Between Religion and Rationality : Essays in Russian Literature and Culture

In this book, acclaimed Dostoevsky biographer Joseph Frank explores some of the most important aspects of nineteenth and twentieth century Russian culture, literature, and history. Delving into the distinctions of the Russian novel as well as the conflicts between the religious peasant world and the educated Russian elite, __Between Religion and Rationality__ displays the cogent reflections of one of the most distinguished and versatile critics in the field. Frank's essays provide a discriminating look at four of Dostoevsky's most famous novels, discuss the debate between J. M. Coetzee and Mario Vargas Llosa on the issue of Dostoevsky and evil, and confront Dostoevsky's anti-Semitism. The collection also examines such topics as Orlando Figes's sweeping survey of the history of Russian culture, the life of Pushkin, and __Oblomov's__ influence on Samuel Beckett. Investigating the omnipresent religious theme that runs throughout Russian culture, even in the antireligious Chekhov, Frank argues that no other major European literature was as much preoccupied as the Russian with the tensions between religion and rationality. __Between Religion and Rationality__ highlights this unique quality of Russian literature and culture, offering insights for general readers and experts alike. Essays from the award-winning Dostoevsky biographer In this book, acclaimed Dostoevsky biographer Joseph Frank explores some of the most important aspects of nineteenth and twentieth century Russian culture, literature, and history. Delving into the distinctions of the Russian novel as well as the conflicts between the religious peasant world and the educated Russian elite, Between Religion and Rationality displays the cogent reflections of one of the most distinguished and versatile critics in the field. Frank's essays provide a discriminating look at four of Dostoevsky's most famous novels, discuss the debate between J. M. Coetzee and Mario Vargas Llosa on the issue of Dostoevsky and evil, and confront Dostoevsky's anti-Semitism. The collection also examines such topics as Orlando Figes's sweeping survey of the history of Russian culture, the life of Pushkin, and Oblomov's influence on Samuel Beckett. Investigating the omnipresent religious theme that runs throughout Russian culture, even in the antireligious Chekhov, Frank argues that no other major European literature was as much preoccupied as the Russian with the tensions between religion and rationality. Between Religion and Rationality highlights this unique quality of Russian literature and culture, offering insights for general readers and experts alike.

In this book, acclaimed Dostoevsky biographer Joseph Frank explores some of the most important aspects of nineteenth and twentieth century Russian culture, literature, and history. Delving into the distinctions of the Russian novel as well as the conflicts between the religious peasant world and the educated Russian elite, Between Religion and Rationality displays the cogent reflections of one of the most distinguished and versatile critics in the field.

Frank's essays provide a discriminating look at four of Dostoevsky's most famous novels, discuss the debate between J. M. Coetzee and Mario Vargas Llosa on the issue of Dostoevsky and evil, and confront Dostoevsky's anti-Semitism. The collection also examines such topics as Orlando Figes's sweeping survey of the history of Russian culture, the life of Pushkin, and Oblomov's influence on Samuel Beckett. Investigating the omnipresent religious theme that runs throughout Russian culture, even in the antireligious Chekhov, Frank argues that no other major European literature was as much preoccupied as the Russian with the tensions between religion and rationality. Between Religion and Rationality highlights this unique quality of Russian literature and culture, offering insights for general readers and experts alike.

BETWEEN RELIGION AND RATIONALITY: ESSAYS IN RUSSIAN LITERATURE AND CULTURE......Page 4 CONTENTS......Page 6 Introduction......Page 10 PART I. CLASSICS......Page 16 ONE Poor Folk and House of the Dead......Page 18 TWO The Idiot......Page 38 THREE Demons......Page 55 FOUR War and Peace......Page 73 PART II. THE RUSSIAN TRADITION......Page 94 FIVE Natasha’s Dance: A Cultural History of Russia......Page 96 SIX A Life of Pushkin......Page 116 SEVEN Oblomov and Goncharov......Page 127 EIGHT Lydia Ginzburg, On Psychological Prose......Page 138 NINE Richard Pipes, Russian Conservatism and Its Critics......Page 152 PART III. THE DOSTOEVSKIAN ORBIT......Page 166 TEN Dostoevsky and Anti-Semitism......Page 168 ELEVEN In Search of Dostoevsky......Page 182 TWELVE Arkady Kovner......Page 194 THIRTEEN The Master of Petersburg......Page 205 FOURTEEN Dostoevsky and Evil......Page 213 PART IV. TWENTIETH-CENTURY ISSUES......Page 226 FIFTEEN Anton Chekhov......Page 228 SIXTEEN The Triumph of Abram Tertz......Page 239 SEVENTEEN......Page 258 EIGHTEEN Vladimir Nabokov: Lectures on Literature......Page 270 INDEX......Page 296 BETWEEN RELIGION AND RATIONALITY: ESSAYS IN RUSSIAN LITERATURE AND CULTURE 4 CONTENTS 6 Introduction 10 PART I. CLASSICS 16 ONE Poor Folk and House of the Dead 18 TWO The Idiot 38 THREE Demons 55 FOUR War and Peace 73 PART II. THE RUSSIAN TRADITION 94 FIVE Natasha’s Dance: A Cultural History of Russia 96 SIX A Life of Pushkin 116 SEVEN Oblomov and Goncharov 127 EIGHT Lydia Ginzburg, On Psychological Prose 138 NINE Richard Pipes, Russian Conservatism and Its Critics 152 PART III. THE DOSTOEVSKIAN ORBIT 166 TEN Dostoevsky and Anti-Semitism 168 ELEVEN In Search of Dostoevsky 182 TWELVE Arkady Kovner 194 THIRTEEN The Master of Petersburg 205 FOURTEEN Dostoevsky and Evil 213 PART IV. TWENTIETH-CENTURY ISSUES 226 FIFTEEN Anton Chekhov 228 SIXTEEN The Triumph of Abram Tertz 239 SEVENTEEN 258 EIGHTEEN Vladimir Nabokov: Lectures on Literature 270 INDEX 296 9780691142562 Poor Folk And House Of The Dead -- The Idiot -- Demons -- War And Peace -- The Russian Tradition -- Natasha's Dance: A Cultural History Of Russia -- A Life Of Pushkin -- Oblomov And Goncharov -- Lydia Ginzburg, On Psychological Prose -- Richard Pipes, Russian Conservatism And Its Critics -- The Dostoevskian Orbit -- Dostoevsky And Anti-semitism -- In Search Of Dostoevsky -- Arkady Kovner -- J.m. Coetzee, The Master Of Petersburg -- Dostoevsky And Evil -- Twentieth-century Issues -- Anton Chekhov -- The Triumph Of Abram Tertz -- D.s. Mirsky -- Vladimir Nabokov: Lectures On Literature. Joseph Frank. Includes Index. Poor folk and house of the dead The idiot Demons War and peace The Russian tradition Natasha's dance: a cultural history of Russia A life of pushkin Oblomov and Goncharov Lydia Ginzburg, on psychological prose Richard Pipes, Russian conservatism and its critics The Dostoevskian orbit Dostoevsky and anti-semitism In search of Dostoevsky Arkady Kovner J.M. Coetzee, the master of Petersburg Dostoevsky and evil Twentieth-century issues Anton Chekhov The triumph of Abram Tertz D.S. Mirsky Vladimir Nabokov on English novelists.