Name: The Narrow Cage and Other Modern Fairy Tales
ISBN: 9780231557085

Adam Kuplowsky

The Narrow Cage and Other Modern Fairy Tales

Netgalley gave me an ARC of this selection of short stories by Vasily Eroshenko. The story of the man himself is interesting enough to make this a rewarding experience. His politically charged fables and tales make for an interesting read and an informative perspective on the life of an knowledgeable and well-travelled man at such an unstable time in his world and putting in contrast anarchism, communism, China, Russia and Japan. Most of the stories are quick and quite enjoyable, only a couple are somewhat boring to get through. Eroshenko feels sometimes like an idealist, at others forcing or faking some ingenuity, both of these being quite original qualities when considering the usual classic and well known russian speaking authors.

All in all, this is worth a read for those with a special interest in Esperantism, left-wing writing of the early twentieth century or east european and asian history.

André Nóbrega

Netgalley gave me an ARC of this selection of short stories by Vasily Eroshenko. The story of the man himself is interesting enough to make this a rewarding experience. His politically charged fables and tales make for an interesting read and an informative perspective on the life of an knowledgeable and well-travelled man at such an unstable time in his world and putting in contrast anarchism, communism, China, Russia and Japan. Most of the stories are quick and quite enjoyable, only a couple are somewhat boring to get through. Eroshenko feels sometimes like an idealist, at others forcing or faking some ingenuity, both of these being quite original qualities when considering the usual classic and well known russian speaking authors.

All in all, this is worth a read for those with a special interest in Esperantism, left-wing writing of the early twentieth century or east european and asian history.

I didn’t quite know what to expect going in to this but it was very interesting. The introduction does a very thorough job providing background and context. The stories themselves are creative and interesting with the political themes woven throughout. Overall it was an enjoyable new experience in fairy tales.

ARC provided by NetGalley, review freely given by me. 

Megan BV

I didn’t quite know what to expect going in to this but it was very interesting. The introduction does a very thorough job providing background and context. The stories themselves are creative and interesting with the political themes woven throughout. Overall it was an enjoyable new experience in fairy tales.

ARC provided by NetGalley, review freely given by me. 

The Narrow Cage and Other Modern Fairy Tales

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