Kytice

Author:
Karel Jaromír Erben
Illustrator:
Míla Fürstová
Published by:
Jantar Publishing
Suitable for ages:
16
to
100
ISBN:
Reviewer:
Reviewer:
Fotini Hamplová

Reading this book you will understand why it is said that fairytales are not primarily for children. The works in this collection - each a rendition of Czech folklore - will mystify you and carry you magically to a deeper version of reality.

We are very blessed that this classic of Czech folk literature has finally been translated for us into English. The translation is good, and in this book we can get a taste of Slavic folklore. Originally this was a work of scholarship. Karel Jaromir Erben gathered his nation's folktales and presented them in a collection. His presentation of them however was so poetic that the book became a work of folk art in itself.

I believe reading folklore is one of the best ways to explore a nation's spirit and mind. The works gathered in this book will take you back in time, and into a different culture. It is a dark and atmospheric experience, touching on death, religion and the afterlife. These stories are spooky in the wonderful sort of way.

If you would like to buy this book and support this site at the same time, you can buy it here.
Slavic, Czech Republic, fairytales, folklore, death, catholicism

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