Russian Literature: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)

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.-publisher description This book is intended to capture the interest of anyone who has been attracted to Russian culture through the greats of Russian literature, either through the texts themselves, or encountering them in the cinema, or opera. Rather than a conventional chronology of Russian literature, the book will explore the place and importance of literature of all sorts in Russian culture. 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 will uses the figure of Pushkin,'the Russian Shakespeare'as a recurring example as his work influenced every Russian writer who came after hime, whether poets or novelists. It will look at such questions as why Russian writers are venerated, how they've been interpreted inside Russia and beyond, and the influences of such things as the folk tale tradition, orthodox religion, and the West ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable. 0192801449......Page 1 Contents......Page 10 List of illustrations......Page 12 List of Maps......Page 14 1 Testament......Page 20 2 ‘I have raised myself a monument’: writer memorials and cults......Page 35 3 ‘Tidings of me will go out over all great Rus’: Pushkin and the Russian literary canon......Page 51 4 ‘I shall be famous as long as another poet lives’: writers’ responses to Pushkin......Page 80 5 ‘Awakening noble feelings with my lyre’: writers as ‘masters of minds’......Page 96 6 ‘And don’t dispute with fools’: men, women, and society......Page 117 7 ‘Every tribe and every tongue will name me’: Russian literature and ‘primitive culture'......Page 136 8 ‘O muse, be obedient to the command of God’: the spiritual and material worlds......Page 157 Further reading......Page 172 B......Page 176 E......Page 177 J......Page 178 L......Page 179 P......Page 180 R......Page 181 T......Page 182 Z......Page 183 This Text Explores The Place And Importance Of Literature Of All Sorts In Russian Culture And Aims To Answer The Questions: How And When Did A Russian National Literature Come Into Being? And What Shaped Its Creation? Catriona Kelly. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 153-156) And Index. Explores the place and importance of literature in Russian culture. How and when did a Russian national literature come into being? What shaped its creation? How have the Russians regarded their literary language? This book uses the figure of Pushkin, 'the Russian Shakespeare', as an example.