Please note - these are not "politically correct" tales. . In the Queen of Fairies (in the original, The Fairy of Fairies) as also in The Enchanted Prince, the plain-spoken expression has in several places been somewhat toned down. In all these cases the translator has cravenly yielded to the fear of bruising the delicate susceptibilities of civilized folks, who, while not exactly more moral, are certainly more squeamish than the artless old-world peasant. The book contains 7 original Romanian tales, as published in 1870s by Petre Ispirescu, as well as their English translation.
Four spellbinding fairy tales from 19th century Romania, translated into English and adapted for a contemporary audience. A baby refuses to come into the world until he is promised youth everlasting. But as the boy grows older and his father cannot keep his promise, the young man sets off on the quest of a lifetime… Follow the quest for Youth Everlasting in this thought-provoking fairy tale from 19th century Romania. Three additional Romanian fairy tales introduce you to a whole range of magical characters and exhilarating adventures. Petre Ispirescu was born in 1830 in Bucharest and grew up around Romanian fairy tales. He trained at a publishing house and later used his position to publish several collections of fairy tales. A few of these tales are still part of the literature curriculum in Romania to this day, and they are slowly but surely making their way into the rest of the world.
A collection of fifteen stories written by some of Romania's best writers of the late 19th century, early 20th century period, translated by Lucy Byng, revised by Tiberian Press, illustrated by Francesca Ibba: The Fairy of the Lake(Mihail Sadoveanu) The Easter Torch(Ion Luca Caragiale) At Manjoala's Inn(Ion Luca Caragiale) Alexandru Lapushneanu, 1564-1569(Costache Negruzzi) Zidra(Marc Beza) Gardana(Marc Beza) The Dead Pool(Marc Beza) Old Nichifor, the Impostor(Ion Creanga) Cozma Racoare(Mihail Sadoveanu) The Wanderers(Mihail Sadoveanu) The Fledgeling(Ioan Alexandru Bratescu-Voinesti) Popa Tanda(Ioan Slavici) Out in the World(Ion Popovici-Banateanu) The Bird of Ill Omen(Ioan Alexandru Bratescu-Voinesti) Irinel(Barbu Stefanescu Delavrancea)
This volume explores a selection of significant and topical elements from the vast amount of Romanian folkloric and mythological material. It sheds light on the mythical-ritualistic aspects of three complex calendar holydays (specifically The Lads of Brașov, Călușarii, and Sânzienele), whose ritualistic sequences, laden with mythical-symbolical reminiscences, were lost during the Communist period and are known today thanks to their spectacular features. Such aspects include demonic mythical beings (such as Iele, Rusalii, Știma Apei, The Woodwoman, and Strigoi) that define the collective imaginary; significant myths that have found their artistic expression in fairytales and legends; and the role of women in traditional Romanian society.
Winner of the 2004 Prix de Flore—one of France's most distinguished literary prizes—a wildly romantic, true-life love story “History follows a trail of sputtering desire, often calling upon the delusions of lovers to generate the sparks. If it weren’t for us, the world would suffer from a dismal lack of stories," writes Bruce Benderson in this brutally candid memoir. “What astonishes and intrigues is Benderson’s way of recounting, in the sweetest possible voice, things that are considered shocking,” wrote Le Monde. What’s so shocking? It’s not just Benderson’s job translating Céline Dion’s saccharine autobiography, which he admits is driving him mad; but his unrequited love for an impoverished Romanian in “cheap club-kid platforms with dollar signs in his squinting eyes,” whom he meets while on a journalism assignment in Eastern Europe. Rather than retreat, Benderson absorbs everything he can about Romanian culture and discovers an uncanny similarity between his own obsession for the Romanian (named Romulus) and the disastrous love affair of King Carol II, the last king of Romania (1893-1953). Throughout, Benderson—“absolutely free of bitterness, nastiness, or any desire to protect himself,” wrote Le Monde—is sustained by little white codeine pills, a poetic self-awareness, a sense of humor, and an unwavering belief in the perfect romance, even as wild dogs chase him down Romanian streets.
