NEW STORY-LOVERS PRODUCT BARE BONES FOR STORYTELLERS! 100 Years of Story Skeletons from Around the World VOLUME 2—RUSSIA

Front cover	Back cover

You get your choice of a 5x7 glossy print ready to frame: BABA-YAGA	or... FIREBIRD

Here's one of the bare bones from Volume 2, Russia:
#12 - Sadko
(from Old Peter’s Russian Tales)
Rich merchant in Novgorod lost all his money, died, leaving son, Sadko, penniless. Sadko played dulcimer at dances, earned only a few kopeks. Strong, handsome, blond and blue-eyed, he was bored; could not dance with pretty girls because he had no money to marry. No Novgorod girl longed for Sadko; they only issued orders for him to play so they could dance with their wealthy boyfriends. Poor Sadko—all alone with his dulcimer.
He loved to play music on banks of little river Volkhov or nearby lake, watching pale mists rise over water at dawn and sunset. He loved river, helped fishermen, earned fish for supper. One night he watched nets while fishermen went to Novgorod to sell fish. Sadko sang love songs about lake and river; suddenly saw whirlpool in lake with deep hollow in middle; great man with blue hair falling to his waist, gold crown, rose out of water—Tzar of the Sea. Tzar told Sadko that his daughters loved his music; instructed him to throw nets into water for payment; if satisfied with reward, Sadko invited to play at green palace of the sea. Tzar sank back into water, disappeared as waves roared. Sadko cast out nets; played, sang until moon glowed; pulled in nets, nothing, but at last moment pulled in huge coffer full of precious jewels. After hiding coffer, he continued playing, singing, while deciding what to do.
Next morning, fishermen returned, gave Sadko little fish for his efforts; he cooked and ate fish as always, knowing it was his last meal as poor man. He hoisted coffer on shoulders, entered Novgorod, sold some jewels, set up shop, soon became rich trader. Now all girls longed for Sadko with his golden hair, blue eyes. He did not change; played his dulcimer and sang every night by his river. Sighed: “There is no girl in all Novgorod as pretty as my little river.” The river was his sweetheart.
For 12 years unmarried Sadko bought, sold, near and far, got richer, richer; many a pillow wet with tears of sweet young girls who longed for him. Always, he threw jewelry as gifts into river he loved. In twelfth year, in Caspian Sea, Sadko sat on deck of ship singing of his river; suddenly, ship stopped in middle of sea; more sails hoisted, wind strong, but ship did not move, only shivered, creaked, groaned. Sailors drew lots to find unlucky one to throw overboard; Sadko drew shortest piece of string. Sailors cursed him; he willingly took dulcimer, jumped overboard, sank, ship shot forward, flew over waves like swan’s feather, straight to nearest harbor.
Waves closed over Sadko’s head; he sank to bottom of sea, arrived at palace built of shipwrecked timbers, guarded by two giant sturgeons. Tzar greeted Sadko, requested him to sing; Sadko played and sang of little river Volkhov, of winds whistling over lake, ripples of water on shore. The underwater palace rang with his music, stirring all the sea creatures. Tzar rose, towered like mountain; he danced! Tzar offered his 30 daughters to Sadko, promising to make him Prince of the Sea. But Sadko said he loved his river more than any maiden. 29 lovely maidens passed by to no avail; but 30th captured his heart with her dark hair, eyes shining like stars reflected in his river. The girl’s name was Volkhov; like his river; she wore a necklace he had thrown into river; he discovered she had saved all the gifts he had given river. They kissed, married by Tzar. On wedding night, Princess made him promise to remember her always, to play and sing to her sometimes. That night he touched her with his left foot, found her cold as ice in January; he awoke near Novgorod with one foot in river. Ever after, Sadko wandered near river, playing, singing. Some say he plunged into water, seeking his Princess; some say he found her and huge storms arise when Sadko plays and sings in the deep sea—and Tzar of the Sea dances.

Stories that are Funny • Surprising • Adventurous • Poignant • Imaginative • Thought-provoking

DETAILS:
Size: 8-1/2 x 11
Spiral bound
Plastic covers front and back
38 detailed story skeletons from Russia from the late 1800s on
Glossary of Russian words
Breakdown of Themes/Motifs
Keyword Index
Clip Art (b/w) of Russian illustrations from 1919
Includes one FREE 5 x 7 glossy print ready to frame (you have a choice between two illustrations)
Price: $15.00 plus shipping

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