The Little Demon

By Feodor Sologub

An Authorised Translation by John Cournos and Richard Aldington

(1916)

From the Translator's Preface:

"The Little Demon" is a successful and almost imperceptible merging
of comedy with tragedy. It is in fact a tragedy in which the comic
forms an integral part and is not sandwiched in superficially merely to
please the reader. The method resembles in a measure that of Gogol's
"Dead Souls," with which "The Little Demon" was compared upon its first
appearance in 1907. It is a work of art—and it is a challenge; and this challenge is
addressed not to Russia alone, but to the whole world. "What a sad place Russia is!" exclaimed Pushkin when Gogol read his
story to him. But what the world knows to-day is that Gogol gave us
a portrait of the human soul, and that only the frame was Russian.
Prince Kropotkin assures us that there are Chichikovs in England, and
Professor Phelps of Yale is equally emphatic about their presence in
America. And this is also true of Peredonov, of "The Little Demon."

Fan of this book? Help us introduce it to others by writing a better introduction for it. It's quick and easy, click here.

Recent Forum Posts on The Little Demon

No active discussions on Sologub found. Why not post a question or comment yourself? Just click the link below.

Post a New Comment/Question on The Little Demon