Where to Start with Russian Literature

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Hello Readers of Russian Literature! :) Just wanted to let you know that the Hardcore Literature Book Club is starting soon. After Tolstoy's Anna Karenina, we're reading Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment, short stories by Chekhov and Turgenev, and many more. If you sign up here, I'll notify you when it goes live this weekend: cutt.ly/nkTRPMY

[@Will.a12]

The possessed by dostoyevskys is a must read

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

@@Will.a12 100%!

[@jelenajs5017]

I recognized surname Turgenev only after reading this comment :) 'g' in 'Turgenev' is pronounced as 'g' in 'Garnett'.

[@TK-kf8zc]

@@Will.a12 Thank you for reminding me, it is the one of the big four I never got to.

[@Will.a12]

@@TK-kf8zc It is a must read probably my dostoevsky book

[@jimkazetsky5897]

Russian literature actually got me into learning Russian which subsequently got me into meeting my wife. So in a funny way I guess I owe everything to this unparalleled genre.

[@LearningWithEkaterina]

Russian classics is the depressive literature with no happy endings, but so well-written. Better to read in the original but it is for only when you know the language perfectly. Thank you for the video.

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Absolutely agree! :)

[@jackking2225]

Bulgakov’s “Master and Margarita” is such a deeply trenchant satire of 1930’s Soviet Stalinism yet it’s magical realism makes it entertaining. It’s kind of like Kubrick’s movie “Dr. Strangelove” works as a black comedy - the only way to treat the absurdity of nuclear warfare. I never knew just how precarious the lives of many Soviet era composers like Prokofiev and Shostakovich were. Shostakovich used to sleep under a wooden staircase so he’d be ready if the police came during the night. Bulgakov has a character named Stravinsky who runs a local psychiatric clinic in the novel. Bulgakov himself would have been shot if Stalin hadn’t liked one of his plays so much. Even though Stalin was having people shot during the purges and people in Ukraine were starving so the Soviets could export food Stalin had this strange guilty pleasure of watching a play about Ukrainians nostalgic for pre-revolutionary Ukraine when middle class people lived a very Chekovian life - the very people the communists were judged to be “superfluous.” Oddly enough, Stalin like Bulgakov’s play so much he attended more than a dozen times- often incognito. Even stranger is how the party official who attended with Stalin was shot a few days later. Apparently the official felt comfortable enough to applaud the play when Stalin applauded - but he may have overdone it so that he got shot. Strange to think what must go through the mind of someone like Stalin as he sits in a theater - how often he thinks of the ones who are going to be shot.

[@LearningWithEkaterina]

@@jackking2225 I wonder more about the common people. For me the brain of a tyrant - like Stalin, Hitler, Putin - is not a mystery, they are crazy people, maybe with the different diagnosis, but crazy. But how happened that the other people - sane and healthy - allowed them to rule and to kill. That is a mystery for me. Maybe it is a mass insanity transferred through the media, I don't know. The more I think about it the more worried I become - is that possible that people around me one day would also obey the orders of the insane guy who killed many going up on the power ladder?

[@jackking2225]

@@LearningWithEkaterina Stalin was very self effacing and came across as a party loyalist who seemed to be willing to sacrifice himself for the cause. He was always keenly interested in everything about all the higher ups - they never saw him as a threat until it was too late. He didn't even speak Russian that well - kind of mumbled - people didn't realize he was shrewdly studying everyone for all the subtle signs - understood everyone's motivations and knew how to manipulate and play the long game until he was ready to make his moves or scheming to get other people to do his dirty work getting certain people out of the way. So many idealistic communists who really believed in their cause back in the early 1920's never imagined just how god forsaken and evil their socialist paradise would actually become. Even the best composers, writers and directors ended living in so much fear it ruined their health.

[@MargaritaMagdalena]

Doesn't great literature usually have no happy endings?

[@jimkazetsky5897]

Quick name explanation:In Russian they don’t have a middle name like we do in most of the west they have a patronymic name. Generally it’s you fathers name with the suffix “ovich”. One of the most common being if you dads name is Ivan your middle name will be “Ivanovich”. For woman it’s the same but they generally use the suffix “ovna”, so to continue the example “Ivanovna” for a woman. It’s important to know that in Russia they almost never call someone by their first and last name as you have probably noticed if you’ve read some Russian literature. The prefer to do first patronymic. So if you’re name is Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov (one of my all time favorites) people will refer to him as Rodion Romanovich in most setting. This can be formal to semi informal. If you refer to someone as just this first name this is even more informal. Another thing to not is that every name is Russian has a short name. This can be found with English names like Christopher and Chris but it’s different because the name doesn’t have to be actually shortened. A few examples Mikhail/Misha, Alexei/Alyosha, Ivan/Vanya, Alexsandr/Sasha, Victoria/Vika, Sofia/Sonya. That’s important because you will see characters referred to by this first name but also their short name. Also this helps add to stories by showing levels of formality by the name choices used which is not inconsequential. I hope that helps clear up the naming for anyone who may have been confused.

