Routledge Library Editions: Russian and Soviet Literature – serie

This set of 16 previously out-of-print titles brings together some classic scholarship on Russian writers from the Imperial and Soviet periods. Michael Scammell’s key biography of Solzhenitsyn and Professor Ronald Hingley’s groundbreaking works contextualising the lives of Russian writers are among the gems in an outstanding reference resource on the lives and works of writers working under authoritarian rule.

This book, first published in 1984, was the first full biography of Solzhenitsyn. Starting with his childhood, it covers every period of his life in considerable detail, showing how Solzhenitsyn’s development paralleled and mirrored the development of Soviet society: ambitious and idealistic in the twenties and thirties, preoccupied with the struggle for survival in the forties, hopeful in the fifties and sixties and disillusioned in the seventies. Solzhenitsyn’s life thus serves as a paradigm for the history of twentieth-century Communism and for the intelligentsia’s attitudes to Communism. At the same time, this book relates Solzhenitsyn’s life to his works, all of which contain a large element of autobiography.

This book, first published in 1984, was the first full biography of Solzhenitsyn. Starting with his childhood, it covers every period of his life in considerable detail, showing how Solzhenitsyn’s development paralleled and mirrored the development of Soviet society: ambitious and idealistic in the twenties and thirties, preoccupied with the struggle for survival in the forties, hopeful in the fifties and sixties and disillusioned in the seventies. Solzhenitsyn’s life thus serves as a paradigm for the history of twentieth-century Communism and for the intelligentsia’s attitudes to Communism. At the same time, this book relates Solzhenitsyn’s life to his works, all of which contain a large element of autobiography.

This book, first published in 2000, features analyses about and by some of the most important Russian writers of the 1980s, a period of great changes in the cultural life of Russia when the controls of Soviet communism gave way to a wide diversity of unfettered writing. A variety of critical approaches matches the diversity of Russian writers considered here. The book features David Bethea’s theoretical discussion of the work of the outstanding critic and cholar Iurii Lotman and a fascinating extending interview with leading poet Ol’ga Sedakova. Several writers and works receive their first scholarly analyses in English, such as Sasha Sokolov’s complex postmodern novel, Between Dog and Wolf, Elena Shvarts’s poetry, and Zinovii Zinik’s work. Aleksandr Zinov’ev’s prose is subjected to a searching formal analysis. The book contains an essay on the literary environment of the Moscow poet Mikhail Aizenberg, and a highly controversial article that reviews Russian writing as an extension of imperialism. Writers who for various reasons fell into opprobrium during the 1980s include the Soviet village writers and the late Andrei Siniavskii (Abram Tertz). A survey of urban prose in the late 1980s looks into an uncertain future, while playwright Viktor Slavkin represents the best of contemporary Russian drama.

This book, first published in 2000, features analyses about and by some of the most important Russian writers of the 1980s, a period of great changes in the cultural life of Russia when the controls of Soviet communism gave way to a wide diversity of unfettered writing. A variety of critical approaches matches the diversity of Russian writers considered here. The book features David Bethea’s theoretical discussion of the work of the outstanding critic and cholar Iurii Lotman and a fascinating extending interview with leading poet Ol’ga Sedakova. Several writers and works receive their first scholarly analyses in English, such as Sasha Sokolov’s complex postmodern novel, Between Dog and Wolf, Elena Shvarts’s poetry, and Zinovii Zinik’s work. Aleksandr Zinov’ev’s prose is subjected to a searching formal analysis. The book contains an essay on the literary environment of the Moscow poet Mikhail Aizenberg, and a highly controversial article that reviews Russian writing as an extension of imperialism. Writers who for various reasons fell into opprobrium during the 1980s include the Soviet village writers and the late Andrei Siniavskii (Abram Tertz). A survey of urban prose in the late 1980s looks into an uncertain future, while playwright Viktor Slavkin represents the best of contemporary Russian drama.

This book, first published in 1944, is a comprehensive survey of post-revolutionary Russian literature up to the early 1940s. A huge range of writers are examined, and the analysis is made in the knowledge of the sometimes considerable pressure brought by the Government on writers in Soviet Russia. Links are made by the author between the writers being assessed, as well as to the Russian writers that had come before them. As a wide-ranging analysis of Soviet literature, this book has rarely been bettered.

This book, first published in 1944, is a comprehensive survey of post-revolutionary Russian literature up to the early 1940s. A huge range of writers are examined, and the analysis is made in the knowledge of the sometimes considerable pressure brought by the Government on writers in Soviet Russia. Links are made by the author between the writers being assessed, as well as to the Russian writers that had come before them. As a wide-ranging analysis of Soviet literature, this book has rarely been bettered.

