"The Valkyrie, or the One I Always Wait" is a legendary novel written in 1988 by the famous writer Maria Semenova and received international recognition. For many years now, the story of a rogue girl who set off to seek her happiness has inspired millions of women and has been the subject of admiration for many men.
For the book "Valkyrie" Semenova received more than one award, becoming famous, not only as a writer of stories, but also received the unspoken title of "the youngest woman novelist of the USSR."
The idea
The book “Valkyrie, or The One I Always Wait” was originally conceived as a female novel, telling about the difficult fate of a warrior girl, who had to achieve everything in this life herself, to fight for her happiness not only with life difficulties, but also with enemies of the kind.
This can be partially explained by the fact that in 1986, when Maria Semenova was just starting to write a novel, a series of tragic events occurred in her life: the institute where she was engaged in research activities was closed, and she and her father lost their jobs. By that time, Maria Vasilievna had already published two books, and she decides to seriously engage in writing, while working as a translator at the North-West Publishing House, which at that time published the saga of Conan Barbarian.
According to the writer, Semenov came up with the idea of ​​the novel "Valkyrie" just during the forced departure from the institute, and this idea became a way out of the impending crisis.
Writing a book
The creation of the novel “The Valkyrie, or the One I Always Wait” took the young writer 11 months that she spent at her father's dacha. The writing of the novel took place in a tense atmosphere, in an atmosphere of severe discipline. Maria Semenova got up at 6 in the morning, did exercises, at 7 o’clock sat at her desk and only at five o’clock in the evening allowed herself to rest and have dinner.
Semenova had no opportunity to visit the library during this period, so the writer reproduced all historical details and mythological features from memory, using only her city notebooks and trial sketches.
In mid-1987, the novel was ready, and Maria Vasilyevna manually reprinted it in her apartment in Leningrad. Before bringing the book to the publishing house, the writer carefully edited the novel, adding many details and several storylines.
Popularity
Semenova’s hard work was rewarded: in 1988, the novel “Valkyrie, or The One I Always Wait” was published in the largest publishing house of the USSR, Children's Literature. Almost immediately, he received the honorary title of “Historical Book of the Year”.
The huge circulation of 30 million copies at that time was sold out in a few weeks, and in 1989 the novel was reprinted again in even greater circulation.
Semenova admits that she received a huge number of letters asking for the continuation of the novel, as well as with warm reviews about the new book.
In the book "The Valkyrie" Semenova proved herself as a mature and experienced writer and historian. Critics noted the severity, conciseness, and at the same time, the incredible lyricism of the work, the writer's careful attitude to historical facts and the rich literary language of the young talent.
“Valkyrie, or the One I Always Wait” very quickly became the visiting card of the writer, and before the publication of the legendary Wolfhound in 1995, it was considered her most famous novel.
The book "The Valkyrie", reviews of which the writer still receives from all over the world, has definitely found her reader.
Since its first publication in 1988, the novel has been reprinted several times by leading publishers in Russia and the CIS, bringing the writer greater fame.
Historical background
The book "Valkyrie" by Semenova is almost entirely based on ancient Slavic and Scandinavian sagas and legends. The motive for the girl’s alienation from her native home, the motive for expulsion from the clan was the key in Scandinavian literature, however, in sagas and legends, as a rule, men were expelled from the clan, who, leaving, returned with blood and then gained fame. The exiled girl, the main character of the novel, first of all searches for her feminine happiness and returns home only after finding it.
For more than a century, the image of a woman warrior has been one of the most sought-after in the folklore and artistic tradition, showing not only a woman’s desire for independence, but also the strength of a woman’s spirit, the ability to defend her interests, her honor and her love, the ability to achieve and receive any at the cost.
Maria Semenova actively borrows the cultural features of the Scandinavian sagas, organically inserting them into her story. This made the historical novel truly authentic, partly documentary.
Semenova’s book “Valkyrie” can clearly demonstrate the life of our distant ancestors, and not only create a static picture in the mind, but also immerse the reader with his head in a lively and fascinating story.