Translated by Louise Hardiman; illustrations by Elena Polenova
Published by Fontanka (UK)
This is the second book of Russian folk tales published by Fontanka, following Why the Bear has no Tail and other Russian Folk Tales. Here, too, the illustrations are by the Russian artist Elena Polenova (1850–98; younger sister of artist Vasily Polenov). Polenova believed that Russian children needed beautifully illustrated folk tales akin to those published in Germany and England, and she assembled her own versions from various published and unpublished sources. Her illustrations drew inspiration from expeditions to Russian villages to discover local art traditions.
Synko-Filipko and other Russian Folk Tales publishes the remaining tales and rhymes from Polenova’s second and last cycle of illustrations of the 1890s, which have a charming and distinctive style verging on art nouveau.
