Russian literature

I love a lot of Russian works. "The Brothers Karamazov" and "Anna Karinina" are counted amongst my favorites.

Even though I enjoy the works of Dostoyevsky, Tolstoy, Pushkin and Helena Roerich, I always feel that I'm missing something. I follow the stories and I "get them", don't get me wrong. But it always feels that things get left out when the works are translated from their original language (not just Russian to English but any languages). The depth and feel of them changes.

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Originally Posted by testwilliams

This question has been killing me for hours now. Does anyone know what short story Chekhov wrote the line "and suddenly everything became clear to him" in? I've searched what seems like every quotations and other similar webpage that shows up when I search for it, but still can't find it. All I know is that apparently it's from one of Chekhov's short stories and that Raymond Carver really liked the quote, so much that he pinned it to the wall above his writing desk.

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I recall it as well. Maybe 'The Kiss'?

Writing indeed tarnishes the image of a book. It distorts its meaning, disparages its beauty and degrades its quality.

Just see even in their translational form Russian literature is far superior to American and British novels and stories.

I read Mark Twain, Charles Dickens and the like but Dostoevsky, Chekhov, Tolstoy are far better and their fictions are of higher quality and philosophically are far ahead.

I think Blazeofglory is a romanticist.

I read Mark Twain, Charles Dickens and the like but Dostoevsky, Chekhov, Tolstoy are far better and their fictions are of higher quality and philosophically are far ahead.

Romantic? There are probably other words for one who makes such blanket moronic statements. What Blazes claim comes down to is: "Based upon my reading experience, I like Russian literature the best." There is no attempt at proving how Russian stories are "far superior" to German, French, American, British or Italian writers. There is no attempt to back up the claims that Russian fiction is "far better and of a higher quality" than all the other national literature. Really? And what Russian writer surpasses Shakespeare or Dante or Homer or Firdowsi? And there is no attempt to explain just how Russian fiction is philosophically superior? Again... superior to what? prove to us where Russian literature is so profound in comparison to all other national literature, otherwise all you are doing is spouting hot air.

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Originally Posted by stlukesguild

I read Mark Twain, Charles Dickens and the like but Dostoevsky, Chekhov, Tolstoy are far better and their fictions are of higher quality and philosophically are far ahead.

Romantic? There are probably other words for one who makes such blanket moronic statements. What Blazes claim comes down to is: "Based upon my reading experience, I like Russian literature the best." There is no attempt at proving how Russian stories are "far superior" to German, French, American, British or Italian writers. There is no attempt to back up the claims that Russian fiction is "far better and of a higher quality" than all the other national literature. Really? And what Russian writer surpasses Shakespeare or Dante or Homer or Firdowsi? And there is no attempt to explain just how Russian fiction is philosophically superior? Again... superior to what? prove to us where Russian literature is so profound in comparison to all other national literature, otherwise all you are doing is spouting hot air.

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Well, I think we can all be certain Tolstoy would beat them all at Drag racing. After all, Homer could write like a god, but he was a wimp.

Homer might have problems in a street fight, to say nothing of drag racing, considering his blindness. The Elizabethans, on the other hand, were a rather rowdy bunch (remember Marlowe) vs Tolstoy the pampered celibate aristocrat with illusions of becoming a prophet so I think Shakespeare could certainly hold his own ground. My money, however, would go with Dante, who survived any number of rounds of vicious political upheavals. This, after all, is not the portrait of someone to trifle with:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2088/...72de4f3547.jpg

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Originally Posted by stlukesguild

Homer might have problems in a street fight, to say nothing of drag racing, considering his blindness. The Elizabethans, on the other hand, were a rather rowdy bunch (remember Marlowe) vs Tolstoy the pampered celibate aristocrat with illusions of becoming a prophet so I think Shakespeare could certainly hold his own ground. My money, however, would go with Dante, who survived any number of rounds of vicious political upheavals. This, after all, is not the portrait of someone to trifle with:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2088/...72de4f3547.jpg

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Wow, badass and great writing skills, and they say great writers are boring.

He looks really scary :(

Russian literature is really insuperable and it has a wonderful variety and so many forms. Tollway for example is a matchless writer in war and peace, Anna Karena, Resurrection. Chekhov has so many masterpieces. Dostoevsky's novels transports us into our inner selves and Gogol' sarcasm is superb and beyond compare. The rest of the world must learn from the Russian tradition. I always take Russian as writers my guiding stars. They are my fountainheads of inspirations.

