Russian Literature
Catriona Kelly takes an enlightening and nontraditional approach to exploring Russia's unique literary traditions. Rather than proceeding chronologically, she uses Pushkin as the central figure in Russia's literary genesis and analyzes how this “Russian Shakespeare” influenced his compatriots, the origins of Russian literature (including folktales), and how Russians regard their own place in literary history.
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Rather than presenting a conventional chronology of Russian literature, Russian Literature: A Very Short Introduction explores the place and importance in Russian culture of all types of literature. How and when did a Russian national literature come into being? What shaped its creation? How have the Russians regarded their literary language? The book uses the figure of Pushkin--'the Russian Shakespeare'--as a recurring example, as his work influenced every Russian writer who came after him, whether they wrote prose or verse. It furthermore examines why Russian writers are venerated, how they've been interpreted inside Russia and beyond, and the influences of the folk tale tradition, orthodox religion, and the West.
Preface viiMaps xii1 Testament 12 "I have Raised Myself a Monument": Writer Memorials and Cults 213 "Tidings of me will go out over all Great Rus": Pushkin and the Russian Literary Canon 394 "I Shall be Famous as Long as Another Poet Lives": Writers' Responses to Pushkin 695 "Awakening Noble Feelings with My Lyre": Writers as "Masters of Minds" 916 "And Don't Dispute with Fools": Men, Women, and Society 1177 "Every Tribe and Every Tongue will Name me": Russian Literature and "Primitive Culture" 1398 "O Muse, Be Obedient to the Command of God": The Spiritual and Material Worlds 165Further Reading 185Index 191Picture Credits 203
