Medieval Russia's Epics, Chronicles, and Tales

by Serge A. Zenkovsky

The Medieval Period in Russia lasted from the eleventh through the seventeenth century, and with the possible exception of the Lay of Igor’s Campaign the literature of these early centuries is almost completely unknown to the public that reads so enthusiastically the works of Pushkin, Gogol, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, and Chekhov. This unique and pioneering anthology, filling magnificently a long-felt need for such a text, contains over sixty selections from the finest of Russia’s medieval authors, and much of the material published here has never been available in English. In addition to a comprehensive introduction, the editor has prefaced each selection with detailed information about its literary and historical background, and has included a glossary and brief chronology of Russian history and culture.

Russian Studies, Medieval Studies

Genres: History, Russia, Medieval, Nonfiction, Anthologies, Russian Literature, Poetry

436 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1963

Reviews

[Bryan Alexander · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've poked at this book for decades, only really reading it seriously over the past month. I'm glad I got to it.

Like the British saying goes, Medieval Russia's Epics, Chronicles, and Tales does what it says on the tin. Zenkovsky assembles a fine sampler of Russian lit from around 1040 to 1690 CE. He collects poems, epics, historical accounts, and a lot of varied religious texts.

Readers can plunge into the earliest Russian texts to discover the founding of Kievan Rus, with the classic myth of the locals "inviting the Vikings to rule over them." There we find the spectacular revenges of Olga, and Igor's doomed campaign. Or you may skim ahead centuries to the period of the Mongol conquest, looking for increasing complexity and sophistication in style.

I suspect the book is dated now, relying on mid-20th-century translations and textual editions, but I haven't found any successors (yet!). I'd like to have seen more about pre-Christian beliefs, of which the book offers but a few teasing hints. At a more practical level, I wish for better maps. These are far too faintly drawn and lack major locations referenced in documents.

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's awesome to have a book that's full of hard to find medieval Russian sources translated into English. I'm having fun reading first hand accounts of monks, saints and rulers. It's especially interesting learning about the Kiev Crypt Monastery which I visited but only learned a little about before.
On the down side, I think some of the translations are akward and need to be revamped or made more accurate. It get's a little annoying when the translator uses the word "presbyter" to refer to an ancient Kievan monk. Doesn't seem to fit-- I think there's better words for that, like "monk".

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not for the general reader (one star) but for the academic specialist in the literature of Medieval Russian writing, of which it appears a rather complete account. Unfortunately nobody there could write until around 1000, aside from visitors.

I read it for the history but was disappointed because much of that is compromised by unhistoric stories of saints, martyrs, beheaded fellows walking around with their heads in the crooks of their arms, and other claptrap, though some of it is undoubtedly well-written. The best history was in the introductions to the book and to each chapter. Two stars for the history.

For history, read the excellent "Ibn Fadlan And The Land Of Darkness" translated by Paul Lunde: reports of mostly Arab travelers through mainly eastern Europe and northwestern Asia from about 800 to 1350. Many of the various peoples they encountered had no written language during the earlier dates, but the Arab visitors recorded much of interest. There are also reports from eastern Asia and western Europe; for instance the Viking pillaging of Seville in 844 after which the Muslims mobilized and decimated them there.

Archiv.org has both of these books free.

[Mimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read parts of this in college, and had read some of the pieces to the kids here and there. However, I started reading it cover to cover last fall and then thought I'd finish it up recently. The translations aren't always fabulous, but having this collection in one place is absolutely wonderful and there are such great hagiographies included, it's a resource.

[Roger Burk · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming collection of short pieces from the Russian Middle Ages--1030 - 1700. Heroic stories, laments, religious works, poetry, folk tales, histories, letters, biographies. Remarkable for their rough charm and for how different they are from the literature of central and western Europe.

[Joseph Washkevich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Collection of historical, biographical, religious, and poetry writings from mostly Pre-Romanov Russia, works in this collection being pulled from early Slavic historical primary sources as well as writings from the times of early Tsars, including some written work of Ivan the Terrible. Includes many texts pertaining to the lives of Russian saints from centuries past as well and the like. Many works in this anthology wrapped around deep religiosity in old Russia.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little dry in places, but 'The Lay of Igor's Campaign' will remain one of my all time favorites. A solid overview of Russian writing from the 11th to 17th century.

[Laura Wetsel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good collection, but where is Vlad the Impaler!

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting

[Bria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was rather hoping for more folk talesy type epics and things, but this anthology focuses on written Russian texts, resulting in them being primarily, overwhelmingly religious. And man, religion in the middle ages! Am I right??
It's probably only an artifact of translation, but I found it a bit amusing that whenever an angel or somesuch appeared to someone in a vision, after they had delivered their message or whatnot, they simply "became invisible". Like, they're still there, but they just don't want to talk to you anymore. Rude!

[Terry Tse · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a unique anthology and despite its age it is still the best survey of medieval Russian literature in one handy volume. The editor is very learned and introduces every period and individual with detailed explanatory notes. The edition also provides a simple timeline for reference. The book is an indispensable companion reader to any decent Russian history book.

[Renée · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be fair I did not quite finish it, I couldn’t work my way through all the names, saints and appeals to god until the end, I kept dozing off all the time. This says more about me than about the book’s merits. I know it is a wonderful reference work full of sources for those interested in the material but who do not read Russian.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had thought this book would have a few more heroic epics in it, but it only contains one. Given the size of it though, I really don't blame the author for not including more. Academically extremely interesting, but largely not riveting reading.

[Kevin Hutson]

read in college

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the commentary as interesting as the stories themselves. It helped to have the background.

[Olivia Fraser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gets 5 stars from me just for providing an English translation of The Zadonshchina. The inclusion of another translation of the Igor poem is invaluable, as is The Descent of the Virgin into Hell (not least for the reference to the Slavic pagan god Troyan). I also want to highlight the poem Misery-Luckless-Plight, though hardly a joyful work, its descriptions of the youth fleeing Misery are most creative.

[Zach Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is one of those books that's really awkward to say you're reading because, like, why would you? anyways, for the most part an absolute banger of a book

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was gifted this book by my Father because he thought that it would be a compilation of classic Russian epics similar to the legends told in medieval European tales. This is not the case and this is a dense read that I would recommend to people who are interested in the transformation of politics in Russia while it began adopting the Orthodox Greek religion and culture.

I appreciate the wealth of knowledge that the editor inputs as a preface to each restored work in this anthology. I may pick this back up again if I notice any footnotes in some of my Dostoevsky novels.

[Stranniki · Rating 5 out of 5]

many a good story

[Cecelia]

Pretty good but a little dry for me.

[Bubba · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Lay of Igor's Campaign" and "The Tale of the White Cowl" are the highlights.

[Fred Dameron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good translation of the tales and stories that are the base of the Kieven to Muscovite period Russian History. Monks who are holly, work and submit to God to Hero's such as Nevsky.

[Jim Booth]

Excellent introduction to the history of Russian literature.