[@nostradamus1162]

istg this is about half the reasons why i shat on anna karenina so much, i was just too lazy to think or look it up - still want to tell 16 year old me off for it 😂 its a really beautiful way to convey closeness, intimate relationships or even sudden coldness, awkwardness etc., now i really like it and wish europeans at least were more creative with middle names and nicknames

[@avq5]

I love the diminutives, Tatiana becomes Tanya which becomes Tanyusha and finally Tanyachushka.

[@serban8298]

Dostoievksi's novel Demons is one of my favourite books of all time!Extremely underrated and touching!

[@marcevan1141]

It's an absolutely mesmerizing novel. It's one of my favorites too.

[@PugovishnyPirat]

I agree with you! This novel is the most favourite for me from all Dostoyevsky's books. I like the part when Hromonogca is recognising Stovrogin again. She has given the own life from this insight. "Ты не мой князь! Ты не Иван-царевич! (and quote from Pushkin) Гришка Отрепьев. Анафема!"

[@mikedl1105]

"The boring parts are there for a reason". So true

[@Benkerosadon7890]

Dear Benjamin, I just found out about you a week ago. I am very excited to be one of your students, followers and fans. You earned an education to Oxford one of the most prestigious schools in world. What I really admire about you is how you pass on and share the love of reading, literature and knowledge to average people like me. People like you make this world a better place to live and puts the faith back into humanity. Your parents did a great job raising you. My compliments to Mr. and Mrs. McEvoy. Bless you for what you do for the world. 🙏

[@1siddynickhead]

Would love to see you do a series of videos for each Russian author and go through where to begin with each one etc.

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Thank you :) That's exactly what I'm doing. We're kicking off a Book Club with Anna Karenina next week, then we're moving onto Dostoyevsky, Chekhov, and Turgenev (among others). Sign-up and I'll let you know when it all goes live! cutt.ly/ij2r90Z

[@1siddynickhead]

@@BenjaminMcEvoy brilliant! Will definitely check it out! Thanks for making such great videos 😊

[@linkisan8637]

Yesss 🙏

[@jasnamaja2754]

"The Brothers Karamazov" Dostoevsky, powerful thriller!

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

100% - masterpiece!

[@ahalyajetta589]

I started reading Russian books from my childhood. We used to get children’s books with beautifully coloured pictures Published by Foreign Languages Publishing House, Moscow. Then came Chekhov,Gorky, Tolstoy, Solzhenitsyn, Dostoevsky,Pushkin etc.,I still have some of those beautifully printed hard bound books of 1950s. Love to read, hold and smell them musty pages again and again. And the silky book mark ribbons!! Wow I just miss those leisurely and quiet time when we used to sit on the window sill and read books. It’s sad that though technology developed so much the art and printing quality of those days is gone.

[@kategoman2969]

I read Anna Karenina and Crime and Punishment last year - loved them both for different reasons. Loved the psychological impact on the characters in both books. Will definitely reread both novels. I also read War and Peace last year and finished it this summer. I enjoyed it on the whole but there were too many battles, philosophy and chapters on Napoleon. I did enjoy learning about the characters. Really enjoyed reading Russian literature for the 1st time. Thanks for the video and giving me an opportunity to talking about Russian literature. I found crime and punishment and Anna Karenina easy to read. I read them during the 3rd lockdown. X

[@yama2846]

Thank you for this video! Crime and Punishment is one of my favorite books of all time. I must say that the P&V and the Oliver Ready translations are my favorites! I was just about to start reading Chekov, and what a wonderful coincidence to have discovered your channel. More videos on Russian and Japanese literature お願いします

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Thank you! I shall have to check out the Oliver Ready translation :) I can certainly do more videos on Russian and Japanese literature. I plan to do more about Turgenev soon and perhaps some Japanese poetry! ありがとうございます！

[@user-wb2tm3hv8w]

It would be an unexpected recommendation, but Strugatsky brothers "It's hard to be a God" is forever in my heart. It summarises perfectly the whole country's experience of the 20th century - and it is a science fiction book. It would be a pity if there're no translation to English.

