Baba Yaga, Jack And Jill, and Katherine Kurtz

When I was going to McQueeney Elementary School back in the early 70's, each classroom was furnished with generous supplies of Jack and Jill magazines. I loved to browse through them during free time, and I remember I used to really enjoy the Baba Yaga stories that would be occasionally published in them. In these tales Baba Yaga, though grumpy and a little greedy, was a far cry from the cannibalistic hag depicted in old Russian tradition. The real hero was her put-upon black cat, who was sent out on missions by the old witch and had to brave whatever challenges that entailed. I remember enjoying the illustrations as well.

A couple of years ago my sister got a lot of old magazines and books for five bucks at a local auction, and included were several old copies of Jack and Jill. To my delight, one issue (July 1964) had the story "Baba Yaga and the Peddler", illustrated in the style I remembered. I was able to finally identify the artist I had admired as Ursula Koering, and the author of at least some of the Baba Yaga stories was Katherine Kurtz! The same Katherine Kurtz (I assume) who went on to become famous for her Deryni books.

A little further research uncovered a slim little book (34 pages) of four tales published in 1976 entitled Baba Yaga Stories, by Katherine K. O'Connor. Included was "Baba Yaga and the Peddler", so it's pretty sure the K. is for Kurtz. I couldn't find much information on the book; no picture of the cover or whether there were illustrations. So I suppose if there are any Katherine Kurtz collectors out there, this would be a rarity to look out for; I don't find it mentioned on any site dedicated to Kurtz.

I'd love to find more of these old Jack and Jills with Baba Yaga.

Perhaps This Is Why

More Fritz Eichenberg, this time from Mistress Masham's Repose, by T. H. White, in which a young girl named Maria finds an island inhabitated by Lilliputions. There is a slight shadow on these scans because the book wouldn't open perfectly flat.

Illustrations By Fritz Eichenberg

From Heroes of the Kalevala, Finland's Saga, by Babette Deutsch, a simplified adaptation of the Kalevala for young people. Fritz Eichenberg is a rather famous artist better known for his work on heavy religious and social themes, but during his career he also illustrated and wrote many "children's books." Considering that the Kalevala was one of Tolkien's major influences, I sometimes can see these pictures as a sort of transposition of themes, a kind of "Silmarillion-Lite," especially images of two trees with the Sun and Moon at their tops.

More Maraja

Libico Maraja

Lovely illustrations by Libico Maraja, a great post-war Italian illustrator. These are from Alice In Wonderland, but he has also done pictures for Peter Pan, A Christmas Carol, Kim, Gulliver's Travels, Pinocchio, The Wizard of Oz, and many other childhood classics. He also worked with animation and comic books (which is what we used to call graphic novels, kids). These are in what I used to call the "Solid Style;" cartoonish, but with a sort of weight and depth.

Snatched From The Jaws

This Labor Day weekend Half Price Books was holding one of their sales (20% off half price), one of those deals irresistible to bibliophiles everywhere. My brother John and I scraped together our resources and headed out to our nearest outlet (some 30 miles off), and the hunt was on. When we entered the store there was a subtle hint of feeding frenzy in the air and we found ourselves navigating larger than usual numbers to get at our favorite sections. Although the shelves were already rather fished out (at least of the books I had hoped to find there), I was able to glean seven good books at more than reasonable prices.

The Gammage Cup, by Carol Kendall. I had gone in hoping to find an omnibus volume of Diana Wynne Jones to send to my Florida niece and nephew, but it was gone. However, this classic fantasy tale is of the same high rank and rather hard to find compared to some, so it is a good substitute.

Ben and Me, by Robert Lawson. A hardback copy of one of my favorite books, for under three dollars.

The Story of Doctor Dolittle, by Hugh Lofting, illustrated by Michael Hague. I like Michael Hague's work, and this version of Dr. Dolittle is, perhaps, the best compromise I've seen between leaving the mildly offensive episode of Prince Bumpo in or removing it entirely. The Foreword is entirely forthcoming on the rewriting that has been done: historical honesty has been served, while the offensive (but not hate filled) passage has been changed.

Perrault's Fairy Tales, illustrated by Gustave Dore. Before Grimm, before Anderson, there was Perrault. Includes thirty-four full page pictures by the renowned illustrator.

Early Irish Myths and Sagas, translated by Jeffrey Gantz. A Penguin book. My brother Kenny has lately stirred my interest in the early Irish tales again lately, and this book has many stories I haven't read yet.

Dancing At The Edge Of The World, by Ursula K. LeGuin. A collection of her articles, reviews, papers, and speeches. LeGuin is one of those writers who, even if I never completely agree with all of her views, is always interesting and to be considered. Of special interest to me: her review of The Dark Tower and other stories by C. S. Lewis, and her contemporary review of Star Wars and Close Encounters.

Tolkien and C. S. Lewis: The Gift of Friendship, by Colin Duriez. Although at this stage of the game I think it unlikely I will be presented with a new fact about my two favorite authors, a book totally dedicated to their relationship and how their works interacted with each other is a different emphasis on the whole Inkling thing. Also (like a hobbit) I never get tired of reading what I already know and enjoy.

Old School Dragon Slaying