Sections
The Bear and the Nightingale is a fairy tale about a Russian girl that gets lost in the woods and meets an ancient, cruel bear. It’s also a story about religion, depicting a battle over the imagination of the people, changing their beliefs and behavior. The novel, written by Katherine Arden, offers a touching tale packed with layered characters and discussions.
The book opens with a story being told at night. The people in Pyotr’s house – a Russian boyar – gather to hear old Dunya tell the tale of a maiden who is sent to the forest to marry the king of winter, Frost, because her jealous stepmother wants her to die. The forest is cold and silent, and yet the maiden doesn’t [...]