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A review by saareman
Piibelehe-neitsi by August Kitzberg
5.0
Lily of the Valley Maiden
Review of the Hea Lugu picture book hardcover (2017) a reissue of the Eesti Raamat picture book hardcover (1969) of the original short story book (1943).
A friend of mine was searching for a copy of this Estonian children's classic and I happened to be ordering the newly published Estonian translation of James Joyce's [b:Ulysses|214975867|Ulysses|James Joyce|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1718743150l/214975867._SX50_.jpg|2368224] (2024) by [a:Paul-Eerik Rummo|850676|Paul-Eerik Rummo|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1543346423p2/850676.jpg], so we could piggyback on a mail order from Estonia. Of course I was curious to read it as well, so here we are.
The author [a:August Kitzberg|1301601|August Kitzberg|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1321747975p2/1301601.jpg] (1855-1927) was especially known as a playwright. His most famous dramatic tragedy was [b:Libahunt|9868695|Libahunt|August Kitzberg|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1321747631l/9868695._SX50_.jpg|14760277] (The Werewolf) (1911) which is an Estonian stage classic and has also been filmed. Many of his other works were comedies and short stories. Piibelehe-neitsi had a posthumous stand-alone publication in 1943. It was likely published earlier in a newspaper or short story collection. It has since become a standard children's illustrated picture book as can be seen in the several editions and reissues listed in GR.
The characteristic bell-like flowers of the Lily-of-the-Valley (Convallaria majalis) plant also known in Estonian as a Piibeleht. Image sourced from Wikipedia.
The story tells of the title character who lives in her home inside a lily-of-the-valley plant where the bell-like blossoms represent her doorbells to signal when she has visitors. The story opens with the home flooding described above. A passing butterfly comes to the maiden's rescue and after hearing her tale of woe, says that they know of an excellent alternative plant in the forest which she could move into. After flying there on the butterfly's back, she discovers that there is already an inhabitant. But it is the boy-prince of the lily-of-the-valley people, who immediately proposes marriage and soon a joyous wedding is in progress with all the bugs and creatures of the forest to cheer on the new couple.
This edition is beautifully illustrated with delightful pictures on every page drawn and coloured by [a:Iivi Raudsepp|6479113|Iivi Raudsepp|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]. I hope the future recipient of this book enjoys it as much as I did.
Review of the Hea Lugu picture book hardcover (2017) a reissue of the Eesti Raamat picture book hardcover (1969) of the original short story book (1943).
A little flower fairy, a lily-of-the-valley-maiden, even smaller than all the dwarves and elf-people, knelt on a big stone in the wet grass and wept. Why did the poor thing cry? The rain had flooded her house! Now she crouched on the cold stone and did not know where to go to live and sleep.
A friend of mine was searching for a copy of this Estonian children's classic and I happened to be ordering the newly published Estonian translation of James Joyce's [b:Ulysses|214975867|Ulysses|James Joyce|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1718743150l/214975867._SX50_.jpg|2368224] (2024) by [a:Paul-Eerik Rummo|850676|Paul-Eerik Rummo|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1543346423p2/850676.jpg], so we could piggyback on a mail order from Estonia. Of course I was curious to read it as well, so here we are.
The author [a:August Kitzberg|1301601|August Kitzberg|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1321747975p2/1301601.jpg] (1855-1927) was especially known as a playwright. His most famous dramatic tragedy was [b:Libahunt|9868695|Libahunt|August Kitzberg|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1321747631l/9868695._SX50_.jpg|14760277] (The Werewolf) (1911) which is an Estonian stage classic and has also been filmed. Many of his other works were comedies and short stories. Piibelehe-neitsi had a posthumous stand-alone publication in 1943. It was likely published earlier in a newspaper or short story collection. It has since become a standard children's illustrated picture book as can be seen in the several editions and reissues listed in GR.
The characteristic bell-like flowers of the Lily-of-the-Valley (Convallaria majalis) plant also known in Estonian as a Piibeleht. Image sourced from Wikipedia.
The story tells of the title character who lives in her home inside a lily-of-the-valley plant where the bell-like blossoms represent her doorbells to signal when she has visitors. The story opens with the home flooding described above. A passing butterfly comes to the maiden's rescue and after hearing her tale of woe, says that they know of an excellent alternative plant in the forest which she could move into. After flying there on the butterfly's back, she discovers that there is already an inhabitant. But it is the boy-prince of the lily-of-the-valley people, who immediately proposes marriage and soon a joyous wedding is in progress with all the bugs and creatures of the forest to cheer on the new couple.
This edition is beautifully illustrated with delightful pictures on every page drawn and coloured by [a:Iivi Raudsepp|6479113|Iivi Raudsepp|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]. I hope the future recipient of this book enjoys it as much as I did.