Irina Zheleznova (1924–1987)

A beautiful and virtuous young maiden asks her father for the feather of Fenist the Falcon in this marvelous Russian fairy-tale, and is eventually given her wish. This item summons the actual Fenist to her side, and the two become lovers, meeting at night. When Fenist is injured through the machinations of the maiden's jealous sisters, and disappears, she must set out through the world to find him. With the aid of the three Baba Yaga sisters, she eventually reaches her destination in the Thrice-Nine Tsardom the Thrice-Ten Realm, wearing out three pairs of iron shoes and three iron staffs, and eating three loaves of rock bread along the way. Once in this far-off seaside realm, the maiden must free Fenist from the enchantment of his seeming bride, using the gifts given to her by the Baba Yagas...

The Feather of Finist the Falcon is a traditional Russian tale originally collected by Alexander Afanasyev is his Russian Folk Tales, published from 1855 through 1863. It is considered a variant of the 'Bird Lover' tale type - no. 432 in the Aarne–Thompson-Uther folklore classification system - although it also bears striking resemblance to the Norwegian tale, East o' the Sun, West o' the Moon, which in Aarne-Thompson-Uther is an example of tale type 425A, the search for the lost husband. Leaving that aside, this is a wonderful story, full of magic and excitement, danger and true love. This edition was published in Moscow in 1977, for the English-language market (it was translated by the prolific Irina Zheleznova), and contains the breathtakingly gorgeous artwork of Ivan Bilibin. Recommended to all young folk and fairy-tale lovers, and to anyone who appreciates beautiful folk-art illustration.… (mer)

Beautifully illustrated (by Ivan Bilibin, which is oddly not mentioned in this edition) translation of a Russian fairy tale analogous to the more familiar (in the West) Norwegian "East of the Sun, West of the Moon," but more dissimilar from the Cupid & Psyche myth. "Fenist" is more straightforwardly moral than "East" - I find the redemptive storyline of "East," where the heroine's own curiosity is responsible for her separation from her lover, both more troubling and more interesting - but features the bonus of Baba Yaga appearing as a helpful witch. With regard to the rich, woodsy illustrations, I can't help noting if I had read this version as a child, I would only have been disappointed that the book didn't end with a picture of the reunited couple (elaborately dressed, of course!) at their wedding.… (mer)