Russian folk tales and superstitious stories about evil forces

The collection "Russian Folk Tales and Superstitious Stories about the Dark Forces" presents materials that reveal the Russian people's view on the mysteries of the so-called "black magic." The fairy tales and legends, collected by Alexander Yevgenyevich Burtsev, are important primarily because they allow us to glimpse into the everyday life of the people, full of mystery and mysticism: much of what people believed in was part of their daily lives, as it was not explained by science at that time. In the pages of the book, we encounter well-known heroes of Russian myths, such as the forest spirit, sorcerer, house spirit, devil, water spirit, and even Baba Yaga. All of them become the cause of disasters or joys, sudden wealth or fairy-tale love. Thus, the publication allows us to learn more about the life of Russian peasants at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century and better understand their culture. Compiled by P. O. Zelentsov.