{"product_id":"rusalka-a-lyrical-fairy-tale-in-three-acts-9788024643816","title":"Rusalka: A Lyrical Fairy-tale in Three Acts","description":"Famous as the libretto for Antonín Dvorák's opera of the same name, Jaroslav Kvapil's poem \u003ci\u003eRusalka\u003c\/i\u003e is an intriguing work of literature on its own. Directly inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's famous \"The Little Mermaid,\" Kvapil's reinterpretation adds an array of nuanced poetic techniques, a more dramatic tempo, and dark undertones that echo the work of eminent Czech folklorist Karel Jaromír Erben. All of these influences work in tandem to create a poetic work that is familiar yet innovative. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Transposed into the folkloric \u003ci\u003etopos\u003c\/i\u003e of a landlocked Bohemia, the mermaid is rendered here as a Slavic \u003ci\u003erusalka\u003c\/i\u003e-a dangerous water nymph-who must choose between love and immortality. Thus, \u003ci\u003eRusalka, \u003c\/i\u003e while certainly paying homage to the original story's Scandinavian roots, is still a distinct work of modern Czech literature. Newly translated by Patrick Corness, Kvapil's work will now find a fresh group of readers looking to get lost in one of Europe's great lyrical fairy tale traditions.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eJaroslav Kvapil \u003c\/b\u003e(1868-1950) was a Czech poet, theater director, translator, and playwright. \u003cb\u003ePatrick Corness\u003c\/b\u003e is a translator from Czech, German, Russian, and Ukrainian. He is currently visiting professor of translation at Coventry University in England.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Univ of Chicago Behalf of Karolinum Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50434568519954,"sku":"9788024643816","price":8.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_71e17ed6-a731-49bf-9d12-7e46fc4f109b.jpg?v=1729604360","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/rusalka-a-lyrical-fairy-tale-in-three-acts-9788024643816","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}