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.

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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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I often wondered if that was the case. I've read most of Dostoevsky, but was most aware of his anguish in Notes from Underground. I wonder if that was down to the translator, or if this work shows his anguish more than the others?

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Originally Posted by Tyler Self

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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I would definitely recommend it. I read it in a Penguin Classics edition, bound with The Cossacks and The Death of Ivan Ilyich. It's quite short, so you might consider printing out an e-book edition. It's a particularly appropriate read for a 17-year-old I think. In this book, and in Anna Karenina, I was particularly struck by Tolstoy's ability to convincingly depict the feelings of women.

^^If those three come in one book together I will be a happy man. I bought a penguin classic on Thoreau. It had Walden, Civil Disobedience, Life Without Principle, and many more.

in Notes from Underground D has crystallized his "philosophy of tragedy" - that's the point

Ok i'm new to this forum so this is officially my first post :nod:

I was listening to an interview of the musician Regina Spektor and she mentioned a whole heap of famous russian writers and I jotted down all the names except one because she said it so quickly and I didn't know how to spell it either. Russian names are hard to pronounce and spell for someone who only speaks English!

SO it sounded like this: "preykoffi vichenkovski"

Has anybody out there heard of this author and knows how to spell the name correctly? I'd really love to find out who it is as I've suddenly developed an interest in Russian literature.

I would very much appreciate your help!

Thanks in advance :wave:

I recently read Tolstoy's shorter novels, which are at least as amazing as the two big books. I can't get "The Cossacks" out of my mind, and certainly don't want to! It's a wonderful dream of love & adventure.

novelists such as Tolstoy, Pushkin, Turgenev, and Pasternak etc.
When I was in my twenties, they were tough reads. But now that i'm older they are fairly easy to read. It's like many other things in life, they get easier as time goes by. I have read Doctor Zhivago twice, the first time with a paperback published right after he won the Nobel prize. The last time, I read Zhivago in a nice edition published by the Folio Society in about 2000. Of course, Pasternak is a 20th century novelist so all translations are fairly recent. It might help if you viewed the movie first, one of my favorites with Omar Sharrif (sp?), Julie Christie, Rod Steiger etc.

I don't think you can go wrong with the Constance Garnett translations of the Russian 19th century novelists. She was almost contemporary with Dostoevsky, and she lived in Russia. Modern translations might be easier for a novice to read, but you will lose much of the flavor of the author. Nice editions are avaiable in the used book market: published by the Folio Society, the Easton Press, and the Heritage Press. The Heritage and Easton Press editions are illustrated with woodcuts by Fritz Eichenberg which add considerable impact. I realize some editions are beyond the means of college students, but they can be a lifetime investment. Just this year, I purchased a two volume edition of The Brothers Karamazov in the Limitedi Edtions Club version. It was published in 1950 and I consider myself fortunate to find this copy in nearly mint condition for $250. This next time will be my third time through the Brothers.

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Originally Posted by dfloyd

I don't think you can go wrong with the Constance Garnett translations of the Russian 19th century novelists. She was almost contemporary with Dostoevsky, and she lived in Russia. Modern translations might be easier for a novice to read, but you will lose much of the flavor of the author.

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I think Garnett is easier to read than several modern translators! There's a growing tendency to try and maintain the Riussian sentence structure, instead of translating the structure into English as well . I don't like this. If you are going to translate, why not go the whole hog!

So Garnett has been accused by "strict types" that she has "smoothed" Dostoevsky. But she has admitted this herself. Her excuse is that we would struggle otherwise. I'm not complaining. And according to Middleton Murray her BK is the greatest translation in the English language. Those needing a strictly literal translation, though, may need to look elsewhere.

Then again, I've seen literal translators slammed for mistranslating sentences that Garnett got right! So Garnett might even be the best, overall, literal translator.

