Once upon a time, an Englishman named Arthur Ransome went to Russia and wrote a cherished book of fairy tales called “Old Peter’s Russian Tales.” Later, he returned to England and authored another beloved children’s book, “Swallows and Amazons.” Interestingly, he may have also been a spy.
“Old Peter’s Russian Tales,” published in 1916, is a wonderful introduction to Russian folklore, featuring characters like Baba Yaga, Prince Ivan, and the Firebird. Ransome wrote it for English children, making the stories accessible by weaving them into a larger narrative. In this narrative, Old Peter is a grandfather living in the forest, who shares fairy tales with his grandchildren, Vanya and Maroosia, every night. These tales are tied to the family’s seasonal activities, creating a cozy, comforting setting ideal for bedtime stories and alleviating some of the darker aspects of Russian folklore.
Let’s explore three modern novels inspired by “Old Peter’s Russian Tales.” The first one is “The Snow Child” by Eowyn Ivey.
The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
“The Snow Child” is a fresh take on the tale “The Little Daughter of the Snow,” set in 1920s Alaska. The story follows Jack and Mabel, a couple trying to start anew in Alaska after grieving their childlessness. Life is tough, but when the first snow falls, they create a snow girl. The next day, she is gone, and they notice tracks in the snow. They begin to see a fair-haired girl with a red fox near their cabin, leading to their mysterious relationship with Faina, who is wild and untamed like the land itself. The story leaves readers questioning whether she is indeed a magical snow child or just a troubled girl.
Unlike the original tale where the snow girl leaves as spring arrives, Ivey’s Faina returns each year. Her connection with the neighbor’s son, Garrett, deepens, leading to uncertainty about her future as a potential mother. The ambiguity about Faina’s true nature adds a layer of complexity, engaging readers in unresolved mysteries.
Ivey’s work honors “Old Peter’s Russian Tales” by incorporating a quote from “The Little Daughter of the Snow” and including the entire story in the appendix. Mabel recalls a fairy tale book from her childhood where an old couple brings a snow child to life, and she seeks this book for comfort. The book and its tales are a crucial part of her coping and connection to her past.
Blood Red, Snow White by Marcus Sedgwick
“Blood Red, Snow White” delves into Arthur Ransome’s own story, focusing on his time in Russia. Young Ransome falls in love with pre-revolutionary Russia and later with Trotsky’s secretary, Evgenia. Amidst political upheavals, Ransome becomes an unwitting agent for both Trotsky and the British government.
Sedgwick weaves “Old Peter’s Russian Tales” into this novel, beginning with tales from the forest but transitioning into the harsh realities of war and revolution. This shift makes the political turmoil more relatable and frames the revolution as a brutal departure from the fairy tale Russia. The book poignantly highlights the casualties of revolution, both literal and symbolic, as the fantasy world gets torn apart by real-world violence.
Old Peter’s Russian Tales is a significant motif in Sedgwick’s narrative. Ransome’s love for Russian fairy tales drives his literary efforts and his real-life endeavors, earning him crucial connections and insights into his dual life in Russia and England. His strained relationship with his daughter, Tabitha, mirrors “The Little Daughter of the Snow,” as he frequently leaves her, drawn back to Russia’s icy allure.
The novel concludes with real British Secret Service documents, alluding to suspicions of Ransome being a double agent and encapsulating his return to the simpler world of children’s writing.
The Wolf Princess by Cathryn Constable
“The Wolf Princess” clearly shows its creator’s deep affection for Russia and its folklore, much like “Old Peter’s Russian Tales.” The story starts with orphaned Sophie, who dreams of frozen forests and wolves, reminiscent of her father’s tales.
Set after the Soviet Union’s fall, the novel suggests that the lost fairy tale world of Old Russia might still exist, hidden under snow and time. This story itself is a fairy tale involving lost diamonds, wolves, and a princess reclaiming her throne. The magic of old Russian tales permeates the narrative, transforming modern elements into timeless adventures.
Sophie’s journey echoes themes from “Old Peter’s Russian Tales.” Her name, Sophie, which means wisdom, alludes to Vasilissa the Wise from Russian folklore. Her growing friendship with a character named Ivan recalls Prince Ivan. When abandoned at a railway station, a memory of a snow girl story her father told her connects her to her past and guides her home, a beautiful nod to “The Little Daughter of the Snow.”
These three novels—”The Snow Child,” “Blood Red, Snow White,” and “The Wolf Princess”—beautifully revive and reimagine the enchantment of “Old Peter’s Russian Tales,” bridging the old and the new through their narratives and thematic richness.
