The Tale of the Stone Flower

This is the most famous tale from the book The Malachite Casket, written by P. Bazhov, who based his stories on miners’ tales from the Ural Mountains on the border between Europe and Asia. The mountains are famous as a source of precious stones such as malachite. This tale tells about the stone carver Danila who wants to discover the true beauty of the stones and secrets of stone carving. The Mistress of the Copper Mountain is believed to hold these secrets and to bestow the ability to turn gems ‘into living beauty’ on those who abandon this world and serve her exclusively. Torn between the need for artistic inspiration and his love for a village girl named Katya, Danila initially goes to the Copper Mountain to learn the secrets of stone carving. But he misses his beloved Katya and finally chooses her over the Mistress of the Copper Mountain. Impressed by his sacrifice, the Mistress of the Copper Mountain sends Danila back home without taking away the artistic talent he has acquired while in her service.