I read the shorter novels of Tolstoy and War & Peace in the Maude translations. They were translating at the same time as Garnett, and Tolstoy approved their translations in glowing terms, saying that no other translators would ever be needed. I read Anna Karenina in the Garnett translation and it was pretty good. But I'd just give Maudes the nod for Tolstoy.

The Maudes liked Garnett's translations and tried to get her involved with their translations of Tolstoy. But she liked to fly solo.

Interesting. So you would recommend Garnett? I always heard Pevear/Volokonsky was the best. I am looking to buy Pushkin soon, and have no idea what translation is best, so everyone feel free to recommend your favorite translators into English. Sometimes I feel like I am drowning in translators, there are to many to choose from!

Nabokov, problably the most qualified commentator on translating Russian into English, despised Garnett, as did another seminal writer of both Russian and English literature, Joseph Brodsky.

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Originally Posted by Inderjit Sanghe

Nabokov, problably the most qualified commentator on translating Russian into English, despised Garnett, as did another seminal writer of both Russian and English literature, Joseph Brodsky.

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Bloom points out how "petulant and unpleasant" Nabokov could be about the competition.

The critics in the Oxford Guide to Literature in Translation generally give Garnett a good press, and haven't succumbed to the Pevear/Volokonsky hype, for instance saying "their English translation sometimes seems distinctly odd". And, "... literalism means that the dialogue is sometimes impossibly odd "... foreignizing fidelity makes for difficult reading."

Modern translators do get some positive comments, e.g. for maintaining the humour that Garnett and Maude might lose in places.

When there are several generally admired translators, from Garnett onwards, it makes choosing a translator very difficult. I generally just take what they have in the library, or on the discount shelf.

The Oxford Guide to Literature in Translation says there are 11 translations of Eugene Onegin! Actually, that's until 1995 and so doesn't include the Wordsworth Classics translation, which looks interesting as well as inexpensive. They say the "most remarkable" is the first one by Spalding in 1881. Another example of old is best?

"The ones which preceded Nabakov by no means deserved the withering scorn which he poured upon them."

So it wasn't just Garnett he disliked then. Has anyone read a biography of Nabakov? He sounds like a nasty piece of work...

Nabakov's(1965) version has "deadly accuracy vitiated by quirky English prose with a vague iambic plod." But it gets the recommendation for literal accuracy, and detailed commentary, so that more modern translators now "never make mistakes" (!)

Oxford give the same version of a verse from three translators. I compared it to "Wordsworth Classics" and think I prefer that version. If you like user-friendly prose translations of poetic epics it's definitely worth a look. Wordsworth seem to be moving away from using old, bad translators and are now hiring good, modern translators - their Faust is also worth a look...

P.S. "The Oxford Guide..." is a must buy.

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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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I am tortured by Dostoevsky translations, at least as much as by existential texts in English (William Burroughs, "Junky", say.) Many great English critics say the same - Harold Bloom for instance.

Why would Dostoevsky and Tolstoy be considered the greatest novelists by so many English readers unless much of their essence did translate?

As you are a native Russian I would say you were least able to judge their impact in English. As you have already read them in Russian then reading them in English is bound to have much less impact than your original reading, because: 1) The translation will obviously not be as good as the original 2) Your English will not be as good as your Russian.

I've read Crime and Punishment, The Idiot, and I'm almost done with The Brothers Karamazov; and so far, I love Dostoevsky's work.

I was born in Eastern Europe and my first language was Bulgarian(fairly close to Russian) but I am a more fluent writer and speaker in English. So I feel very comfortable with English translations because many literal translations, which seem inelegant to a native English speaker, make perfect sense to me when I translate them. Perhaps that is why I find Dostoevsky's writing so enticing.

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Bloom points out how "petulant and unpleasant" Nabokov could be about the competition

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Nabokov never regarded Garnett, as 'competition' (for what exactly?, Nabokov was a writer first, and a translator second, and he never attempted to translate the same books as Garnett), I doubt that Nabokov would have even envisaged Garnett as being in any way, shape or form his literary equal, Nabokov was unconcerned by 'competition' in the proper sense of the word, he would have regarded it as a banal and glib gauge of his own and other writers literary merits, and the writers who he admired who he was coterminous with, such as Mandelstam, Bunin and Khodasevich, he praised, as he appreciated artists on their own individual level.