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Originally Posted by blazeofglory

French literature is really insuperable and it has a wonderful variety and so many forms. Flaubert for example is a matchless writer in Madame Bovary, Salammbo, Sentimental Education. Zola has so many masterpieces. Stendhal's novels transport us into our inner selves and Baudelaire's sarcasm is superb and beyond compare. The rest of the world must learn from the French tradition. I always take French writers as my guiding stars. They are my fountainheads of inspirations.

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Originally Posted by blazeofglory

English literature is really insuperable and it has a wonderful variety and so many forms. George Eliot for example is a matchless writer in Middlemarch, Daniel Deronda, Silas Marner. Dickens has so many masterpieces. Joseph Conrad's novels transport us into our inner selves and Thackeray's sarcasm is superb and beyond compare. The rest of the world must learn from the English tradition. I always take English writers as my guiding stars. They are my fountainheads of inspirations.

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Originally Posted by blazeofglory

Italian literature is really insuperable and it has a wonderful variety and so many forms. D'Annunzio for example is a matchless writer in The Child Of Pleasure, The Innocent, The Triumph Of Death. Verga has so many masterpieces. Manzoni's novels transport us into our inner selves and Svevo's sarcasm is superb and beyond compare. The rest of the world must learn from the Italian tradition. I always take Italian writers as my guiding stars. They are my fountainheads of inspirations.

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Originally Posted by blazeofglory

American literature is really insuperable and it has a wonderful variety and so many forms.Whitman for example is a matchless writer in Song Of Myself, O Captain My Captain,I Saw in Louisiana a Live-Oak Growing. Emerson has so many masterpieces. Melville's novels transport us into our inner selves and Twain's sarcasm is superb and beyond compare. The rest of the world must learn from the American tradition. I always take American writers as my guiding stars. They are my fountainheads of inspirations.

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There we go I fixed your statement

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Originally Posted by stlukesguild

Homer might have problems in a street fight, to say nothing of drag racing, considering his blindness. The Elizabethans, on the other hand, were a rather rowdy bunch (remember Marlowe) vs Tolstoy the pampered celibate aristocrat with illusions of becoming a prophet so I think Shakespeare could certainly hold his own ground. My money, however, would go with Dante, who survived any number of rounds of vicious political upheavals. This, after all, is not the portrait of someone to trifle with:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2088/...72de4f3547.jpg

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I do think you undervalue Tolstoy, in his youth he was a military officer serving in the caucasus and participating in several battles, the most significant of which was the siege of Sevastopol which was a dam harsh fight.

But I think the tittle for bad arse must go to Cervantes, his resume includes:

- Serving 6 years in the Spanish Navy Infantry

- Fought in major naval Battle against the Turks in 1571, where he received three gunshot wounds.

- Participated in military expeditions to Corfu and Navarino; and in the conquest of the capital of Tunis - La Goletta.

-On his way to Barcelona his ship was captured by Algerian pirates, and he was taken into slavery, serving five years as an algerian slave before his family was able to pay his ransom and free him from slavery. During those five years he attempted to escape four times, unsuccessfully.

- On his return to Spain he left the army and traveled the spanish empire as a tax collector. During this period he was imprisoned twice for debt.

- Towards the end of his life he settled in Madrid.


What writer can top that level of bad assery? Come to think of it his life would make an awesome movie.

The truth is that many poets of Spanish golden age were soldiers or had militar careers. Camoes too. It was somehow a trait of period.

You can include here, maybe François Villon, a not good guy, or Cicer, who obviously, fought against Caesar an Octavio (albeit he was no footman or something). Obviously, Richard Burton is a writer and since he is Indiana Jones he would defeat them all.

I liked Gogol, what was left of him, as a young man. I read Crime and Punishment and liked the end. I loved Zamyatin's We. Not much more to tell, I am afraid.

The Russians are the best because many (Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Solzhenitsyn etc) lived during totalitarian regimes who would kill you if they didn't like what you said. Thus much of their intention is cloaked within the deep, penetrating, heavy nature of their work. In this way Dostoevsky criticized the Russian institutions, including the church, while evading execution.

While I do love Bulgakov and Tolstoy, Dostoevsky is the master here. That's why I chose Fyodor as my handle. His best work, The Brother's Karamazov does not show the length and depth of this penetration, even if it is his best effort. The Possessed, or The Demons is the best illustration of what it took to say 'something' during this radical time of political and social oppression.

It is unfortunate that so many people are forced to read "Crime and Punishment" which is his worst novel. Instead try either "Notes From Underground" or "The Gambler" for an introduction to his writing.