Siberian Stories

Step into the haunting beauty of Siberia’s vast, frozen landscapes—where wolves howl across snow-covered plains, shamans whisper to spirits, and love flickers like firelight under the Northern Lights. Based on the ethnographic writings of Wacław Sieroszewski, Siberian Stories brings to life the traditions, beliefs, and emotional depths of the Yakut (Sakha) people—told with the raw intimacy of someone who lived among them. First written in Russian by a Polish exile who spent twelve years in the Yakutsk region at the edge of the Arctic Circle, these stories now appear in English in a vivid, contemporary voice with the timeless depth of folklore. From bear hunts to broken hearts, from ancient rituals to sudden violence, this is a book about survival—of culture, of spirit, and of love—in one of the harshest environments on Earth. Perfect for readers who love: Indigenous storytelling and mythology Siberian and Arctic landscapes Ethnographic memoir and historical fiction Jack London, Barry Lopez, or Clarice Lispector Modern literary retellings of folklore and oral tradition What makes this edition special: A modern yet faithful translation from Russian, adapted from historical texts with care and cultural sensitivity Includes a Translator’s Note exploring the Turkic and Polish connections between Kazakhstan and Yakutia Features a glossary of Yakut cultural terms (e.g., sorat, khaylak, menerik) for curious readers “This book doesn’t just tell stories—it carries a living memory of a people and their world.”