Fainna Solasko

Two brothers set off to become hunters in this Latvian folktale, but instead find themselves sparing the lives of two antelope, two wolves, and two hares, all of whom address them in human speech. Winning faithful animal allies through their compassion, the two brothers eventually go their separate ways, one falling victim to a wicked enchantment, the other battling a terrible sea monster, and saving three princesses. Naturally, it then falls to the successful brother to rescue his sibling...

I have a kindness for all things Latvian, as my brother-in-law and his wonderful family hail from that small Baltic country, and I enjoyed Fainna Solasko's retelling of this old folk legend. I did wonder a little that it was named after "The White Deer," as that elusive animal really played only a peripheral part in one half of the story. However that may be, it was an entertaining tale, and it was amusing to trace the narrative development in Nikolai Kochergin's smaller margin illustrations.… (mais)