“Fairy Tales of Caucasian Nations” Translated by Iwona Tsanev – A Review

Abstract

The present study seeks to review the book “Fairy Tales of Caucasian Nations” collected and translated by Iwona Tsanev, and published by Wydawnictwo Armoryka [Publishers] in 2014. The selection was made from many folk fairy tales of different Caucasian nations that arose throughout history. It should be emphasized that this anthology is the first publication of Caucasian literature in Poland: in such a size and form, translated into foreign language. 

This is excellent literature both for children and for adults. The author (translator) made a right decision to publish this fairy tales collection in such a form and layout. The book contains a total of 45 fairy tales, each of them allowing us to look deeper into the culture of the nation in which it originated. These tales are a collection of items of worldly wisdom: we will find in them lessons about the virtues especially highly valued in the Caucasus: courage, hospitality, or respect for the elders.

The fairy tales, although they originated from many nations, are built on the basis of characteristic patterns present in many cultures. The great diversity of fairy tales, beautiful cover, simple language, and a vocabulary that explains the meaning of foreign-sounding words – all these show us the load of work that the author put into collecting the fairy tales, translating and publishing them.