The Firebird of Russian folklore has become known to Americans largely through program notes to Igor Stravinsky's famous ballet suite. The somber mystery of an enchanted wood, the vivid flutter of the Firebird's blazing wings, and the fiendish crashing of Kastchei's monsters, as expressed in the FIREBIRD SUITE, are well known to music lovers.

This is a story based upon the same sources of folklore as the ballet. Like all folktales, the original material holds a subtle suggestion of allegory, as well as an exciting spirit of adventure. In enlarging upon the suggested significance of the magic Firebird, the author has made no attempt to adhere strictly to the patterns of folklore or of the ballet.  It is true that the following tale is based upon a knowledge of Russian legend, but above all, it is a music lover's flight of fancy.

From the Foreword