East of the Sun and West of the Moon: Old Tales from the North
Description:... In 'East of the Sun and West of the Moon: Old Tales from the North,' Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, in collaboration with Jørgen Engebretsen Moe, offers a masterful curation of 33 Scandinavian folk tales that weave a rich tapestry of mythic landscapes. Exploring themes of transformation, adversity, and the supernatural, this collection is imbued with a narrative alchemy that turns simple stories into profound moral fables. The prose echoes the oral tradition through which these tales were originally passed down, capturing the cadences of storytelling with a fidelity that transports the reader to the ancient firesides of Nordic people. The book's enthralling style is complemented by the ethereal quality of the myths, which occupy a unique niche in the broader context of European folklore. Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, alongside his colleague Moe, diligently gathered these stories, drawn from the very sinews of Norwegian culture. Their joint venture was driven by a Romantic nationalist zeal to preserve the nation's folklore against the inexorable march of time and modernity. Asbjørnsen's previous experience traversing the Norwegian countryside, collecting folklore directly from rural storytellers, informed the authenticity and respect with which he handled these tales. His academic rigor and artistic sensitivity combined to resurrect and enshrine Norway's oral heritage for posterity. 'EASTWARD OF THE SUN AND WESTWARD OF THE MOON' is recommended for lovers of folklore, students of cultural history, and anyone enthralled by the power of myth. It stands as an indispensable resource for understanding the Norwegian soul, providing a symbolic language through which to explore universal human experiences. Asbjørnsen's careful preservation of Norway's folkloric tradition in this tome ensures that these tales continue to enchant and enlighten as they have done for centuries.
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