3 Folktales from Eastern Europe and Central Asia: Stories from the Ukraine, Latvia, and Turkmen

The following three tales are adapted from stories told by the peasants in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. They are drawn from some books I found in shops when I visited the former U.S.S.R. in 1988 as part of a citizen diplomacy group. I was intrigued by these folktales, since my paternal grandmother lived for some time in Odessa in the Ukraine. Also, I found these stories share a common theme –the poor peasant is able to succeed despite obstacles against an unfair ruler. He does so by being wise and generous, and having a strong desire to help and protect his family. Generally, the rich merchant or powerful ruler is foiled by his own greed and stupidity. The following stories come from the Ukraine, Latvia, and Turkmen. These are three of my favorite stories.