Russian literature

I "found" russian literature for 2 years ago (of course my first insight with russian literature were Mr.Dostoevsky). To be honest i dont even rememeber what i read before that time that were actually extra-ordinary good. There is some few exceptions of good novels and plays i read before entering the "world of russian literature", like for example Hamsun and plays - Ibsen, Shakespeare.

So far after three years i have only read Dostoevsky, some Gogol short stories, and some Pushkins poems. I havent read one single line of Tolstoys works or Turgenev or Bulgakov or Pasternak or Lermontov for that sake, so i am looking forward to do it.

So i dont think i have the same "problem" as some other avid russian literature reader does. I have a long reading list for probably the next decade which is just russian literature.

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Originally Posted by semi-fly

For the two books mentioned above (The White Guard by Mikhail Boulgakov & Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak) are there specific translations I should be on the lookout for that are true to the original language?

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I cannot speak for English because I came across the book in a French translation when I was in Paris, but if it reads as well in English as it does in French, then it is worth seeking out an English translation.

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Originally Posted by Dr. Hill

Russian literature is the reason I live.

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On a personal aside, after seeing your early posts and more recent ones for a few months now and noticing that you were soaking up literature at such a rate and having such extreme interests (as per your posts referencing Oscar Wilde...) I thought to myself: "when he gets to Big D, Tolstoy and the russians, he's gone...

Welcome to the brotherhood..;)

As per the posted recommendations, they are ALL good. IMHO there is not too much in the way of a bad work by D and T, as well as all of Turgenev and Gogol.

I will throw out a Post-Revolution russian author who's work is WORSHIPPED by about any mid twentieth century author you probably admire:

Isaac Babel. He wrote a few series of short works, the best known are: The Red Calvary Stories and The Odessa Stories. He was executed by Stalin's secret police in 1944 at the age of 44 before he could finish his work.

In several polls of top literary authors listing their favorite and influential authors, Isaac Babel is listed near the top by about 70% of them.

Reading one of his stories will have the cossacks in your living room...

I can't recommend the recent Norton re-issue of Babel's The Collected Stories of enough...

How does Arkady and Boris Strugatsky stand up/compare to some of the other authors mentioned in this thread so far? Should they even be compared to the likes of Leo Tolstoy, Fyodor Dostoevsky, etc.?

Since then I have read most of his works. Some I have read multiple times, inluding 'The Brothers Karamazov', 'Crime and Punishmewnt', "The Possessed', The Idiot', and the Gambler'. These I have read at least two times, The last Dostoevsky I read was 'A Raw Youth'. I have all of these in my peresonal library in finely bound, printed, and illustrated copies (Limited Editions Club). I have read many other Russian authors, but never 'War and Peace' Last year I watched three movies of 'War and Peace, including the Russian one with subtitles. Then I started reading the unabridged novel in two volumes published by the Folio Society. It wasn't hard to read, just long. Finished it a monthe ago, and I'm glad I finally got thru it.

I read Dr Zhivago in a paper back right after Pasternack won the Nobel prize. Finally got a nice copy 3 years ago, and reread with much pleasure.

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Originally Posted by semi-fly

Any recommendations on literature relating to or pertaining to the the February and October revolutions of 1917? If not those specific Revolution(s) what about the 1905 Revolution?

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Dr Zhivago by Pasternak, and maybe And Quiet Flows the Don by Sholokhov.

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Originally Posted by Saladin

So far after three years i have only read Dostoevsky, some Gogol short stories, and some Pushkins poems. I havent read one single line of Tolstoys works or Turgenev or Bulgakov or Pasternak or Lermontov for that sake, so i am looking forward to do it.

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You could use 3 years much better. :D

I happened to fall in love with russian literature after reading "The Death of Ivan Ilyich." After that I read Doctor Zhivago (which I absolutely loved as well). I ended up highlighting a lot of passages in that book which had a particular impact on me. For example, when Lara was planning to shoot the guy (i can't remember his name) Pasternak remarked that (paraphrase): "She rediscovered her meaning in life. And was here to call everything by its right name." Not to mention the "A happiness not shared is not happiness at all."

After reading "Doctor Zhivago" I began to read "Anna Karenina" and that is where I am now. I want to pick up a copy of "Family Happiness" but I cannot find it anywhere. I realize it is on the internet but I absolutely cannot sit at my computer and read something like that.

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Originally Posted by Tyler Self

After reading "Doctor Zhivago" I began to read "Anna Karenina" and that is where I am now. I want to pick up a copy of "Family Happiness" but I cannot find it anywhere. I realize it is on the internet but I absolutely cannot sit at my computer and read something like that.

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Have you tried Half, Barnes & Noble or Amazon or any number of internet retailers?

^^I have a Barnes and Noble out where I live but cannot get there whenever I like (I am 17 and currently do not have a vehicle). I don't have a credit card either so internet retailers don't work as well.

It's only a matter of time anyway. :)

Dostoevsky and Tolstoi lose something essential in English. Can judge, for I'm from Russia.
Annensky said - we were tortured by Dostoevsky. And his "anguish" doesn't surge in translation.

Thanks to this thread, I just ordered 16 Russian books...

Yay!

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Originally Posted by shud-shee

Dostoevsky and Tolstoi lose something essential in English. Can judge, for I'm from Russia.
Annensky said - we were tortured by Dostoevsky. And his "anguish" doesn't surge in translation.

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This is very interesting and important to any discussion of literature in translation. In your opinion, is this also true of the recent (newer) translations of Tolstoy and Dostoevsky's works by the much acclaimed team of Richard Pevear and Larrisa Volokhonsky?

I do not like the older Constance Garnett translations (have read them side by side to see.. )

I have purposely stayed away from Re-reading any Gogol and no longer have any of his books. I have read a paper that illustrated how his works lose MOST of their double meanings and nuances and plays on parts of speech through any current translations! Do you have an opinion on Gogol's translated books?

And two think I just got two Gogol novels... oh well.

The poser is that these languages are way too different, so my recommendation is to learn Russian. Besides, there's a mystery that is called Russian soul. Regarding Gogol, it depends on a work, but my general opinion is that he is more "translatable". This is also applicable to Tolstoi.

concerning Richard Pevear and Larrisa Volokhonsky, I'm afraid I can't tell you.