The Narrow Cage and Other Modern Fairy Tales

Vasily Eroshenko was a blind multilingual Esperantist from Ukraine who was a social activist and popular writer of political fairy tales. This collection of his stories, translated from Japanese and Esperanto, explores themes of religious disillusionment, jealousy, and political liberation. The book also includes semiautobiographical writings and prose poems that evoke his life and world.

Format: Hardback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 07 March 2023
Publisher: Columbia University Press

Vasily Eroshenko, a remarkable transnational literary figure of the early twentieth century, emerged from the Ukrainian countryside to become a blind multilingual Esperantist. His journey took him to Japan, where he joined left-wing circles and formed a close bond with the renowned modernist writer Lu Xun in China. Born in a small Ukrainian village in imperial Russia, Eroshenko's life was tragically marred by the loss of his sight at a young age due to complications from measles. Determined to transcend the limitations imposed on the blind, he embarked on a remarkable journey as a storyteller, traversing the globe.

Eroshenko's reputation as a social activist and popular writer of political fairy tales spread far and wide, particularly in Japan and China. His stories, often likened to the works of Hans Christian Andersen and Oscar Wilde, delved into themes of religious disillusionment, jealousy, scholarly pursuits, and liberation. The Narrow Cage and Other Modern Fairy Tales, a collection of Eroshenko's stories translated from Japanese and Esperanto into English for the first time, showcases his inventive and politically charged approach to the fairy tale genre.

Within these pages, readers are introduced to a diverse cast of characters, including a religiously disillusioned fish, a jealous paper lantern, a scholarly young mouse, and a captive tiger who embarks on a mission to liberate his fellow animals. Each story is a captivating and lyrical exploration of human emotions and societal challenges, resonating with readers as much today as they did during Eroshenko's lifetime.

In addition to the eighteen fairy tales, the book includes semiautobiographical writings and prose poems that provide a vivid glimpse into Eroshenko's life and world. These writings showcase his deep insights, poetic sensibility, and unwavering commitment to social justice.

Vasily Eroshenko's remarkable life and literary contributions remind us of the power of storytelling to transcend boundaries and bridge cultures. His stories continue to inspire and captivate readers, reminding us of the importance of empathy, resilience, and the pursuit of a better world.

Weight: 474g
Dimension: 147 x 225 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780231207683