Thank you to NetGalley for the readers copy in exchange for a (very late) review.
Even just reading the foreword had me wanting to read an entire book just on Eroshenko's life. It's a truly incredible story in and of itself and gave important context for the fairy tales themselves.
The fairy tales in question were really dark and thought provoking, in the vein of Aesop fables, Hans Christian Andersen, or the Brothers Grimm.
This isn’t a book to read quickly. Each story had weight and meaning and should be given the time and space to percolate. Incredible read.

I enjoyed it, but not enough to just read at my normal pace. A few chapters here and there over an uncomfortable amount of time. But I enjoy the idea of bringing fairy tales to a more modern scope. Especially since so many are made consumer friendly without all the messed up stuff in them.

Fairytales as oral traditions bear the stamp of the cultures that tell them; fairytales when written by an individual bear the stamp of culture channelled through that individual, which is a different thing altogether.

There really are some people who lead unusual lives in this world, and discovering a new one is always enjoyable. Half of the reason I decided to read this book is the author's biography - he was a blind Russian Esperantist who lived in Japan and China, and wrote communism-tinged fairytales stamped with his own unique view of the world. The other part is that I have been fascinated by fairytales for a long time, and after studying them in a college course have really enjoyed reading them with more critical eye.

This is a rich collection to mine in that way, with the myriad influences that Eroshenko brings to bear in his writing. His tone is generally ironic and often dark, and yet visible throughout is his hope for a world in which every living thing is respected. While my enjoyment of the stories was uneven, that's probably a matter of taste - I know other readers probably loved stories that I disliked, and vice versa. 

I also really enjoyed the short biography by fairytale scholar Jack Zipes and the essays by Eroshenko that bookend the fairytales - they both help you understand Eroshenko and what he might have been hoping to convey in his fairytales better, as well as being entertaining reading in their own right.

The Narrow Cage and Other Modern Fairy Tales by Vasily Eroshenko is a captivating read for anyone who appreciates inventive, challenging, and lyrically written stories that blend politics, social commentary, and whimsy, making it a perfect fit for readers who crave unique and imaginative tales that will spark their imagination and challenge their perspectives.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me access to an early copy of this book*

Why I Requested This: Mostly this was a curiosity for me, a random selection based on a quick first impression. What initially caught my interest was the fact that this was a translated book of a blind author's writing. Not only that but these works were written in the early 20th century, a time of epic changes in the world but in particular the East. Due to the author's background and date of these stories, it seemed like a good combination to produce interesting political fables.

Overall Thoughts: I reread all but one story to refresh my thoughts on each story and to see if I felt the same about the collection overall (the one I skipped involved animal torture which is deeply triggering to me). Reading it a second time I found that much of the magic was lost, but as fables they continue to work. The stories are similar to each other in terms themes and structure so I will not be reviewing each one individually but rather the collection as a whole, though for anyone interested my favorites were Spring Night's Dream, The Martyr, and Father Time. If there was one theme that defines this narrative it would be oppression and how it is justified and delivered to different people. As a result this collection was depressing because almost every single story ends in tragedy, with the death of an innocent (usually animals but occasionally human children). I would almost call Eroshenko an anarchist because of his heavy skepticism toward of any sort of governing body or system (at least based on the stories alone), but he's not entirely wrong in his criticisms. There is oppression present in many forms of government and religion due to their hierarchal nature but each one tries to portray each other as correct and superior based only on what they believe. As a result many characters in Eroshenko's stories are ignorant and hypocritical (if not outright cruel or helpless), and this is portrayed best in The Narrow Cage and The Death of a Canary. While this doesn't make for light reading, it does make for thought provoking reading (which I prefer) and despite being about 100 years old it has aged decently.
Another thing of a note was the cultural mixing. While there are same elements that are coincidently the same in Eastern European and East Asian culture (like Death being a female figure, I think) many were from distinct cultures, such as religious structures and deities. Perhaps this was done intentionally to emphasize both the changing times as global travel became more common but also to emphasize the universality of the themes. To end this review I do want to point out a few things that speak to Eroshenko as a person more so than a writer. He was blind and this is portrayed in a few protagonists but what is interesting is that there tended to be an element of romance in those stories. The other thing is that the last four stories were from his time in China, and according to the introduction he did not like being in China, and I definitely got that vibe in those stories (especially the first one). To wrap things up, I wouldn't go so far as to call this a masterpiece but it is worthwhile reading because of the perspective it is coming from and the relevance of its themes. I am glad it was translated and that I took a chance on it.

One of the most remarkable, inspired book of fairy tales ever put to print birthed from the mind of a truly one-of-a-kind author. A blind Ukrainian who floated around socialist circles before settling down in Japan, this book bursts with the creativity and originality that only this certain blend of multinationalism can wrought. Talking animals and various fantastical elements are peppered throughout as tales of modern political machinations hide just behind the curtain.

Thank you to Columbia Press and NetGalley for this ARC in return of my honest review!

