov's wit is "The Mosquito and the Shepherd" (71). To warn the shepherd of the approaching serpent, the mosquito bit the shepherd. That awakened the shepherd, but before he killed the wolf, he smashed the mosquito. "You must exert the greatest care/In warning big shots to beware." LM takes a curious turn here. The lion comes to rue the day that he disregarded the mouse (79). "The Cat and the Nightingale" (91) is another tour de force. What nightingale can sing well when about to be devoured? The only fables that seem to violate the rule of "two pages" are the title-fable, FK (98-101), and "Friendship Among Dogs" (114-17). The last two pages present a bilingual catalogue of "winged phrases," common aphorisms in Russian. For many reasons, this will be from now on my go-to Krylov fable book!

Identifier

10578 (Access ID)

uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10504/84572

Language

en_US eng

Publisher

en_US Russian Life Books

Middletown, DE

Subject

en_US PG3337.K7A2 2010 See all items with this value

en_US Ivan Krylov See all items with this value

en_US Title Page Scanned See all items with this value

Type

Book, Whole