Classic story

Morozko

A Slavic tale
6 chapters
about 18 min

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A young girl named Martha lives with a cruel stepmother and her two spoiled daughters, enduring endless chores while receiving little kindness. The stepmother devises a wicked plan to get rid of Martha by sending her into the frozen forest to meet a mysterious bridegroom. An old man, Martha's father, reluctantly drives her in a sledge to a great fir tree, leaving her alone in the bitter cold. As Martha shivers under the tree, she encounters Frost, who tests her with questions about whether she is warm. Despite the freezing temperatures, Martha answers politely and warmly, earning Frost's sympathy. Instead of harming her, Frost wraps her in rich furs and leaves her with valuable gifts before departing. When the stepmother later sends her own daughters to the forest using similar tricks, they behave rudely and quarrelsome toward the cold spirit. Their harsh words and lack of respect lead to their unfortunate fate as they freeze where they sit. The old man returns to find only the dead daughters, while Martha is brought home safely with her treasures. In the end, Martha marries a kind young man named Fedor Ivanovitch and lives happily ever after. The story concludes with a warning about treating others with kindness and respect.

How it begins

FROST The children, in their little sheepskin coats and high felt boots and fur hats, trudged along the forest path in the snow. Vanya went first, then Maroosia, and then old Peter. The ground was white and the snow was hard and crisp, and all over the forest could be heard the crackling of the frost. And as they walked, old Peter told them the story of the old woman who wanted Frost to marry her daughters. Once upon a time there were an old man and an old woman. Now the old woman was the old man's second wife. His first wife had died, and had left him with a little daughter: Martha she was called. Then he married…

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Morozko

How it begins

Every story, fully told

A voice for every character

The mood of every line

Pictures of every place

Read along

Your AI voice, for any character

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