This book, first published in 1943, is a literary anthology purposefully presenting a picture of the Soviet Union to a new audience in the West. It collects together a rich variety of pre-revolutionary Russian literature as well as a host of Soviet literature. Together they reveal the dynamic character of Russian literature, and provide a useful contrast between the two styles of pre- and post-revolutionary writings.

This book, first published in 1943, is a literary anthology purposefully presenting a picture of the Soviet Union to a new audience in the West. It collects together a rich variety of pre-revolutionary Russian literature as well as a host of Soviet literature. Together they reveal the dynamic character of Russian literature, and provide a useful contrast between the two styles of pre- and post-revolutionary writings.

This book, first published in 1947, examines the truly vital and enduring qualities of the leading Russian writers, as literature and as interesting documents of phases of Russian history. This is one of the most striking features of Russian literature since Pushkin – it treated artistically social and political issues that in the more prosperous and stable Western world were dealt with through journalism, mainly. This book analyses Russian literature’s propensity for providing reassurance and guidance to withstand the harsher elements of Russian society by examining some of its leading writers.

This book, first published in 1947, examines the truly vital and enduring qualities of the leading Russian writers, as literature and as interesting documents of phases of Russian history. This is one of the most striking features of Russian literature since Pushkin – it treated artistically social and political issues that in the more prosperous and stable Western world were dealt with through journalism, mainly. This book analyses Russian literature’s propensity for providing reassurance and guidance to withstand the harsher elements of Russian society by examining some of its leading writers.

This book, first published in 1957, provides essential information on the entire field of Russian literature, as well as a great deal on literary criticism, journalism, philosophy, theatre and related subjects. Russian literary tradition has tended to blur the distinctions between social and political criticism on one hand, and literary criticism on the other, and even, to an extent, the distinction between philosophy and literature. Although intended primarily as a reference work, this book also contains much critical analysis.

This book, first published in 1957, provides essential information on the entire field of Russian literature, as well as a great deal on literary criticism, journalism, philosophy, theatre and related subjects. Russian literary tradition has tended to blur the distinctions between social and political criticism on one hand, and literary criticism on the other, and even, to an extent, the distinction between philosophy and literature. Although intended primarily as a reference work, this book also contains much critical analysis.

This book, first published in 1950, is a balanced examination of Chekhov’s life and work, a critical analysis of his stories and plays set against the background of his life the Russia of the day. Using Chekhov’s works, biographical details, and, more importantly, his many thousands of letters, this book presents a comprehensive critical study of the writer and the man.

This book, first published in 1950, is a balanced examination of Chekhov’s life and work, a critical analysis of his stories and plays set against the background of his life the Russia of the day. Using Chekhov’s works, biographical details, and, more importantly, his many thousands of letters, this book presents a comprehensive critical study of the writer and the man.

This book, first published in 1959, contains passages with commentary from 12 of the most important Soviet authors. They are lively and typical passages, written in varying styles, depicting historical events such as the 1917 Revolution, collectivisation and the death of Stalin, as well as the everyday side of Soviet life. They are a key introduction to the Russian language used in the Soviet period, an analysis of the language used by its leading writers, and a snapshot of life in Russia at the time.

This book, first published in 1959, contains passages with commentary from 12 of the most important Soviet authors. They are lively and typical passages, written in varying styles, depicting historical events such as the 1917 Revolution, collectivisation and the death of Stalin, as well as the everyday side of Soviet life. They are a key introduction to the Russian language used in the Soviet period, an analysis of the language used by its leading writers, and a snapshot of life in Russia at the time.

What is Chekhov’s method of ensuring audience participation? What does his stage direction ‘through tears’ mean? What happens between the first and second acts of The Seagull? Is there any reason for the despondency in Chekhov’s drama? This book, first published in 1972, discusses these questions and many other issues around Chekhov’s last four plays. David Magarshack, the leading translator and biography of many of Russia’s greatest writers, closely examines Chekhov’s work for the relevant facts about his writing, and demonstrates that no reliance should be placed on the so-called subtext which can introduce all sorts of irrelevancies arising from pre-conceived ideas about the plays. A careful reading of Chekhov’s text itself is all that is needed to correct the familiar distortions of his characters and themes.

What is Chekhov’s method of ensuring audience participation? What does his stage direction ‘through tears’ mean? What happens between the first and second acts of The Seagull? Is there any reason for the despondency in Chekhov’s drama? This book, first published in 1972, discusses these questions and many other issues around Chekhov’s last four plays. David Magarshack, the leading translator and biography of many of Russia’s greatest writers, closely examines Chekhov’s work for the relevant facts about his writing, and demonstrates that no reliance should be placed on the so-called subtext which can introduce all sorts of irrelevancies arising from pre-conceived ideas about the plays. A careful reading of Chekhov’s text itself is all that is needed to correct the familiar distortions of his characters and themes.

