Shchegolenok, Vasilii Petrovich

Born 1805(?) in the village of Boiarshchina, Kizhi Volost (small rural district), in what is now the Karelian ASSR; died not earlier than 1886. Russian skazitel’, or singer of byliny (epic folk songs). Peasant.

In his performance of byliny Shchegolenok tended to combine different plots. Texts written down from his performances were published by P. N. Rybnikov, A. F. Gil’ferding, and E. V. Barsov. Shchegolenok was acquainted with L. N. Tolstoy, who borrowed a number of plots from him.