Russian Tales of Demonic Possession

Russian Tales of Demonic Possession
Author: Marcia A. Morris
Publisher: Lexington Books
Total Pages: 155
Release: 2014-04-17
Genre: Literary Collections
ISBN: 0739188615

Russian Tales of Demonic Possession: Translations of Savva Grudtsyn and Solomonia is a translation from the Russian of two stories of demonic possession, of innocence lost and regained. The original versions of both tales date back to the seventeenth century, but the feats of suffering and triumph described in them are timeless. Aleksei Remizov, one of Russia’s premiere modernists, recognized the relevance of the late-medieval material for his own mid-twentieth-century readers and rewrote both tales, publishing them in 1951 under the title The Demoniacs. The volumeoffers a new translation of the original Tale of Savva Grudtsyn as well as first-ever translations of The Tale of The Demoniac Solomonia and Remizov’s Demoniacs. Russian Tales of Demonic Possession opens with an introduction that interprets and contextualizes both the late-medieval and the twentieth-century tales. By providing new critical interpretations of all four tales as well as a short discussion of the history of demons in Russia, this introduction makes an eerily exotic world accessible to today’s English-speaking audiences. Savva Grudtsyn and Solomonia, the protagonists of the two tales, are young people poised on the threshold of adulthood. When demons suddenly appear to confront and overmaster them, each of them teeters on the brink of despair in a world filled with chaos and temptation. The Tale of Savva Grudtsyn and The Tale of the Demoniac Solomonia propel us forcibly into the realm of good and evil and pose hard questions: Why does evil afflict us? How does it manifest itself? How can it be overcome? Aleksey Remizov’s modernist re-castings of the two stories offer compelling evidence that these same questions are very much with us today and are still in need of answers.

Witchcraft in Russia and Ukraine, 1000–1900

Witchcraft in Russia and Ukraine, 1000–1900
Author: Valerie A. Kivelson
Publisher: Cornell University Press
Total Pages: 537
Release: 2020-11-15
Genre: History
ISBN: 1501750674

This sourcebook provides the first systematic overview of witchcraft laws and trials in Russia and Ukraine from medieval times to the late nineteenth century. Witchcraft in Russia and Ukraine, 1000–1900 weaves scholarly commentary with never-before-published primary source materials translated from Polish, Russian, and Ukrainian. These sources include the earliest references to witchcraft and sorcery, secular and religious laws regarding witchcraft and possession, full trial transcripts, and a wealth of magical spells. The documents present a rich panorama of daily life and reveal the extraordinary power of magical words. Editors Valerie A. Kivelson and Christine D. Worobec present new analyses of the workings and evolution of legal systems, the interplay and tensions between church and state, and the prosaic concerns of the women and men involved in witchcraft proceedings. The extended documentary commentaries also explore the shifting boundaries and fraught political relations between Russia and Ukraine.

Dostoevsky as Suicidologist

Dostoevsky as Suicidologist
Author: Amy D. Ronner
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
Total Pages: 357
Release: 2021-01-12
Genre: Literary Criticism
ISBN: 1793607826

In Dostoevsky as Suicidologist, Amy D. Ronner illustrates how self-homicide in Fyodor Dostoevsky’s fiction prefigures Emile Durkheim’s etiology in Suicide as well as theories of other prominent suicidologists. This book not only fills a lacuna in Dostoevsky scholarship, but provides fresh readings of Dostoevsky’s major works, including Notes from The House of the Dead, Crime and Punishment, The Idiot, Demons, and The Brothers Karamazov. Ronner provides an exegesis of how Dostoevsky’s implicit awareness of fatalistic, altruistic, egoistic, and anomic modes of self-destruction helped shape not only his philosophy, but also his craft as a writer. In this study, Ronner contributes to the field of suicidology by anatomizing both self-destructive behavior and suicidal ideation while offering ways to think about prevention. But most expansively, Ronner tackles the formidable task of forging a ligature between artistic creation and the pluripresent social fact of self-annihilation.

The Picaresque Novel in Western Literature

The Picaresque Novel in Western Literature
Author: J. A. G. Ardila
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 289
Release: 2015-05-19
Genre: Literary Criticism
ISBN: 1107031656

Explores picaresque fiction across ages and cultures, providing a revealing and fresh examination of this literary genre.

