The Epic Songs Of Russia

The Epic Songs of Russia is a book written by Isabel Florence Hapgood and published in 1886. The book is a collection of Russian epic songs, also known as byliny, which were traditionally sung or recited by wandering bards known as skomorokhi. The songs are accompanied by an introductory note written by Hapgood, which provides historical and cultural context for the songs.The book contains a total of 26 epic songs, divided into three sections: ""The Heroes of Kieff"", ""The Heroes of Novgorod"", and ""The Heroes of Moscow"". Each section contains songs that tell the stories of legendary heroes, such as Ilya Muromets, Dobrynya Nikitich, and Alyosha Popovich, as well as historical figures like Alexander Nevsky and Ivan the Terrible.Hapgood's introductory note provides insight into the origins and significance of the epic songs, as well as their role in Russian culture. She also discusses the challenges of translating the songs into English, noting that the original texts are often difficult to decipher due to their archaic language and obscure references.Overall, The Epic Songs of Russia is a valuable resource for anyone interested in Russian folklore and literature, as well as those interested in the history and culture of Eastern Europe.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.