That, one might say, is the underlying theme of Dragon Castle, and of the following folk song with lyrics by Janko Matuska, “There is Lightning on the Tatras,” which is the Slovak national anthem.
Nad Tatrou sa blyska,
hrony di-vo bi-ju.
Nad Tatrou sa blyska,
hrony di-vo bi-ju.
Zastavm ich, bratia,
ved’sa o-ny stratia
Slavaci o-zi-ju!
Slavaci o-zi-ju!
There’s lightning on the Tatras,
the wild thunder roars.
There’s lightning on the Tatras,
the wild thunder roars.
Let us stop it, brother.
Look, it is disappearing.
The Slovaks are reviving.
The Slovaks are reviving.
It can be argued that the best-known European folk tales are the stories published by the Brothers Grimm in their famous volume Kinder-und Hausmarchen (Domestic and Children’s Tales). However, Slovak folklore is just as diverse and marvelous. Epic heroes, clever maidens, dragons, and lucky fools are all to be found in stories that are by turns exciting, amusing and informative. Like American Indian stories, Slovak tales are often lesson stories—entertaining on the one hand and inspiring or instructive on the other. There is even a Slovak Robin Hood named Janosik, who took from the rich and gave to the poor (and deserves a book in English of his own). I was fortunate enough to also be given (in that stack of books from the Chylkovas) Janko Hrasko (Johnny Littlepea) a volume of Slovak folktales by Pavol Dobsinsky (1828–1885), the most important collector of Slovak folk stories. That book and David Cooper’s Traditional Slovak Folktales (a well-edited and annotated translation of Dobsinsky’s Slovak stories) were tremendously helpful and inspiring. The following quote from Cooper’s introduction to Traditional Slovak Folktales may indicate just how helpful:
“Perhaps the most important animal helper in Slovak tales is the fairy horse . . . The heroes often receive magic objects from their helpers, including golden wands, magic rings, and sabers.”
Lastly, though much of this novel is the product of my imagination, traditional Slovak folklore and proverbs guided me along every step of the way. The wise words of the elders in my tale are frequently drawn from proverbs still in common use in Slovakia today. Such sayings as “Small fish taste sweetest,” “If a fool could keep quiet, he would not be a fool,” and “A good name is the best inheritance” offer us a glimpse into traditional Slovak values . . . and remind us of basic truths that go far beyond national borders. I am grateful for those lessons.
I hope, that in some small way, the journeys of my characters in Dragon Castle may also offer readers the sort of delight and instruction that my own journey into the Slovak half of my heritage has given me.
Na mier a priatel’stvo!
To peace and friendship!
Zelam vam dobru cestu.
I wish you a good journey.
Dragon Castle Page 22