International Medievalisms

International Medievalisms
Author: Leverhulme Early Career Fellow Mary Boyle
Publisher: Boydell & Brewer
Total Pages: 229
Release: 2023-02-14
Genre:
ISBN: 1843846063

Identifies and investigates international medievalism through three distinct strands: "Internationally Nationalist", "Someone Else's Past?", and "Activist Medievalism". Medievalism - the reception of the Middle Ages - often invokes a set of tropes generally considered 'medieval', rather than consciously engaging with medieval cultures and societies. International medievalism offers an additional interpretative layer by juxtaposing two or more national cultures, at least one of which is medieval. 'National' can be aspirational: it might refer to the area within agreed borders, or to the people who live there, but it might also describe the people who understand, or imagine, themselves to constitute a nation. And once 'medieval' becomes simply a collection of ideas, it can be re-formed as desired, cast as more geographically than historically specific, or function as a gateway to an even more nebulous past. This collection identifies and investigates international medievalism through three distinct strands, 'Internationally Nationalist', 'Someone Else's Past?', and 'Activist Medievalism', exploring medievalist media from the textual to the architectural. Subjects range from The Green Children of Woolpit to Refugee Tales, and from Viking metal to Joan of Arc. As the contributors to each section make clear, for centuries the medieval has provided material for countless competing causes and cannot be contained within historical, political, or national borders. The essays show how the medieval is repeatedly co-opted and recreated, formed as much as formative: inviting us to ask why, and in service of what.

Spirit Possession around the World

Spirit Possession around the World
Author: Joseph P. Laycock
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA
Total Pages: 445
Release: 2015-05-26
Genre: Body, Mind & Spirit
ISBN: 1610695909

This book provides a fascinating historical and cultural overview of traditional beliefs about spirit possession and exorcism around the world, from Europe to Asia and the Middle East to the Americas. Possession and exorcism are elements that occur in nearly every culture. Why is belief in spiritual possession so universal? This accessible reference volume offers a broad sample of the traditions and cultures involving possession and exorcism, presenting thoughts on this widely popular topic by experts from the fields of anthropology, sociology, religious studies, history, neuroscience, forensics, and theology. The entries cover the subject of possession and exorcism across all inhabited continents, from the Bronze Age to the 21st century, providing information that is accessible and intriguing as well as scholarly and authoritative. Beyond addressing the Christian tradition of possession and exorcism, Pentecostalism, and "New Age" and less widely known Western concepts about possession and exorcism, this work examines ideas about possession and exorcism from other world religions and the indigenous cultures of Asia, Africa, and the Americas. It also covers historic cases of possession and presents biographies of famous theologians, exorcists, and possessed individuals. High school and undergraduate readers will learn about world history, religious and spiritual traditions, and world cultures through a topic that figures prominently in popular culture and modern entertainment. Bibliographies that accompany each entry as well as a selected, general bibliography serve to help students locate print and electronic sources of additional information.

The Greatest Russian Fairy Tales & Fables (With Original Illustrations)

The Greatest Russian Fairy Tales & Fables (With Original Illustrations)
Author: Arthur Ransome
Publisher: Good Press
Total Pages: 952
Release: 2023-11-20
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN:

In 'The Greatest Russian Fairy Tales & Fables (With Original Illustrations),' readers are presented with a treasure trove of narrative richness, encapsulating the profound depths of Russian folklore. This anthology spans a broad spectrum of literary styles, from the mystical and moral to the whimsical and allegorical, all underpinned by the cultural fabric that is uniquely Russian. The collection distinguishes itself not only through the diversity of its tales but also through its enlistment of original illustrations, which serve to enhance the reader's immersion into these storied worlds. Highlighted within are narratives that pierce the heart of Russia's folkloric tradition, offering a literary mosaic that is as enchanted as it is enlightening. The contributing authors and illustrators - Arthur Ransome, Valery Carrick, W. R. S. Ralston, and Nisbat Bain - each bring their own unique lens to the anthology, informed by their respective backgrounds in storytelling, folklore research, and translation. Their collective effort bridges the gap between Eastern European literary traditions and Western readership, offering a vibrant portrayal of Russian cultural heritage. As the world of Russian fables is deeply intertwined with the nation's history, mythology, and societal norms, the anthology presents a compelling cross-section of the cultural and historical landscape from which these tales spring. For enthusiasts of folklore and aficionados of literary variety, 'The Greatest Russian Fairy Tales & Fables (With Original Illustrations)' is an indispensable addition to one's library. It not only invites readers to traverse the vast and varied terrains of Russian folklore but also offers a unique lens through which to explore the intricacies of human nature, morality, and imagination. This collection, rich in cultural significance and literary merit, promises a journey into the heart of Russia's storied past, making it an educational and enlightening exploration of one of the world's most mesmerizing storytelling traditions.

