Blumenthal - Baba Yaga - Keeping the Public in Public Domain

I confess it: I'm a Russophile.  It has nothing to do with politics, everything to do with my loving so much of Russia's cultural offerings.  Naturally Russia's folklore has a large place in my library.  Already I've given two folktales here and today offer a third.  Tomorrow I will give an extra resource to find Russian folktales for any similarly interested. 

This is a big topic for me, so I want to do more than the usual presentation of today's story.  When you have a large area of interest it's hard to choose, but today I present one of Russia's most fascinating figures, Baba Yaga!  (By the way, if you are saying the name, it's pronounced Bah-buh Yah-gah with the stress on the gah.)  The Russian witch scaring Eastern European children for centuries is written up, of course, in Wikipedia where we even learn of a story, "The Maiden Tsar", in the Afanas'ev collection with three sister witches all called "Baba Yaga."   Three other articles about the old witch worth seeing are at Old Russia -- the only one mentioning  iron teeth, Russiapedia, and at Myths and Legends A favorite story of mine, however, isn't mentioned in Wikipedia nor in my Afanas'ev anthology.

I love the tale of "Prince Ivan, the Witch Baby, and the Little Sister of the Sun"  told in Arthur Ransome's Old Peter's Russian Tales.  I think her iron teeth are a key identifier of this being a young Baba Yaga.  She's normally only seen as an adult, and often elderly.  The word "baba" is discussed in the Wikipedia article and would eliminate someone as young as the Witch Baby, but it sounds like her early years to me.   It's always tricky to find a story in another language because the title may change.  My Pantheon edition of the Afanas'ev collection has an index with 14 stories under Baba Yaga (and three just listed as Witch).  Another listing of stories about "Ivan, Prince" gives five of those Baba Yaga stories and another ten without her.  While Ransome has a Baba Yaga tale earlier in his book, his delightful tale about the "Witch Baby" isn't in the Pantheon edition.  In both stories he mentions the iron teeth.  Ransome claims his tales may be found in Afanas'ev "or in solemn, serious volumes of folklorists' writing for the learned."  Ages ago I taught myself a now nearly forgotten reading knowledge of Russian.  The Pantheon edition, translated by Norbert Guterman, is still under copyright so I can't post it.  I'm told some Afanas'ev tales don't appear in the Pantheon edition and other major Afanas'ev collections in Russian.  Erotic stories were part of that extra material.  I don't care to find that, but somehow doubt the Witch Baby was written "for the learned."  Ransome is a long way further in the alphabet, so maybe by the time I reach that part of my collection here I can still solve the mystery of her origins.  If you know more, please be sure to let me know!

UPDATE:  I worked on this before the date when it was to be published.  In the process of checking the many Russian books I have, I checked the Afanas'ev translation by Leonard Magnus.  While it is smaller, I  found "The Witch and the Sister of the Sun."  I still prefer the Ransome re-telling as both better orally and does a good job of clarifying some things.

I first discovered Baba Yaga in Blair Lent's book by that name.  In searching to find more, I learned he wrote it under the pen name of Ernest Small.  That was a relief as I knew he illustrated it, but could never recall who was the author.  The book claims to take many of the elements of the Baba Yaga tales and put them together in his version.  I urge people to compare today's story with Lent's book.  When reading today's selection I felt right at home in that 1966 picture book telling of the witch who eats "bad (Russian) boys and girls." I trust you will enjoy Verra de Blumenthal's version.

So now you have even been assured the story is true. . . that's not the same as saying it actually happened.  As storytellers know, the two are different.

The wonderful Project Gutenberg lets you read the complete book, Folk Tales from the Russian.  By the way, the Gutenberg volume omits an easily missed page before the title page which says: The illustrations for "Folk Tales from the Russian" are by Lucy Fitch Perkins after sketches by the author.  (Even that page has a lovely graphic showing both her taste and skill.)  She deserves mention.

Blair Lent's book is currently out of print, but under copyright, so you will either need to borrow or buy a used copy of his Baba Yaga and see what captured my attention so long ago. 

If you are interested in my listing of English versions of Russian folklore, tomorrow will be an extra posting.  The usual Wednesday/Saturday schedule then resumes.
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This is part of a series of bi-weekly posting of stories under the category, "Keeping the Public in Public Domain."  The idea behind Public Domain was to preserve our cultural heritage after the authors and their immediate heirs were compensated.  I feel strongly current copyright law delays this intent on works of the 20th century.  I hope you enjoy discovering new stories. 

Currently I'm involved in projects taking me out of my usual work of sharing stories with an audience.  My own library of folklore includes so many books within the Public Domain I decided to share stories from them.  This fall I expect to return to my normal monthly posting of a research project here.  Depending on response, I will decide at that time if "Keeping the Public in Public Domain" should continue along with my monthly postings.