The Narrow Cage and Other Modern Fairy Tales presents a selection of Eroshenko’s stories, translated from Japanese and Esperanto, to English readers for the first time. These fables tell the stories of a religiously disillusioned fish, a jealous paper lantern, a scholarly young mouse, a captive tiger who seeks to liberate his fellow animals, and many more. They are at once inventive and politically charged experiments with the fairy tale genre and charming, lyrical stories that will captivate readers as much today as they did during Eroshenko’s lifetime. In addition to eighteen fairy tales, the book includes semiautobiographical writings and prose poems that vividly evoke Eroshenko’s life and world.

It was a pleasure to read this book. Poetic and profoundly poignant.

Do you ever read a book and begin to wonder as you’re reading it whether you’re either woefully lacking in the intelligence required for it, or if everyone else is feeling that too and they’re all just pretending to “get” it? That was me reading The Narrow Cage by Vasily Eroshenko, as translated by Adam Kuplowsky.

I picked this one up because of how interesting it sounded: a collection of modern, political fairy tales written by “a blind multilingual Esperantist from Ukraine [born in 1890] who joined left-wing circles in Japan and befriended the famous modernist writer Lu Xun in China”. Sadly I struggled to get into any of these tales which included stories of religious fish, scholarly mice, and a baffling one about a tiger. In fact, not a single one of them stayed with me for more than a few minutes after I’d finished reading and within a week, I’d almost completely forgotten everything about this collection.

This one clearly wasn’t for me, but if you’re looking for a book to gift to a literary friend who seems to have read every classic, this is likely a great option.

This was super delightful and interesting, but I did not really connect that well with any of the stories.

Eroshenko inspired by tales from Japan and China wrote his own fairytales hoping to spread a message that would free humanity from oppression. The language is simple and direct, the stories dark, heartwrenching, and at times hopeful.
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I was grateful for the insightful forward and to learn about Eroshenko himself, however, I failed to like this collection.
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I voluntarily read and reviewed a free of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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Not the most conventional fairytale, but Eroshenko did have a talent for writing. His word choice are Andersen-like, the plotting and how the messages he wants to get across in the stories always took me by surprise, and the stories have such a vivid quality. His stories are all very ironic and bleak, full of criticism towards society, individualism, capitalism, and the Church as an institution. About how humans are doomed to repeat the mistakes of our previous generations, how we dream of freedom and change but too afraid to leave the comforts of our cage, and how we're too selfish and self-centered to actually achieve equality.

The foreword and introduction were too long, but truly spot on in describing his stories and values.

Dnf'd at 60 percent.

Interesting as this was, the book and the opinions of the author and I did not resonate.

I really enjoyed these fairytales. The tales themselves are dark and depressing, but keep in mind, HCA and Grimm's collections were dark as well. They're written like you're telling the story to a child, but the content is very adult. Will definitely read again.

This collection was so much more than I expected. That is to say, it is exactly what is described, but darker, richer, deeper than what my mind was expecting.

It was especially helpful to have the context of Eroshenko's life. They gave the stories a different light. I chose to read the stories first, and then the forward and it was an amazing experience.

I throughly enjoyed this introduction to the author new to me. Kuplowsky walks us through Eroshenko’s whole live and experiences that shape his perspective behind the tales he weaves. I highly enjoyed this collection of his work and the background information was helpful context to this author.

Thank you to Columbia University Press and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this work to review.

This work is a collection of short short stories by author Vasily Eroshenko and translated by Adam Kuplowsky. As other reviewers have previously stated, the information about the author is an essential part in understanding the underpinnings of the stories presented.

The stories featured in this work are sourced from the author's time in Japan and China, and present a haunting and introspective reading experience. This was a book that I expected to read one or two stories at a time and put down, but I found it hard to stop reading once I got started. The stories stay with you- depressing, thought provoking, and a critique of society that you can't seem to shake. I found myself still processing what I had read weeks after finishing this work.

I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy: horror, history, short-stories, and politics.

These stories use a lot of metaphors and have political messages. They feel sad, dark, and make you feel down. Eroshenko’s writing is beautiful and deeply wise. These seemingly simple stories are not easy to read and are more like tales with political and philosophical messages. Eroshenko's stories have a complete storyline with hidden meanings and symbols. Eroshenko stands up for those who don't have a voice: people in jail for political reasons, people who are unjustly blamed for things, people who are treated badly to scare others, and especially those who ask difficult questions and challenge the authorities. I really enjoyed this book and think you should definitely give it a try.

I admit I knew nothing of this author before reading the summary and was pleasantly surprised with the stories and the lessons and observations embedded in them. Tinged with cynicism and pessimism, most are a critique of humanity and humankind, but many offer hope in the future. My favorites were "For the Sake of Mankind" and "The Death of the Canary" because they were relatable and timely and socially relevant.

Equally as interesting as the stories is the author’s life itself – the forward provided insight about him that informed the origins and influence behind the stories. Highly recommended for those who want a socially-inspired slant on fairy tales that shine a light on the human condition and questions our morals.

Thanks to Columbia University Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to review.

This book of stories was very interesting to read. Going into it, thinking you'll get the typical "fairytale" vibe, this is not that book.

Which is what made it great.

The stories are captivating, brutal and written well. The foreword was also very informative and set up the stories nicely

I truly enjoyed this.

I've not come across this authors book before but thoroughly enjoyed this one. The stories certainly made me think and very much have a classic political vibe to them