[@tommiller3017]

I loved Turgenev. Shorter books, fabulous characters. Also Tolstoy's shorter works like The Cossacks, The Death of Ivan Ilyich. Maybe read more of Dostoyevski's books. They tend to build on each other, and also his shorter works.

[@ninac.5921]

I just started Anna Karenina and I can’t put it down! The story just sucked me in.. so I don’t think that I can read it over several months. Maybe when I reread it. Honestly I was afraid of russian lit because you hear so much scary stuff. So I started with Dostojewskij’s Gentle Creature and I fell in love. So I thought I am now gonna dive into a thicker one.. I am literally obsessed. I am reading it in German tho, and after watching your video I am a bit nervous that I didn’t a better research on the different german translations

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

That's amazing to hear, Nina! I'm glad you're enjoying Anna. It's certainly one of my favourite novels and one of the most enjoyable ways I spent my time in 2020. No need to worry too much about the translation as it seems you're loving the one you have - the story will always have the power to sweep us up! :)

[@tonelwe9991]

I am very glad Bulgakov was one of the authors in your video - and even though Master and Margarita is the real masterpiece, I really like that you mentioned Heart of a dog. ... and I must confess I miss Gogol, because he is hilarious and also expresses much of the Russian soul as I see it.

[@Mashulyamovies]

Господи, как я счастлива, что я русская, я могу читать эти шедевры в оригинале, постигая всю глубину русской души...

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Надеюсь, что и в будущем я смогу читать эти замечательные книги на русском языке))

[@johnwalters5131]

@@BenjaminMcEvoy how lucky we Brits are to read Orwell's '1984' in the original and such a pity most Russians may have never even heard of it , or even his 'Animal Farm' , poor souls .

[@polstration3828]

@@johnwalters5131 these books are super mainstream and most people have read them in childhood

[@sergeystepin235]

@@johnwalters5131 Oh, If it were so simple! Believe me or not, but most of Russians, who have read anything at all, either have heard or even read '1984' and even 'Animal Farm', not to mention English classics. Unfortunately, literature is neither the problem not the solution here.

[@eleanorlo9386]

@@johnwalters5131 we have these books in every shop, actually they are quite popular. Moreover, Orwell's novel is based on Russian novel "We" by Zamyatin. By the way, I can't see how British literature helped British in India, China, Africa and Middle East.

[@winnietp596]

Definitely keep up the good work! Your thoughts are so organised and to the point that it is evident you've read and rather "studied" Russian literature. I find it interesting how when you were talking about Borges, you turned around and said "he" is right here instead of "it" and picked up his book, it made me think that truly writers live through their work. Amazing video!

[@marcevan1141]

I absolutely have to get to Turgenev's short stories. I really love "Fathers and Sons" and would definitely recommend it as an entry into Russian literature.

[@jenniferadam2258]

Anna Karenina is one of my all-time favorite books... it's one of those gorgeous things you can read over and over again and see it in entirely different lights each time. And I adore Master and Margherita. Such an unexpected gem for me. I would add Pushkin - to me, his life and personal history are as interesting as his work. (Also, I love Russia too... for the ballet and the classical music as well as the literature! I am here for any Russian lit videos. This coming spring I am diving into a project that requires some intense Russian research, so I'll be immersed. :) I have been studying the language for the last 3 months and enjoying myself thoroughly. )

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Ah, Pushkin - yes, of course! I should have mentioned Solzhenitsyn too - I've got a podcast on his Gulag Archipelago coming out soon. Sounds like a fun project! I've got Russian on my long-term "to-learn" bucket list so will be curious to hear how you find the learning of it :)

[@rimasmeleshyus9486]

Great video ,many thanks I am from Estonia 🇪🇪 Tallinn, but I really like it of the Russian culture I lived in Russia 🇷🇺 and traveled by trains .I love reading classical Russian literature of the books 📚. Greetings from the garden island 🏝 of Kauai, Hawaii ! I am on the Facebook page one of the most beautiful page in all America .Saint-Pitersburg the most beautiful and romantic city in the world 🌎... no another city in the world .I visited, when I lived Estonia 🇪🇪 Tallinn, not so far from Tallinn to Saint-Pitersburg by train e few hours

[@ladysyin]

I actually love this video! I have only read English Classics, and I am so excited to get into Russian Classics. I'm definitely picking up Anna Karenina! And, also the short stories. This video will def be my reading guide for the rest of the year. Thank you! :)