Blaisdell - How a Boy Helped General McClellan... - Keeping the Public in Public Domain

How appropriate for 4th of July during the Civil War sesquicentennial!  Today's story is "How a Boy Helped General McClellan Win a Battle."  The various story posts have been proceeding alphabetically through my collection, so it was not planning on my part.  I also confess this project helped me discover material sitting unnoticed on my shelves.  Looking at Albert F. Blaisdell's Stories of the Civil War, I fondly recall discovering it at Hyde Brothers in Fort Wayne, IN.  Even with all my Civil War programs, I've not been able to use the stories in it, so I'm delighted to share it here.

I also want to thank the readers who have encouraged this series.  Their comments have often come to me on Facebook or email instead of here on this site.  Sorry others can't read them, but am grateful for the response.

Now for a story of General McClellan, who was often faulted for his inaction.  This gives an inside view of how he proceeded.  For a fascinating overview of this general loved by his men, but the easy target for Union losses, the Wikipedia article is worth a follow-up look.

There are lots of interesting stories in this book.  I've decided to incorporate some of the prison information in my programs when I mention Will and Isaac Lerich's time at  Libby Prison when reenacting as their sister, Liberetta Lerich Green.  All is not battlefield material in the book.  There are a few on Abraham Lincoln, as well as an "old Abe" of a different sort in "Old Abe, the Soldier Bird."  My copy is "Adapted for Supplementary Reading" and is the same as this Hathitrust online version.  The fact that my book's cover advertises itself as "Classics for Home and School" gives you a clearer idea of the type of material...definitely reader friendly.  Of course, the "Price 35 Cents by Mail" also shows it was marketed to the family and not the researcher.  Today that sort of research delights me, whether as Liberetta or my more generic "One Room Schoolteacher."

Happy 4th of July celebrating what Liberetta grew up calling the War of Liberation, even as she called the Civil War "The War of Rebellion."  Of course in the South it was called "The War of Northern Aggression", so viewpoints differed, but I think all will agree when Liberetta says, "There was nothing Civil about that war."  May your holiday be peaceful.
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This is part of a series of bi-weekly posting of stories under the category, "Keeping the Public in Public Domain."  The idea behind Public Domain was to preserve our cultural heritage after the authors and their immediate heirs were compensated.  I feel strongly current copyright law delays this intent on works of the 20th century.  I hope you enjoy discovering new stories. 

Currently I'm involved in projects taking me out of my usual work of sharing stories with an audience.  My own library of folklore includes so many books within the Public Domain I decided to share stories from them.  This fall I expect to return to my normal monthly posting of a research project here.  Depending on response, I will decide at that time if "Keeping the Public in Public Domain" should continue along with my monthly postings. 

Bigham - Tommy Tinker's Charm String - Keeping the Public in Public Domain

In her preface to Stories of Mother Goose Village, Madge Bigham tells of first hearing nursery rhymes, then getting her own Mother Goose book, which led to her reading it until she almost wore it out, and then her desire for still more.  The very predictability of nursery rhymes is why they are an important step to beginning reading, but that imaginative nonsensical playfulness is what captures our attention.  Little Madge wanted still more, but was told "the dear old lady wrote only the one."  When that made young Madge sad, however, she was wisely told, "But never mind, when you grow into a great big girl, my dear, you may write another one and tell some more about Humpty Dumpty and Jack-be-Nimble and little Miss Muffet and all the rest."

What great advice!  Parents, teachers, storytellers, encourage your listeners to continue creating adventures for these beloved characters.  There's a Biblical tradition of creating stories beyond the sacred text.  Those stories are called Midrash.  Surely the literature of Mother Goose and other classics deserve similar encouragement.

Fortunately Ms. Bigham (and earlier I posted a similar story by Frank Baum) remembered that challenge.  It is still worth encouraging.  Stories of Mother Goose Village is filled with many of the favorite nursery rhyme characters, but there could always be more.  I also love how many stories are holiday tales, like the Old Woman Who Lived in the Shoe having both the tale of her Christmas tree and her New Year's basket.  There's Little Miss Muffet's Valentine and Mother Hubbard's Easter Lily, she also gives another valentine tale and even sneaks Cinderella in, saying "Cinderella did not live in Mother Goose Village, though she often went there."  Jack and Jill get a birthday story and other stories sometimes include parties and picnics.They also give a look at earlier customs and games.

The concept of a"charm string" may need its brief explanation, but surely everyone has felt the tug of "finders keepers."  The emphasis on the positive makes for a pleasant, low-key resolution.

