The Golden Duck: the Story of Prince Raduz and t

A king with four sons decides to send his youngest, Raduz, into the world to seek his fortune. Raduz encounters a witch, Yezibaba, and her kind daughter, Ludmila, while seeking work. Yezibaba assigns Raduz impossible tasks, but with Ludmila's help, he miraculously completes them using her mother's magic wand. As they grow closer, Yezibaba plots to boil Raduz alive, but Ludmila warns him, and they escape together. Yezibaba pursues them using magical transformations, but Raduz and Ludmila cleverly evade her each time. Eventually, they reach Raduz's kingdom, where he learns of his family's demise and is proclaimed king. However, after being kissed by his mother, he forgets Ludmila due to Yezibaba's curse. Heartbroken, Ludmila transforms into a poplar tree near the castle, which Raduz orders cut down, unaware of its significance. After seven years, Ludmila reappears as a golden duck, capturing Raduz's attention. He eventually catches her, and upon her transformation back into Ludmila, he remembers his love for her. They reunite, and Raduz declares her as his bride, culminating in a grand wedding.

By Parker Fillmore · First published 1923 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Adventure · 4,625 words

First lines

Once upon a time there was a king who had four sons. One day the queen said to him:

"It is time that one of our boys went out into the world to make his fortune."

What this Textopian page supports

The Golden Duck: the Story of Prince Raduz and the Faithful Ludmila is listed on Textopian as a novella by Parker Fillmore, dated 1923 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

• Work type: Novella
• Author: Parker Fillmore
• Date: 1923 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Adventure, Romance, Children's Literature
• Length: 4,625 words
• Structure: 1 section, 137 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for The Golden Duck: the Story of Prince Raduz and the Faithful Ludmila by Parker Fillmore
• Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
• Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
• Readability and classroom-planning context
• Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph

Discussion starters

• What should a reader notice first when entering The Golden Duck: the Story of Prince Raduz and the Faithful Ludmila?
• How does this novella by Parker Fillmore fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
• Where does Fairy Tale first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

• The Griffin by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
• The True Bride The Story Of Ilona And The Kings Son by Parker Fillmore
• The Charmed Ring by Joseph Jacobs
• The Tale Of The Silver Saucer And The Crystal Apple by Alexander Nikolayevich Afanasyev
• The Six Servants by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
• The Spindle The Shuttle And The Needle by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm

Genres

• Fairy Tale — The story features magical elements, a quest for fortune, and a moral lesson, typical of fairy tales.
• Fantasy — The presence of witches, magic wands, and enchanted transformations places the narrative firmly in the fantasy genre.
• Adventure — The protagonist, Raduz, embarks on a journey filled with challenges and encounters, characteristic of adventure stories.
• Romance — The relationship between Raduz and Ludmila is central to the plot, highlighting themes of love and loyalty.

Tags

Fairy Tale · Slavic Folklore · Mythology · Prince and Princess · Faithfulness · Love Story · Magic Duck · Good vs Evil · Coming of Age · Self Sacrifice · Loyalty · Bravery

More by Parker Fillmore

• The Hickory Limb (1907)
• The Laughing Prince: the Story of the Boy who Could Talk Nonsense (1925)
• Beauty and the Horns: the Story of an Enchanted Maiden (1920)
• The Pigeon's Bride: the Story of a Princess who Kissed and Told (1930)
• The Little Lame Fox: the Story of the Youngest Brother who Found the Magic Grape-Vine and Married the Golden Maiden (1920)
• The Enchanted Peafowl: the Story of the Golden Apples, the Wicked Dragon, and the Magic Horse (1930)
• The Dragon's Strength: the Story of the Youngest Prince who Killed the Sparrow (1930)
• The Little Singing Frog: the Story of a Girl Whose Parents were Ashamed of Her (1930)
• All works by Parker Fillmore