American Indian, Russian, German, Icelandic, French, and other stories — 48 in all — among them "The Tinder-box," "The Nightingale," and "How to Tell a True Princess."
Russian Fairy Tales by Peter Polevoi translated by Robert Nisbet Bain (Rare Book Collection)
The existence of the Russian Skazki or Märchen was first made generally known to the British Public by Mr. W. R. S. Ralston in his Russian Folk Tales. That excellent and most engrossing volume was, primarily, a treatise on Slavonic Folk-Lore, illustrated with admirable skill and judgment, by stories, mainly selected from the vast collection of Afanasiev, who did for the Russian what Asbjornsen has done for the Norwegian Folk-Tale. A year after the appearance of Mr. Ralston's book, the eminent Russian historian and archaeologist, Peter Nikolaevich Polevoi (well known, too, as an able and ardent Shaksperian scholar), selected from the inexhaustible stores of Afanasiev some three dozen of the Skazki most suitable for children, and worked them up into a fairy tale book which was published at St. Petersburg in 1874, under the title of Narodnuiya Russkiya Skazki (Popular Russian Märchen). To manipulate these quaintly vigorous old-world stories for nursery purposes was, as may well be imagined, no easy task, but, on the whole, M. Polevoi did his work excellently well, and while softening the crudities and smoothing out the occasional roughness of these charming stories, neither injured their simple texture nor overlaid the original pattern.
Lukacs' fluid writing style is this book's greatest merit. He points out a great deal of classical and modern history of outstanding merit and durability. This booklet, however, is published by the ISI's publishing house. Reading it is like being flung back into the academic culture of East Coast Universities in the 1950s. The sensation is bizarre, and horribly exclusionary. Almost any other introduction to the discipline for undergraduates would be better by showing that non-European, non-Christian stories also have merit. History is not only the study of personal and national heritage, but the trials and value of all human cultures, even those not personally relevant. The book lacks such generosity, often termed imaginative sympathy. Too bad.
Writing for Journalists is about the craft of journalistic writing: how to put one word after another so that the reader gets the message or the joke, goes on reading and comes back for more. It introduces the reader to the essentials of good writing, making use of many examples of previously published work and critically analyzing stories and reviews from daily and weekly newspapers, magazines, periodicals and specialist trade journals. Whether students, trainees or professionals, this handy guide is perfect for anyone who writes for newspapers and periodicals.
Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Andersen, illustrated (ca. 1868) translated by Charles Boner
Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) is best known for his children's stories such as The Emperor's New Clothes, The Little Mermaid, and The Ugly Duckling.
He was tall and skinny with a big nose he always thought that he was very ugly. His stories show compassion for those who are outcast and suffering. They also make fun of the spoiled and conceited.
His stories teach us that appearances can be deceiving, and that there is a magical beauty even within the most unlikely characters.