The next story will be "something completely different" as it is a story from the Civil War.  With all the sesquicentennial interest, surely those stories, too, deserve to be kept in the Public Domain.
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This is part of a series of bi-weekly posting of stories under the category, "Keeping the Public in Public Domain."  The idea behind Public Domain was to preserve our cultural heritage after the authors and their immediate heirs were compensated.  I feel strongly current copyright law delays this intent on works of the 20th century.  I hope you enjoy discovering new stories. 

Currently I'm involved in projects taking me out of my usual work of sharing stories with an audience.  My own library of folklore includes so many books within the Public Domain I decided to share stories from them.  This fall I expect to return to my normal monthly posting of a research project here.  Depending on response, I will decide at that time if "Keeping the Public in Public Domain" should continue along with my monthly postings.

Beston - The Bird-Boy - Keeping the Public in Public Domain

Fairy tales are sometimes put down as being unrealistic, especially that frequent concluding sentence, "and they lived happily ever."  It takes someone like child psychologist, Bruno Bettelheim, to show The Uses of Enchantment ; The Meaning and Importance of Fairy Tales.  The fear some adults have of the frightening elements in fairy tales would rob the stories of their very essence, which lets listeners learn how to cope with life's darker side.  In contrast some point to "and they lived happily ever" to show the unreality of fairy tales.

Mature adults recognize life isn't always fair, but that doesn't mean we don't continue to hope for justice.  That resolution keeps the fairy tale from dwelling in the very area avoided by those who would sanitize all fearful elements.

I think the following story gets the mix just right.  It comes from Henry Beston's The Firelight Fairy Book, as mentioned in yesterday's "And Now for Something Completely Different."

 

Be sure to come back for more of the very cultural tradition that is part of the public domain.  It promises to be a creative look beyond Mother Goose.
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This is part of a series of bi-weekly posting of stories under the category, "Keeping the Public in Public Domain."  The idea behind Public Domain was to preserve our cultural heritage after the authors and their immediate heirs were compensated.  I feel strongly current copyright law delays this intent on works of the 20th century.  I hope you enjoy discovering new stories. 

Currently I'm involved in projects taking me out of my usual work of sharing stories with an audience.  My own library of folklore includes so many books within the Public Domain I decided to share stories from them.  This fall I expect to return to my normal monthly posting of a research project here.  Depending on response, I will decide at that time if "Keeping the Public in Public Domain" should continue along with my monthly postings. 

"And now for something different..." - Keeping the Public in Public Domain

When I discovered more about the next story, I was forced to choose between including it with the posting of the story or making a separate post.  Because Public Domain is so important, I decided the issues deserve a separate article.  The story will follow tomorrow instead of its usual Wednesday and Saturday schedule.  Tomorrow's story is a longer tale, so that added to my decision.

Today I want to touch on the issue of public domain and how it is sometimes subverted; the author of tomorrow's story; and a guest comment from no less than Theodore Roosevelt.

It's dangerous to let me start commenting on public domain for I tend to get on my soapbox and begin to rant. As stated after the public domain stories posted here, "The idea behind Public Domain was to preserve our cultural heritage after the authors and their immediate heirs were compensated.  I feel strongly current copyright law delays this intent on works of the 20th century."  But there's more going on to hinder this cultural preservation.  Re-publishers of such works should be required to bring something to their copyrighting their own efforts.  Tomorrow's story comes from a book available as a Kindle e-book which claims copyright.  Another blog I do, Michigan's "Fighting Fifth" Civil War Infantry posts the Detroit newspaper articles at the pace they appeared 150 years ago.  I use the microfilmed articles at the Library of Michigan, but the index to Michigan in the Civil War, an index by Helen Ellis, of Detroit Public Library's   Burton Historical Collection used a different edition for the Detroit Free Press from the one on microfilm.  A database today exists of those articles, but using them is subject to the "copyright" of the creator of that database.  How does that or the republishing of items long out of copyright match the stated intent of public domain?  Yes, these new publishers are using technology to keep the works available, but I prefer to support the work of Project Gutenberg and others freely offering the cultural preservation implicit in public domain.  (That Project Gutenberg link takes you to the entire book containing tomorrow's story, if you want more.)  I'll cut off my rant here so we can get to the other two points mentioned.

The authors of these past folklore anthologies are too often just names.  It's been fascinating to me to discover more about them.  Wikipedia has often been the source of such information.  Henry Beston certainly is way more than might be apparent from tomorrow's tale from The Firelight Fairy Book.  He wrote a great deal beyond fairy tales and is best known as a naturalist and author of the 1928 (not yet in public domain) book, The Outermost House.  It is so influential that it's called a "nature classic",  he's considered one of the fathers of the modern environmental movement, and Rachel Carson said he was the only author who ever influenced her writing.  For a more personal sidelight, this lover of children's literature was delighted to learn he married children's author, Elizabeth Coatsworth. 

