Rusalka: A Lyrical Fairy Tale in Three Acts (Modern Czech Classics) - Softcover

Inhaltsangabe

Famous as the libretto for Antonín Dvorák&;s opera of the same name, Jaroslav Kvapil&;s poem Rusalka is an intriguing work of literature on its own. Directly inspired by Hans Christian Andersen&;s famous &;The Little Mermaid,&; Kvapil&;s reinterpretation adds an array of nuanced poetic techniques, a more dramatic tempo, and dark undertones that echo the work of eminent Czech folklorist Karel Jaromír Erben. All of these influences work in tandem to create a poetic work that is familiar yet innovative.
 
Transposed into the folkloric topos of a landlocked Bohemia, the mermaid is rendered here as a Slavic rusalka&;a dangerous water nymph&;who must choose between love and immortality. Thus, Rusalka, while certainly paying homage to the original story&;s Scandinavian roots, is still a distinct work of modern Czech literature. Newly translated by Patrick Corness, Kvapil&;s work will now find a fresh group of readers looking to get lost in one of Europe&;s great lyrical fairy tale traditions.

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