Nabokov was not a 'nasty piece of work'-it is completely arbitrary to judge a human being on the basis of two sentences based on his aesthetic preferences. Nabokov was a kind, sensitive, generous and gentle person, I have read several of his biographies, the main themes in his books are about human cruelty and pain. Yes Nabokov was stringent in his criticsms of other authors and translators, but that was because of his exacting aesthetic standards, and yes, a good degree of personal arrogance.

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Originally Posted by mal4mac

Why would Dostoevsky and Tolstoy be considered the greatest novelists by so many English readers unless much of their essence did translate?

As you are a native Russian I would say you were least able to judge their impact in English. As you have already read them in Russian then reading them in English is bound to have much less impact than your original reading, because: 1) The translation will obviously not be as good as the original 2) Your English will not be as good as your Russian.

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As a native Dutch-speaker I have to disagre with this strongly. It is not totally impossible to judge on a neutral basis whether something is as good in the one language or the other.

I definitely find that English and French works lack in both Dutch and German translations. Dutch is absolutely abominable mostly (bad translators or bad language? I go for the second as I have had a go myself. Not so much vocabulary that can convey the feelings which words arouse). Characters either speak too stiffly or become too informal for their time. It is a problem. Descrptions are totally ridiculous. German is more lyrical and goes well in descriptions, but loses it as soon as people start talking in novels. Characters become too German and not English or French enough.

Dostoevsky and Tolstoy can still be deemed brilliant writers, although their works miss something in translation. If a work is brilliant, it will stay brilliant, only a little less. Gold is still gold, even if it has lost its true shine.

Now, on topic for the Russians here:

I have had the crazy idea after reading Pushkin that I will put my shoulders under the Russian language and read in Russian some day.

So far it is going well, but can you recommend authors to start with after I have gone through the obligatory newspapers, magazines and children's books? Who is easy?

I can hardly imaging reading Pushkin in English or German... Some things simply can't be translated. One of the best things about Pushkin is that he sounds strangely modern, despite the fact he lived 200 years ago. And yet you feel that this was written by a person who lived in a different epoch. That's what you can see if you're a native speaker... I am:)

I have read Russian literature massively and most of Dostoevsky and Tolstoy and I feel few have written so grandiloquently the way the Russians did. They are matchless and I rate Russian is the greatest literary world

I've read one book which comes under Russian literature. Russian Author at least :) The Secret History of Moscow - Ekaterina Sedia. I very much fell in love with that book, and am greatly inspired now by this thread to wade down to the deep end of the Russian literature swimming pool.

The two Russian writers I find matchless in the history of world literature are Tolstoy and Dostoevsky and no books both in terms of philosophy and style were ever written compared with War and Peace and the Brothers Karamazov. And this is my evaluation.

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Originally Posted by Maryana

I can hardly imaging reading Pushkin in English or German... Some things simply can't be translated.

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As I remember it, this was also Nabokov's view. The greatest prose stylist of all time, but no non-Russian speaker would ever understand why. Something like that.

Now I got a crazy idea, having read Pushkin's "Evgeniy Onegin" in oroginal i will have a go and read it in translation. For the sake of experiment.

Tolstoy is special, including Resurrection.

It's great from Pushkin to Bulgakov. I mean Crime and Punishment is in my opinion the greatest novel of all time and it for sure will be on any top 10 greatest novels list. Dostoevsky can be called (and by many is called) the greatest writer of all time, with Tolstoy not to far behind him on that list.

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.

I heard that russian literature is still going strong. Kolyma tales is a good example and is perhaps one of the greatest short story collections of all times,perhaps even comparable to chekhov's tales.