This book, first published in 1949, is an abridged version of Mirsky’s classic two texts on Russian literature, updated with a postscript by the editor assessing the development of Soviet literature. Beautifully written, Mirsky’s analyses of Russian writers and literature go hand in hand with his takes on Russian history. From the birth of Russian literature to its Soviet form, this book is a lively and comprehensive examination by one of its leading scholars.

This book, first published in 1949, is an abridged version of Mirsky’s classic two texts on Russian literature, updated with a postscript by the editor assessing the development of Soviet literature. Beautifully written, Mirsky’s analyses of Russian writers and literature go hand in hand with his takes on Russian history. From the birth of Russian literature to its Soviet form, this book is a lively and comprehensive examination by one of its leading scholars.

This book, first published in 1961, traces the lives and works of six outstanding Russian authors, each of whom is interesting and important in himself, as well as for his contribution to Russian letters. As personalities they are extremely varied, and also as artists, so much so that each of them might be studied as the centre of a distinct school of writing. Taken as a group they are a microcosm of Russian literature in the twentieth century, an age of rapid and extreme change.

This book, first published in 1961, traces the lives and works of six outstanding Russian authors, each of whom is interesting and important in himself, as well as for his contribution to Russian letters. As personalities they are extremely varied, and also as artists, so much so that each of them might be studied as the centre of a distinct school of writing. Taken as a group they are a microcosm of Russian literature in the twentieth century, an age of rapid and extreme change.

This book, first published in 1978, demonstrates how Dostoyevsky’s novels grew directly out of the pressures of their creator’s tormented experience and personality. Ronald Hingley draws upon important fresh source material, which includes the definitive Soviet edition of Dostoyevsky’s works with drafts and variants, Soviet research on the circumstances of his father’s death, and a newly deciphered section of the diary of his second wife, Anna. Hingley considers with his analysis all Dostoyevsky’s works, the ideas they contain, their varying artistic success, and their contemporary critical reception. He convincingly present’s Dostoyevsky’s genius at its most powerful when most on the attack.

This book, first published in 1978, demonstrates how Dostoyevsky’s novels grew directly out of the pressures of their creator’s tormented experience and personality. Ronald Hingley draws upon important fresh source material, which includes the definitive Soviet edition of Dostoyevsky’s works with drafts and variants, Soviet research on the circumstances of his father’s death, and a newly deciphered section of the diary of his second wife, Anna. Hingley considers with his analysis all Dostoyevsky’s works, the ideas they contain, their varying artistic success, and their contemporary critical reception. He convincingly present’s Dostoyevsky’s genius at its most powerful when most on the attack.

This book, first published in 1981, examines the dramatic and tragic stories of four of the greatest Russian poets of the twentieth century, their struggle to survive the Stalin years, and their dedication to their art despite considerable personal danger. Interweaving the stories of Anna Akhmatova, Osip Mandelstam, Boris Pasternak and Marina Tsvetayeva, the noted Russian scholar Ronald Hingley traces their education, the literary schools and traditions with which they were associated, the impact of World War I and the Bolshevik Revolution on their work, and the emergence of their distinct and disparate styles. He examines how the four influenced and affected each other – as colleague, critic or rival, friend or lover – and, as their fates were increasingly caught up in the aftermath of the Russian Revolution, how they came to depend on each other for solace and refuge. This book makes vivid the historic conflict between artists and political authority, and shows how they came into conflict with the Stalinist totalitarian regime intent on their destruction. Ronald Hingley’s brilliant narrative and superb translations of many of the major poems give us a haunting story of artistic achievement and heroic resistance.

This book, first published in 1981, examines the dramatic and tragic stories of four of the greatest Russian poets of the twentieth century, their struggle to survive the Stalin years, and their dedication to their art despite considerable personal danger. Interweaving the stories of Anna Akhmatova, Osip Mandelstam, Boris Pasternak and Marina Tsvetayeva, the noted Russian scholar Ronald Hingley traces their education, the literary schools and traditions with which they were associated, the impact of World War I and the Bolshevik Revolution on their work, and the emergence of their distinct and disparate styles. He examines how the four influenced and affected each other – as colleague, critic or rival, friend or lover – and, as their fates were increasingly caught up in the aftermath of the Russian Revolution, how they came to depend on each other for solace and refuge. This book makes vivid the historic conflict between artists and political authority, and shows how they came into conflict with the Stalinist totalitarian regime intent on their destruction. Ronald Hingley’s brilliant narrative and superb translations of many of the major poems give us a haunting story of artistic achievement and heroic resistance.

This biographical study, first published in 1985, draws on extensive newly available material and illuminates the life and work of a man who lived through one of the most turbulent periods of Russian history to produce some of his country’s greatest poetry and its most significant modern novel.

This biographical study, first published in 1985, draws on extensive newly available material and illuminates the life and work of a man who lived through one of the most turbulent periods of Russian history to produce some of his country’s greatest poetry and its most significant modern novel.