[@kogdanetprozviwa]

Loove Dostoevsky, always thought that it’d be a hard read (and i am from Russia), but actually no! Interesting and engaging. Also recommend “Idiot” by Dostoevsky. We used to read a lot of Turgenev’s in our literature classes, his works seem to be a bit more boring than the other classical Russian books, but you can learn a lot about the life in Russia (of that time) from his books which is also very precious. Bulgakov is amazing but I guess that foreign readers will have to dive a bit more into the historical background of the time (and place) when he wrote his books. Even we had to be explained by our teachers certain things to understand why certain issues were raised in his works. Also really recommend Maxim Gorky.

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Thanks for the great recommendations and native insights, Ian! I thought Turgenev was boring on the surface, but realised that part of his magic is the stillness in the prose. I would love to know how you feel about Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. I've tried to do a podcast on his Gulag Archipelago multiple times now, but the topic matter is so heavy and emotional I haven't made it through.

[@kogdanetprozviwa]

@@BenjaminMcEvoy I’d love to give my insights on Solzhenitsyn but, unfortunately, I’ve read only one of his books - a lesser-known «Matryona's Place» (enjoyed it). I’ve always been interested in his works because I’ve heard so much about them and we do not usually cover a lot of it at school due to the ‘heavy stuff’. I did hear that he was a controversial figure but always thought that those negative comments came solely from soviet proponents. So, when I was a first year law school student, I bought myself a copy of «In the first circle» and was very eager to read it but got unintentionally discouraged to do so by one of our highly esteemed law professors. He told us that some of the numbers, facts, data, that Solzhenitsyn presented in his books (mainly «The Gulag Archipelago») were fake/intentionally exaggerated, that there was no evidence, records to prove what he had written was true. And this professor was very much against the soviet ideology, government’s policy, had no reason to defend what had been going on and was actually a very intelligent and thorough researcher. So I thought that it was an unbiased opinion and kind of lost my excitement and decided that I’d wait until I was OK with reading something that I wasn’t completely sure was valid. I am not saying that our professor was true about this but there’s a seed of doubt in my head and it makes me quite uneasy. And generally there’s a mixed opinion on Solzhenitsyn in our country.

[@jackking2225]

@@BenjaminMcEvoy Just reading what Dostoevsky lived through in Siberia had the same effect on me. The only touches of humanity he was permitted was being allowed to read the Bible and the occasional visits from groups of women - kind of sisters of mercy who would bring them more nourishing food.

[@andrewanderson6121]

It took me a while to appreciate Turgenev, but now he's one of my favorite writers. Don't forget Pushkin: and be sure to check out Gogol-- starting with the nose, which shostakovich used for an excellent opera!), leskov, bunin, and kuprin. Also, in the 20th century short stories by Yury Oleisha.

[@krosero]

I loved Pevear/Volokhonsky's Anna K. Really loved Briggs translation of War and Peace. Must read some of the others, and thanks for the tips!

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Amazing!! You're so welcome :)

[@ByakuyaKuchiki006]

Recently read THE DEATH OF IVAN ILYICH by Tolstoy and The seagull by chekov

[@OmarMohammad-f7y]

If you are reader who want be writer start with ( Pushkin - lermontov - gogol) and after that ( Turgenev - tolstoy - dostvesky) and finaly the end of 1800s with (chekhov)

[@ambermoon719]

Dostoyevsky’s Brothers Karamasov was the first book to capture and psychologically spellbind me. It compelled me into the world of literature. And next came Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights, a holy mystical experience. I’m a beginner and have many wonders to uncover, but with those two being the first to keep my psychological intrigue, I was wondering if you may have any intuitive next moves for me? Thank you and your channel is introducing me to so much. Muchas Gracias 🙏🏻

[@polxglot]

Hello! I am Fanclub from Thailand. I am majoring in Russian. I find this channel useful

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Hello!! ผมรักเมืองไทย :) I'm happy you're finding this channel useful! Thanks for watching!

[@polxglot]

@@BenjaminMcEvoy Oh wow! Your Thai is very good 🇹🇭 I am called Pol. ผมชื่อพลครับ

[@emmaphilo4049]

I literally fell in love with Levin when reading Anna Karenina. I need to go back re reading it at some point

[@chrissy1510]

The very first piece of Russian literature I ever encountered was Solzhenitsyn’s One day in the life of Ivan Denisovich. It left me cold, tired, and very very hungry! I read it when I was studying to be an English teacher (literally last century 😁). I’ve forgotten most of the storyline, but have never forgotten how that little book made me feel.

