Tag Archives: 19th century Russian Literature
from Eugene Onegin by Pushkin
Ah, much, much has fate snatched away! blest who left life’s feast early, not having to the bottom drained the goblet full of wine; who never read life’s novel to the end and all at once could part with it … Continue reading
Humiliated and Insulted by Dostoevsky
“There’s a peculiar gratification to be derived from the sudden tearing-down of a mask, from the cynicism of not deigning to betray any sense of shame in suddenly exposing oneself to another indecently.” I wanted to read Dostoevsky’s novel Humiliated … Continue reading
Filed under Dostoevsky, Fiction
The Eternal Husband by Dostoevsky Part I
“She was faithful to her lover–though only until he bored her.” The Eternal Husband, written by Dostoevsky in 1869, explores the relationship between two men–Velchaninov, a middle-aged bachelor who suffers from hypochondria, and Trusotsky, a widower from the provinces. The two men … Continue reading
Filed under Dostoevsky, Fiction
The Duel by Chekhov
I picked up Chekhov’s The Duel because I wanted to read it before watching the film version. My copy of The Duel is from a collection of Chekhov’s short novels, and it’s a translation from Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky. I have … Continue reading
Dostoevsky Translations Part II
Here are two more passages comparing translations of Dostoevsky’s The Demons The Constance Garnett translation free on the kindle: Part I, Chapter 5–The Subtle Serpent: Varvara Petrovna rang the bell and threw herself into an easy chair by the window. “Sit … Continue reading
Filed under Dostoevsky, Fiction
Dostoevsky Translations Part I
The issue of Dostoevsky translations arose recently, so here are some comparative samples for anyone interested: The Possessed or The Devils translated by Constance Garnett. This is available free on the kindle: Chapter 1: In undertaking to describe the recent … Continue reading
Filed under Dostoevsky, Fiction
Winter Thoughts on Summer Impressions by Dostoevsky Pt II
In part I, I mentioned that when I picked up Dostoevsky’s Winter Thoughts on Summer Impressions I anticipated reading a travel book. I was completely wrong; I see the book as primarily political but couched with satire. So while reading … Continue reading
Filed under Dostoevsky
Winter Thoughts on Summer Impressions by Dostoevsky Pt I
We are all familiar with the way in which DVDS are released with a certain packaging of special features to tempt us to buy a particular release (I’m thinking Kino or Criterion). This idea came to mind when I picked up my Oneworld Classics edition … Continue reading
Filed under Dostoevsky
On Writers: Dostoevsky’s Crime & Punishment
After reading Dostoevsky’s The Demons, a few years ago, I felt traumatized. That’s not to say I didn’t like it. Actually I loved the book, but at the same time, I felt the building of a slow, agonising dread. I knew a … Continue reading
Filed under Dostoevsky, On Writers
Turgenev by Henri Troyat Part II
From the safe distance of more than a century, it’s quite clear that Turgenev is, as Russian journalist Leonid Parfyonov states: “seen as the leader of the ‘Western’ liberals and Dostoevsky [was] the leader of the Slavophile conservatives,” but at … Continue reading
Filed under Non Fiction, Troyat Henri, Turgenev