But we mustn't keep the comments of Ted Roosevelt waiting.  Before you think that's too informal, you should know this is the nature-loving son of the president.  Theodore "Ted" Roosevelt III is generally known as Theodore, Jr. and he had an active and distinguished political and business career of his own in addition to winning the Congressional Medal of Honor.  That last is also true for his father.  The two T.R.s share this a father/son honor only with Arthur and Douglas MacArthur.  You can certainly hear Ted's father's influence in his comments here in the Foreword to The Firelight Fairy Book.

Well that's today's "And now for something different..." Be sure to catch tomorrow's story of "The Bird-Boy."
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Once again I state:
This is part of a series of bi-weekly posting of stories under the category, "Keeping the Public in Public Domain."  The idea behind Public Domain was to preserve our cultural heritage after the authors and their immediate heirs were compensated.  I feel strongly current copyright law delays this intent on works of the 20th century.  I hope you enjoy discovering new stories. 

Currently I'm involved in projects taking me out of my usual work of sharing stories with an audience.  My own library of folklore includes so many books within the Public Domain I decided to share stories from them.  This fall I expect to return to my normal monthly posting of a research project here.  Depending on response, I will decide at that time if "Keeping the Public in Public Domain" should continue along with my monthly postings.

Bayliss - How Coyote Brought Fish and Fire to the Indians - Keeping the Public in Public Domain

I confess it, I enjoy Coyote and other Tricksters.  Some might question holding up such rascals as folk heroes, but usually when they behave unacceptably, they get what they deserve.  That's a worthwhile lesson to come from folktales and, with tricksters, it is usually done in an enjoyable way that doesn't feel like a sermon.  But Coyote, Raven, and others sometimes even surprise us by using their very trickiness to produce something good!  Today's story is one of those.

There are many Coyote tales in my library, but Old Man Coyote by Clara K. Bayliss is safely in the years of Public Domain while others are either individual tales within collections or are collections that my research shows no renewal.  An interesting feature of Ms. Bayliss's versions is they often combine two tales into one story.  This is true for today's offering.

I also enjoy the bit of "pourquois" tale that comes in this version of the story.  I was familiar with most of those explanations of why the various creatures were the way they were, but loved the added ones about Frog.

For those wanting sources on the stories in Old Man Coyote, Ms. Bayliss cites sources like Curtin, Boas, Mathews, Teit, Bancroft, and the Journal of American Folk Lore, but she does not attempt to give specifics as to the origins of her retellings.  It's up to you if you are so caught up by Coyote that you must know more, or just enjoy a good story.  Unfortunately this volume has not yet been preserved online.  Her only work e-published so far is A Treasury of Eskimo Tales.  Northwest native trickster, Raven, makes his appearance there.
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This is part of a series of bi-weekly posting of stories under the category, "Keeping the Public in Public Domain."  The idea behind Public Domain was to preserve our cultural heritage after the authors and their immediate heirs were compensated.  I feel strongly current copyright law delays this intent on works of the 20th century.  I hope you enjoy discovering new stories. 

Currently I'm involved in projects taking me out of my usual work of sharing stories with an audience.  My own library of folklore includes so many books within the Public Domain I decided to share stories from them.  This fall I expect to return to my normal monthly posting of a research project here.  Depending on response, I will decide at that time if "Keeping the Public in Public Domain" should continue along with my monthly postings. 

Baum - Tom, the Piper's Son - Keeping the Public in Public Domain

Frank Baum didn't only write the Oz books.  His first work, in 1897, was Mother Goose in Prose, a collection of stories that imaginatively expand upon some of the well-known rhymes.  It also was the first commission for the artist, Maxfield Parrish.  Fortunately for us and for the careers of Baum and Parrish, the book was moderately successful.  In Baum's case it let him give up a door-to-door sales job.

The stories seem to vary a bit in the level of maturity needed.  I've used the story of Humpty Dumpty with preschoolers, but I wouldn't think "Tom, the Piper's Son" would work that young.  This tale of the theft of a pig seems meant for school-age children.

By the way, Baum also wrote a rather unusual look at The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus.  This creative look at familiar stories and rhymes are great starters for encouraging children to try the same.  Later this month we will see yet another author's take on such expansions when I post Madge Bigham's Stories from Mother Goose Village.
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This is part of a series of bi-weekly posting of stories under the category, "Keeping the Public in Public Domain."  The idea behind Public Domain was to preserve our cultural heritage after the authors and their immediate heirs were compensated.  I feel strongly current copyright law delays this intent on works of the 20th century.  I hope you enjoy discovering new stories. 

Currently I'm involved in projects taking me out of my usual work of sharing stories with an audience.  My own library of folklore includes so many books within the Public Domain I decided to share stories from them.  This fall I expect to return to my normal monthly posting of a research project here.  Depending on response, I will decide at that time if "Keeping the Public in Public Domain" should continue along with my monthly postings.