[@umarshidukov5402]

Dear Benjamin, it has been three days that I cannot stop watching your videos. What a great introduction into Russian Literature Reading - Bravo! (I am a native Russian speaker). By the way, have you read anything from the Modern Russian Literature? You might have heard about one of my favorite modern Russian writers whose name is Dmitry Glukhovsky and his piece "Metro 2033" which I highly recommend. I am currently working hard to get my BA in English and Literature, hopefully as a transfer at the University of Massachusetts. What interests me most is the World Literature, i.e., Comparative Literature of the 20th and 21st centuries. It would be a dream come true to work with literature from Turkiye (I have been learning the Turkish language for over a year now). What I have noticed is that besides Pamuk and, maybe, few other authors, there is no material on Modern Turkish Literature. (The Ottoman period is richly presented on both sides of the "pond"). I believe that it would be a delight to study a literature from such a controversial and utterly rich place like Turkiye, while trying to compare it to the works of Clarice Lispector from Brazil....... Benjamin, would you be so kind as to, maybe, share your experience with Turkish Literature? Maybe a video? Thank you for all the work you do! Umar.

[@allanapaoli1503]

First of all, I just found your channel and I'm in love, such a great content. I'm aldo reading Anna Karienina (but in portuguese, I'm brazilian) and that advice of not just check complete and read it slowly, YES! I decided to buy some other books and reading together, because everything seems so important. Thank you! Great work, I'm definitely going to follow the reading in the other chanel.

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Thank you, Allana! I really appreciate that :) So happy to hear you're reading Anna Karenina slowly and enjoying it!!

[@תומראלכסנדר]

As mandatory literature in israel, I have learned and analized chekovs "Mysery". This was almost my favorite work I have learned from like 30. The story is incredibly harsh. It's depressing and though to get through mentally, but the motifs and the symbols are BEAUTIFULLY written. Not one word is to waste. And the snowy winter scene is so gorgeous and sad at the same time, I have never read anything like this. Would highly recommend looking at an analysis of this work because it's quite hard to understand at first, but so, so good once you truly come to appreciate it.

[@mikeprendergast1826]

Great post. Just started to read Russian Literature and this post was a great starting point. You mentioned about the possibility of doing other Russian Literature posts, that would be great for someone like me who'd like to know more. So, I will keep an eye for more Russian Literature posts from you. Thanks for your reviews and keep up the good work. I've also started to listen to your podcast

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Thanks, Mike! Glad you enjoyed it :) I've kicked off a book club/series of video lectures and we've started with Tolstoy, Chekhov, Dostoyevsky, and Turgenev. Check it out if you're interested, as it gets updated a lot more frequently than my channel and podcast: www.patreon.com/hardcoreliterature

[@bloodybonescomic]

I read "The Brothers Karamazov" last month. I had been "nibbling" at it for a long time. At about the 1/4 mark I found myself completely engrossed and after that couldn't put it down. Last year I read "War and Peace" and loved it. Russian lit is entirely captivating.

[@katyamcphail3668]

Ben, I would recommend Ivan Bunin “Dark avenues” and Boris Pasternak “Dr. Zhivago” both authors were Nobel prize nominees and absolutely worth the read . I can’t recommend translations as I read these novels in the original, but I’am sure there bound to be good ones out there. 😊

[@OompaLoompa2]

They weren't Nobel Prize nominees, they were Nobel Prize laureates, meaning they won the Nobel Prize for Literature, and were not just nominated for it.

[@khadimndiaye7730]

Isaak Babel is another phenomenal Russian writer, his short stories are beautiful. War & Peace is great, and I learned a lot through it. Personally, I prefer it over Anna Karenina. Brothers Karamasow is the most touching book, I have ever read in my life and it’s my favourite book (Tolstoy is my favourite Russian writer). Haven’t yet read Crime and Punishment though

[@MarkErrington]

My personal favourite of Dostoevsky is Demons/Devils. I lived that book for 3 months and it had me totally immersed in the characters and plot/subplots. That ending though. Only Dostoevsky so far has affected me in this way. Then again, I haven't tackled Tolstoy yet !

[@raiden6156]

9:10 I actually would be interested in an introduction to Russian Literature.

