Valentina Pielich

Valentina Pielich, also known as Tina Vajtova (also Tina Vajtawa), (4 March 1900 – 21 February 1984), was a Resian Slovenian peddler and a folk storyteller of Resian fairy tales. With more than 400 different folk stories told, she is considered one of the best folk storytellers of Resian fairy tales.

Childhood She was born on 4 March 1900 in Ladina, a small village on the eastern edge of Solbica in the Resia Valley, into a Slovenian family in a house known as Pri Vajtovih. Her mother was the peddler and trader of hair and small goods Žvana Siega (1861–1930), Her daughter assisted Milko Matičetov with transcription. The best-known tales she narrated include: Dekle, ki je hotelo rožico (The Girl Who Wanted a Little Flower), Dvanajst ujcev (Twelve uncles), and Rusica pregnala babici Mujo Karotovo (Rusica Drove Away Muja Karotova).

Later life and death During the last ten years of her life she was often ill and spent much time in hospital. Every summer, when she returned to her native village, she somewhat recovered . She last met with Milko Matičetov in January 1984 and entrusted him with several more stories. Even in the last recordings made by her daughter in early 1984 one can still feel her vivid gift and storytelling mastery. She died on 21 February 1984 in Pordenone, where she is also buried.