Do you know the different between a fairytale, a myth and a fable? I was curious about this. Fairytales, it would seem, involve fantasy non-human characters. Fables also tend to focus on animals or objects as the central characters, and have a single moral to impart. A myth, I discovered, is an attempt to explain a supernatural phenomenon and is different from a fable in that it was once assumed to be truth.
Regardless of what name it is known by, I enjoy a good folktale, particularly when it is full of drama, suspense and magic. And if this tale happens to be beautifully illustrated too, so much the better!
I know I'm not alone in this as this week's choice comes via Greekgeek's Squidoo Museum which is exactly the treasure house of cultural, scientific and historical topics that its name suggests.
Greekgeek, herself a popular writer on a wide range of topics (including, of course, ancient Greece), has lived up to her reputation of knowing quality work when she sees it and any one of the articles featured there is guaranteed to be worth a visit.
I'm glad she selected Dobrynja and Gorynytch, A Russian Dragon Tale as one of her current exhibits as I might not otherwise have found this lovely work from Susanne_Iles.
Susanne has taken an epic Russian poem and has retold it in her own style, with both words and original art. The story itself took me back to childhood fairytales, with its three-headed dragon, damsel in distress and the brave and handsome hero. The Russian names are strange and magical to our ears, but the plot is eternal.
It is her pen-and-ink drawings and a beautiful jewel-colored painting, revealed in parts beside each episode of this adventure, that make this tale so special. It draws you in and at the same time lets you see the events unfolding through Susanne's eyes.
I can see from her lensography that mythology, and dragons in particular, are close to Susanne's heart and look forward to discovering more of her work. I also love the concept of the Squidoo Museum and hope to spend more time wandering its virtual halls.
Visit: Dobrynja and Gorynytch, A Russian Dragon Tale
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