The Magic Ring: Russian Folk Tales from Alexander Afanasiev's Collection

A collection of authentic tales by the famed Russian folklorist. Illustrations are traditional and in the style of ones that you might find on a Russian laquer box. This collection 's majority of tales are about peasants with only a few containing the classic characters of Baba Yaga, Koshei the Deathless, and others. Some of the endings are quite brutal, in true Russian folk tale style, to the point of almost being humorous at the same time. The editor's note at the end provides a solid, succinct background of Afanasiev's life and the tales he collected.

Little sister fox and brother wolf -- Fox, hare and cock -- The bun -- Liza the fox and Catafay the cat -- The frightened wolves and the bear -- The fly's castle -- The golden fish -- The sun's sister and the witch -- Daughter and stepdaughter -- Baba Yaga -- Vasilissa the Fair -- Ivashko and the witch -- The prince and his servant -- The flying ship -- Nikita the dragonslyer -- Old bones the deathless -- Kozma quick-to-be-rich -- The tale of Prince Ivan, the firebird and the big grey wolf -- Silver roan -- Treasure -- Two from the sack -- The magic ring -- The magic mirror -- Knee-high in silver, chest-high in gold -- Sister Alyonushka and Brother Ivanushka -- The frog princess -- The potter -- Wise replies -- The soldier and the king in the wood -- The wise maiden -- The sage -- The thief -- The crafy peasant.