Volkov and the Wizard of OZ -ACKNOWLEDGMENT

[Anna Rakityanskaya]

I would like to testify on behalf of Russian readers of "Volshebnik
Izumrudnogo goroda", its sequels, "Vinni-Pukh" and "Zolotoi kliuchik, ili
prikliucheniia Buratino". All editions of these books in the USSR INCLUDED
REFERENCES TO THE ORIGINAL WORKS.

As far as "Vinni-Pukh" is concerned it was always clear that it was Milne's
work skillfully translated by Zakhoder, while "Volshebnik ..." and "Zolotoi
kliuchik" were rather retells of "Wizard of Oz" and "Pinocchio" with a new
ideological twist.

I agree that "Volshebnik .." is much closer to "Wizard .. " than "Zolotoi
kliuchik" to "Pinocchio". This by the way may be the reason why the very
title "Wizard of Oz" was not known in Russia, while "Pinocchio" was fairly
well known.

Anna Rakityanskaya
University of Texas, Austin
Internet: RAKITYA at MAIL.UTEXAS.EDU