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

That's what we're doing with the Hardcore Literature Book Club at the moment. We're currently reading Tolstoy's Anna Karenina, then we'll be reading Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment alongside short stories by Chekhov and Turgenev :) Check it out if you're interested: www.patreon.com/hardcoreliterature

[@jackking2225]

In case you don't know about The Gutenberg Project here's a link to it. You can download copies in pdf or ePub format of all kinds of Russian short stories, novels and essays about Russian literature. www.gutenberg.org I really prefer to have actual books - someday I'll get a Kindle - but these will help get you started. It's kind of incredible that some of the best books ever written are available this way. I'm relearning Russian so I try to use dual language books which helps you avoid using a dictionary. I want to read "Master and Margarita" in Russian - in fact I found out about Bulgakov in a Russian language class when the teacher ( from Russia ) had us read a chapter from the book. Dostoevsky is hard - both in English and Russian. It helps to understand the historical context. It's incredible to read the actual letter that was read at a gathering of young idealistic Russians - a spy reported on them to the Tsar's agents - Dostoevsky and a couple others were lined up to be shot - then given a reprieve at the last minute - this was the plan all along. The actual letter that was read was pretty mild. Those were pretty reactionary times in Europe and Russian. One of the other guys who thought he was going to die actually went insane. Dostoevsky got a couple years of hard labor instead. The effect that must have had on someone who had a lot of literary premise being thrown in together with common criminals and sadistic guards affected him for the rest of his life.

[@cakt15us81]

Really interesting, I loved Dostoyevsky but must have read other Russian literature with the same translator (I borrowed slightly older books from the library) because the voice definitely blurred a little across very different authors. 🤔 I started reading that same edition of Anna Karenina six months ago and I agree, you cannot speed through it. It feels embarrassing to say that sometimes the long Russian names can be a stumbling block, but I end up coming up with something creative and totally inaccurate in my head. 😂

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Not embarrassing at all! I remember when the Harry Potter books first came out - my pronunciation of Hermione was, well... Incorrect. But I still got to know the character :) It sounds like you really enjoyed Anna Karenina! Tremendous novel :)

[@Brutus763]

I really love your channel. I translated one of Dostoyevsky's novel into my language. It would be really nice if you would put up a more detailed playlist of your videos and put up a contents for the older videos.

[@ДарьяСвиридова-ш7ы]

It is quite strange why nobody talks about Pushkin abroad. Perhaps foreigners just can't read him since poetry cannot be translated but what about his fiction such as "Dubrovskiy", "Belkin's stories" etc. He's actually the main Rissian writer so every Russian knows that. So, if you ever get the opportunity to read Alexanrd Pushkin's books, I strongly recommend it🤗

[@Alkemisti]

Many people seem to have a wrong kind of view of what speed reading is. It is not about ticking boxes. For people with concentration issues (ADD & stuff) it is oftentimes the only way to get anything read. My thoughts begin to wander easier than anyone would believe. For years, I could not get past the text which I read again and again without remembering what was actually said, and this worsened during the years. I spent a year by reading _The Historian_ by Elizabeth Kostova, and I stopped reading _The Prague Cemetery_ by Umberto Eco after getting through only about hundred pages in several months. After this, I spent years without reading barely anything, and that made me miserable and damaged my studies. Finding speed reading helped me to ignore the Wall of Words and delve into the story. I wish I had found it sooner. Of course, I can always slow down if I want to spend more time with some specific passage (for example, if the prose is beautiful), but if I want to actually read a book, I almost always have to speed read it.

[@khadimndiaye7730]

I use speed reading when the sentences are really long, like with Proust, but than I usually read them many times because they are also beautiful

[@TK-kf8zc]

Re Dostoevsky, Crime and Punishment is what they give you in school, The Brothers Karamazov is considered the great Russian novel, but my heart belongs to The Idiot.

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Beautiful. A solid choice.

[@jessebrennan7130]

My start with Russian literature was actually watching Jordan Peterson praising some of the Russian novels calling them some of the best novels ever... So I started reading Dostoevsky. From there I went down a rabbit hole. How do you get into Russian literature? Read it and you'll be sucked in

[@BigPhilly15]

I absolutely love Checkhov. My Russian friends say I should read Gogol next. Any thoughts?

[@ТатьянаГубина-и1и]

"The daed souls" is a very deep, but at the same time funny book! I like it very much. If you like Stephen King I would recommend to read " Evenings at a hamlet near Dikanka". It is much more talanted book.

[@thorngarden5252]

Just started reading Crime and Punishment. There's a character (whom I'm sure you'll guess) who I call Marmalade.

