Russian Literature: A Very Short Introduction

by Catriona Kelly

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780192801449
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	12/06/2001
Series:	Very Short Introductions , #53
Pages:	192
Sales rank:	320,963
Product dimensions:	7.02(w) x 4.54(h) x 0.44(d)
Lexile:	1550L (what's this?)

About the Author

Catriona Kelly is a Fellow of New College, Oxford, and the author of A History of Russian Women's Writing and co-editor of Russian Cultural Studies, both published by OUP.

Table of Contents

Preface1. Testament2. 'I Have Raised Myself a Monument': Writers Memorials, Writer Cults3. 'Tidings of Me Will Go Out over All Great Rus': Pushkin and the Russian Literary Canon4. 'I Shall be Famous as long as Another Poet Lives'5. 'Awakening Noble Feelings with My Lyre': Russian Writers as 'Masters of Minds'6. 'And don't Dispute with Fools': Male and Female Literary Roles from the Salon to the Soyuz pisatele (Union of Writers)7. 'Every Tribe and Every Tongue Shall Name Me': Russian Literature and 'Prinitive Culture'8. 'O Muse, be Obedient to the Command of God': Writing and the Spiritual and Material WorldsList of Further ReadingPreface1. Testament2. 'I Have Raised Myself a Monument': Writers Memorials, Writer Cults3. 'Tidings of Me Will Go Out over All Great Rus': Pushkin and the Russian Literary Canon4. 'I Shall be Famous as long as Another Poet Lives'5. 'Awakening Noble Feelings with My Lyre': Russian Writers as 'Masters of Minds'6. 'And don't Dispute with Fools': Male and Female Literary Roles from the Salon to the Soyuz pisatele (Union of Writers)7. 'Every Tribe and Every Tongue Shall Name Me': Russian Literature and 'Prinitive Culture'8. 'O Muse, be Obedient to the Command of God': Writing and the Spiritual and Material WorldsList of Further Reading

Editorial Reviews

"It is written in a lively and stimulating manner...and displays a range to which few of Dr. Kelly's peers in the field of Russian scholarship are equal."—Dr. Philip Cavendish

From the Publisher