A Glimpse at Russian Literature
From Tsarist Russia, through revolutions to the early communist era, Russian writers have rejoiced, described and explored the lives of ordinary Russians. This small selection gives us a chance to see a Russia that existed behind the headlines.
A Hero of our Time, Mikhail Lermontov (1840) Life and love affairs of the Russian elite in pre-revolutionary Russia. Interestingly comparable with Anna Karenina - Tolstoy.
Eugene Onegin, Alexander Pushkin (c1833) Elite life in St Petersburg - loves lost and found. This novel is in verse.
The Cherry Orchard, Anton Chekhov (1903-4) Chekhov's quiet optimism and discering character observations of pre Revolutionary Russian elites.
The Mother, Maxim Gorky (1906) Harsh life of factory workers, particularly women who also had to content with abusive husbands. Looks at a mother's son who wants to create a better life for himself.
And Quiet Flows the Don, Mikhail Sholokohov (1925 - 1930) Book One. Life of Russian rural Cossacks in the early days of the Revolution and the civil wars that followed.
The Master and Margarita, Mikhail Bolgakov (1940) Farce about Moscow life in the 1930's. Slapstick fantasy defying Russian gloom.
From Tsarist Russia, through revolutions to the early communist era, Russian writers have rejoiced, described and explored the lives of ordinary Russians. This small selection gives us a chance to see a Russia that existed behind the headlines.
A Hero of our Time, Mikhail Lermontov (1840) Life and love affairs of the Russian elite in pre-revolutionary Russia. Interestingly comparable with Anna Karenina - Tolstoy.
Eugene Onegin, Alexander Pushkin (c1833) Elite life in St Petersburg - loves lost and found. This novel is in verse.
The Cherry Orchard, Anton Chekhov (1903-4) Chekhov's quiet optimism and discering character observations of pre Revolutionary Russian elites.
The Mother, Maxim Gorky (1906) Harsh life of factory workers, particularly women who also had to content with abusive husbands. Looks at a mother's son who wants to create a better life for himself.
And Quiet Flows the Don, Mikhail Sholokohov (1925 - 1930) Book One. Life of Russian rural Cossacks in the early days of the Revolution and the civil wars that followed.
The Master and Margarita, Mikhail Bolgakov (1940) Farce about Moscow life in the 1930's. Slapstick fantasy defying Russian gloom.