[@volraitraider6443]

Да crime and punishment-lol you sounded like a native speaker. I live in Russia and I like learning other languages in the way books . Thank you for u content and I linked your podcast “ hardcore literature “

[@cindygirlification]

I love people who find things to love 👍!

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Me too :)

[@davet2625]

Years ago, before I'd thought about reading classic novels, I was reading The Jesus I Never Knew by Philip Yancey, and he includes a lot of quotes to illuminate various points he's making. Two people quoted quite a lot were a certain Feodor Dostoevsky and a Leo Tolstoy. There seemed such profundity and beauty in them that I was led to start reading their novels. I'm so pleased to have done so - they're magnificent authors. Much more readable than I would have expected. Psychologically, sociologically, and philosophically; so wise. Writing with such insight and compassion. And great stories too. I've gone on to read some Gogol, Pushkin, Turgenev, Chekhov, and Lermontov too, but I mainly recommend the great novels of Dostoevsky and Tolstoy.

[@tanny3403]

Just read dead souls recently, it was amazing! Will read Chekhov for sure.

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Nice one :)

[@Fern635]

The next cat I get will be named Princess Catherine Alexándrovna Shcherbátskaya. But for short, I'll call her Kitty 😺.

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Ha :) That's cute!

[@Alltimemaineblg]

im making it a goal to take on War & Peace this year as well as Dostoevsky’s works! wish me luck

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Wonderful goal! I'm reading Proust this year :) Enjoy and make sure you take your time! Good luck - you'll have a blast!

[@angelhuff1026]

There is a book called Weak Love and Strong Love (mostly fiction) that has several Russian characters. It is by an American instead of a Russian, therefore I do not know if it counts as Russian literature or not. That part after the coma is a joke.

[@ascensionvaldes1412]

love Russian too❤️❤️

[@Mo95793]

The audio track is better than 99% of all audiobooks I've listened to, how do you record like this damn

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Thank you, my friend!

[@thegirlwiththepurpleshelve4241]

Thank you! I've been interested in Russian Lit for a while, but of course all my courses available at uni are centered mainly on English Lit and have select American Lit or African Lit courses. I have only really read Chekhov briefly - The Cherry Orchard - and have no other experience with Russian Lit, but still I can't explain it, but I KNOW that's what I want. If that makes any sense? Currently looking for grad schools that have focused programs in Russian and Slavic lit and it is SO hard. So for now, I'm going to pursue it recreationally. Anyways, that was a lot to just say thanks! Also, I would be VERY interested in a lecture series! Totally here for it!!

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

That's so amazing to hear! And such a shame that there aren't many focused programs in Russian Lit. I really consider my reading of the Russians to be a cornerstone of my education. None of them were even touched upon in Oxford. Of course, we looked at Nabokov, but I wouldn't place him as a "Russian" writer, and nor would the man himself. But anyways - so glad you enjoyed the video! I'll do some more Russian deep dives on the Hardcore Literature Podcast :)

[@DeadnWoon]

There are at least two foreign writers that are massively translated only into Russian: these are American sci-fictionist Robert Sheckley and "European Edgar Poe" Jean Ray. To read their works in all their entirety you should either find them in their original English and French/Flemish languages or - more realistic, especially if you want their works for free! - you should learn Russian. Strange enough, both died at the age of 77 and both were of the zodiac sign of Cancer.

[@granteckhardt4878]

Ahh I enjoyed this so much. So much to read!

[@juliasoldo2129]

Hey great video! I’m a beginner to the classics and I’ve found that choosing the right translation is so tricky but also makes such a huge difference in my enjoyment and understanding of the books. This vid was immensely helpful for that so thank you! Maybe I’ll join for the C&P hardcore lit book club… or is that geared more towards advanced Russian lit reader? Thanks 😊

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Thank you :) You're so right, Julia. It makes all the difference, and I find it part of the fun. If I love a book, I make it my mission to collect all of the available translations. Regarding the C&P book club, it's geared towards everyone - first time readers of Russian Lit and readers from all backgrounds. All are welcome and the group is full of lovely people :)

[@ТатьянаГубина-и1и]

Have you read " The Humiliated and the Insulted" by Dostoevskiy? If not, read it by all means- very interesting.

