Woislav M Petrovitch

Woislav Petrovitch's compendium of Serbian myths and legends is a rich retrospective on the culture and stories of the nation. This edition includes all of the original notes and references. Superbly researched and of great and authentic depth, Woislav's collection was formally approved of by Serbia's Royal Legation, of which the author was a longstanding attache. Commencing with a detailed introduction of Serbia's customs and folk beliefs, we are thrust into an ancient and exotic culture with a history stretching back thousands of years. To set the tone, Petrovitch begins by telling the reader of how the finest poetry of the Serbian mythos was spread and established in the population at large. The first legend we hear is the hero saga of Kralyevitch Marko, a Royal Prince whose adventures were numerous and gallant. In keeping with Serbia's traditions, Marko's bravery and humanity, and even the traits of his trusty steed, receive emphasis in the story.

Woislav Petrovitch's compendium of Serbian myths and legends is a rich retrospective on the culture and stories of the nation. This edition includes all of the original notes and references. Superbly researched and of great and authentic depth, Woislav's collection was formally approved of by Serbia's Royal Legation, of which the author was a longstanding attache. Commencing with a detailed introduction of Serbia's customs and folk beliefs, we are thrust into an ancient and exotic culture with a history stretching back thousands of years. To set the tone, Petrovitch begins by telling the reader of how the finest poetry of the Serbian mythos was spread and established in the population at large. The first legend we hear is the hero saga of Kralyevitch Marko, a Royal Prince whose adventures were numerous and gallant. In keeping with Serbia's traditions, Marko's bravery and humanity, and even the traits of his trusty steed, receive emphasis in the story.

When our ancestors occupied the western part of the Balkan Peninsula, they found there numerous Latin colonies and Greek towns and settlements. In the course of twelve centuries we have through intermarriage absorbed much Greek and Latin blood. That influence, and the influence of the commercial and political intercourse with Italy, has softened our language and our manners and intensified our original Slavonic love of what is beautiful, poetical, and noble. We are a special Slavonic type, modified by Latin and Greek influences. The Bulgars are a Slavonic nation of a quite different type, created by the circulation of Tartar blood in Slavonian veins. This simple fact throws much light on the conflicts between the Serbians and Bulgarians during the Middle Ages, and even in our own days. Now what are the Serbian national songs? They are not songs made by cultured or highly educated poets-songs which, becoming popular, are sung by common people. They are songs made by the common people themselves. Up to the middle of the nineteenth century the Serbian peasantry lived mostly in agricultural and family associations called Zadrooga. As M. Petrovitch has stated, the sons of a peasant did not leave their father's house when they got married, but built a wooden cottage on the land.

Woislav Petrovitch's compendium of Serbian myths and legends is a rich retrospective on the culture and stories of the nation. This edition includes all of the original notes and references. Superbly researched and of great and authentic depth, Woislav's collection was formally approved of by Serbia's Royal Legation, of which the author was a longstanding attache. Commencing with a detailed introduction of Serbia's customs and folk beliefs, we are thrust into an ancient and exotic culture with a history stretching back thousands of years. To set the tone, Petrovitch begins by telling the reader of how the finest poetry of the Serbian mythos was spread and established in the population at large. The first legend we hear is the hero saga of Kralyevitch Marko, a Royal Prince whose adventures were numerous and gallant. In keeping with Serbia's traditions, Marko's bravery and humanity, and even the traits of his trusty steed, receive emphasis in the story. In centuries past, Serbian folk tales often concerned the marriages and customs of the nobility. Several of the most splendid and entertaining occasions are included in this collection. A trio of expressive ballads, and a lengthy list of folk tales - many relating to the animal kingdom and containing moral lessons - comprise the book's latter portions.