Russian Fairytales & Fables (Illustrated Edition)

Russian Fairytales & Fables (Illustrated Edition)
Author: Valery Carrick
Publisher: e-artnow
Total Pages: 939
Release: 2017-08-07
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 8027200113

This unique edition of the greatest russian fairytales & fables has been formatted to the highest digital standards and adjusted for readability on all devices. The Russians very well know how to weave intriguing stories that keep readers hooked till the end. This ebook represents a thoughtful and beautifully illustrated collection of some of the finest Russian fairy and folk tales for people of all ages: Picture Fables for the Little Ones: The Cock and the Bean The Goat and the Ram The Hungry Wolf The Peasant and the Bear The Dog and the Cock King Frost The Bear's Paw The Bear and the Old Man's Daughters The Straw Ox The Fox and the Blackbird Fairy Tales: Snegorotchka Fire Bird Winged Wolf Self-Playing Harp Seven Brothers Ivan Story of the Golden Mountain Robber Nightingale Renowned Hero Mild Man Duck with Golden Eggs Bulat the Brave Tsarevich and Ivashka with White Smock Knight Yaroslav and Princess Anastasia The Golden Mountain Morozko Flying Ship Muzhichek-As-Big-As-Your-Thumb Tsarevich Ivan Tale of Little Fool Ivan Little Feather of Fenist Peasant Demyan Enchanted Ring Brave Labourer Sage Damsel Prophetic Dream Two Out of the Knapsack Marko and Vasily Muscovite Folk Tales: The Fiend The Dead Mother The Dead Witch The Treasure The Cross-Surety The Awful Drunkard The Bad Wife The Golovikha The Three Copecks The Miser The Fool and the Birch-Tree The Mizgir The Smith and the Demon Ivan Popyalof The Norka Marya Morevna Koshchei the Deathless The Water Snake The Water King and Vasilissa the Wise The Baba Yaga Vasilissa the Fair The Witch The Witch and the Sun's Sister Emilian the Fool Witch Girl Headless Princess Soldier's Midnight Watch Warlock Fox-Physician Fiddler in Hell Ride on the Gravestone Two Friends Shroud Coffin-Lid Two Corpses Dog and the Corpse Soldier and the Vampire .....

Crime, Cultural Conflict, and Justice in Rural Russia, 1856-1914

Crime, Cultural Conflict, and Justice in Rural Russia, 1856-1914
Author: Stephen P. Frank
Publisher: Univ of California Press
Total Pages: 385
Release: 2023-12-22
Genre: History
ISBN: 0520920813

This book is the first to explore the largely unknown world of rural crime and justice in post-emancipation Imperial Russia. Drawing upon previously untapped provincial archives and a wealth of other neglected primary material, Stephen P. Frank offers a major reassessment of the interactions between peasantry and the state in the decades leading up to World War I. Viewing crime and punishment as contested metaphors about social order, his revisionist study documents the varied understandings of criminality and justice that underlay deep conflicts in Russian society, and it contrasts official and elite representations of rural criminality—and of peasants—with the realities of everyday crime at the village level.

Possessed

Possessed
Author: Christine Worobec
Publisher:
Total Pages: 303
Release: 2003
Genre: History
ISBN: 9780875805986

Women known as "shriekers" howled, screamed, convulsed, and tore their clothes. Believed to be possessed by devils, these central figures in a cultural drama known as klikushestvo stirred various reactions among those who encountered them. While sympathetic monks and peasants tended to shelter the shriekers, others analyzed, diagnosed, and objectified them. The Russian Orthodox Church played an important role, for, while moving toward a scientific explanation for the behavior of these women, it was reluctant to abandon the ideas of possession and miraculous exorcism. Possessed is the first book to examine the phenomenon of demon possession in Russia. Drawing upon a wide range of sources--religious, psychiatric, ethnographic, and literary--Worobec looks at klikushestvo over a broad span of time but focuses mainly on the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, when all of Russian society felt the pressure of modernization. Worobec's definitive study is as much an account of perceptions of the klikushi as an analysis of the women themselves, for, even as modern rationalism began to affect religious belief in Russia, explanations of the shriekers continued to differ widely. Examining various cultural constructions, Worobec shows how these interpretations were rooted in theology, village life and politics, and gender relationships. Engaging broad issues in Russian history, women's history, and popular religious culture, Possessed will interest readers across several disciplines. Its insights into the cultural phenomenon of possession among Russian peasant women carry rich implications for understanding the ways in which a complex society treated women believed to be out of control.