Snow Maiden. Spring fairy tale in 4 actions with a prologue. Ostrovsky A.

The play-tale “Snow Maiden” is not like all the previous works of A. N. Ostrovsky (1823–1886). This is probably why it was not appreciated at the time of publication in 1873. Contemporaries simply did not understand and did not accept the conventionality of the situation and heroes, accustomed to expect from Ostrovsky detailed realism and grotesque images. The “lightly winged nymph of the Snow Maiden” opened the era of the new Russian theater: it was a step from everyday action to the conditionally symbolic theater of the Silver Age.

The play harmoniously combines a fairy-tale plot, Slavic folklore and mythology, but the main thing in it is a sad in it The story of the failed love. Did the Snow Maiden be able to love or only dreamed of her? Will she awaken to life-and to love?

The publication with new illustrations by Ekaterina Komrakova goes to the 200th anniversary of the birth of A. N. Ostrovsky and to the 150th anniversary of the publication of the famous play.