Abstract
We discuss an extraordinary volume dedicated to the folktales of Moldova by two celebrated researchers – Ion H. Ciubotaru and Silvia Ciubotaru –, both deeply implicated in the creation and development of the Folklore Archive of Moldova and Bucovina. In so doing, we concentrate on three groups of essential agents – the previous researchers of the subject; the research group of seven that collected the Archive tales (from which 112 representative narratives, organized according to the Aarne-Thompson typology, were included in the published Corpus) and the 62 rural narrators of the tales, whose lively portraits are innovatively presented in a special (and rich) section of the volume. Comments on the fascinating interpretation of the imaginary universe of the folktales of Moldova by the authors conclude the paper.
Keywords: Ion H. Ciubotaru, Silvia Ciubotaru, fantastic folktales of Moldova, Folklore Archive of Moldova and Bucovina, Aarne-Thompson typology.
Cuvinte-cheie: Ion H. Ciubotaru, Silvia Ciubotaru, basme fantastice din Moldova, Arhiva de Folclor a Moldovei şi Bucovinei, tipologia Aarne-Thompson.