[@MisanthropyFerret]

Chekhov once said "if a person don`t drink and don`t smoke - you will think without a touch if a person is some kind of bastard". Also he had a pet mogoose called "bastard"

[@vanja222]

Ok, I am a new subscriber here and I already adore you and your content! I love your insights on Russian litterature. My favorite book is Anna Karenina and now i am reading War and Peace 😅 It’s a massive book but I already love it! P.S I know it’s irrelevant 😊 but you can be the perfect actor for some classy English movie or Downton Abbey 🎩🧳🗞☕️

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Thank you, Vanja!)) I can't wait to read War and Peace. I'm currently reading Tolstoy's novella Hadji Murat and really loving it. Highly recommended. I'm not sure about Downton Abbey, but I would do the Great British Bake Off if they will have me)

[@tnan123]

Just found your channel here as well as hardcore literature. Lots of great recs here. I've heard the same criticism of P&V that you mentioned for Garnett that the voice stays the same across the translations of different authors. In any case I enjoyed the video very much and am gonna binge some of your other vids.

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Thank you very much! I really appreciate that :) If you have any content/videos you'd like to see on either channel, please let me know!

[@zach6922]

great video! Very informative, makes these authors and their works sound exciting. I'll definitely be checking these guys out.

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Amazing! Thank you, Zach :) Let me know how you enjoy them!

[@chickencharlie1992]

I recently fell in love with Russian literature. Not quite as difficult their preceding reputations but they do take a bit more time but they are definitely emotionally fulfilling / intellectually rewarding. Those Russians reach deep down into their own soul to rip out their best works of literature.

[@baii8544]

Your pronunciation of Hermionie is so funny because it’s almost exactly how Vietnamese translation initially calls her. 🤣

[@jeremybreneman4508]

I really got into Russian literature at midlife. I find it best to read during the winter months. For a number of years I read mostly Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Gogol etc. I’m looking forward to re-reading some of my favorites.

[@ozlemalkank.8801]

I loved this one and translator recommendations are highly appreciated. Could you do other recommendation videos for Northern European, Latin American and Victorian, Modern, Realist literature etc. Thank you so much.

[@Arkturbettel]

Well, Hermione is pronounced in Russian almost the same as you used to. Гермиона )

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Seriously? Ha! There we go! :)

[@qmsajidata]

There's a famous writer of children's book, Kornei Chukovsky who "esteemed Garnett for her work on Turgenev and Chekhov but not for her Dostoevsky and Tolstoy." And there's a wonderful piece in New Yorker, "The Translation Wars" by David Remnick dated Oct 30, 2005, in which he quotes a famous critic who said "The reason English- speaking readers can barely tell the difference between Tolstoy and Dostoevsky is that they aren't reading the prose of either one. They're reading Constance Garnett." Well, it's a long piece but I will highly recommend it to anyone who wants to know more about the "War" and it's reporting by famous critics.

[@ImogenValkyrie]

War and Peace (Anthony Brigg’s transl.) was my first russian literature. Now my second book i am currently reading crime and punishment part 5 and I feel so melancholic, but while everyone talks more about the main character, i love Rasumihin (I can’t spell. I’m using Garnet’s)

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

I love Razumikhin too :)

[@TheUltimateGeminiHasSurvived]

I can’t find the video on The Hardcore Literature channel. Could you please share it?

[@rosanna5515]

Thank you very.much, as usual🎉

[@sanamir9886]

Lovely video. Thanks

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Glad you enjoyed it :)

[@olgaotherstories8355]

Such enjoyable video, not only informative but so full of spirit and vibe. Made me wanna start reading all the Chehov and Turgjenjev. I've read these authors but not all the works u mentioned. Dostoyevsky' s"The Idiot" is my favourite. Have you read anything from Kuprin? He has this story "Garnet Bracelet", I wonder how would you "see" it?

[@aiva729]

I'm Russian and I prefer Borges to Chekhov 😅 I also don't think that Chekhov and Tolstoy were nice people, some of their quotes about family life and women are just... I would recommend to start with Pushkin's "The Belkin Tales" and to start generally, with Pushkin, he's like a Shakespeare in russian literature))

[@simplelifedays3692]

And here is the answer to my question

[@dandelobo9284]

Great review, Maybe you will want to also read Ivan Bunin. He is also a prominent figure in the Russian literature.

[@barmaley1982]

Побежал покупать Чехова

[@paulzenev4346]

The English (get it - Benjamin is English) author Ford Madox Ford was very fond of Mrs Garnett's rendition of Turgenev!! I have heard elsewhere that she got his lyricism right. I am no expert myself! For everyone to explore!!

[@Pandas_and_Books]

The Maudes were the ones who knew Tolstoy and had his go ahead. Also it was one guy who had a very strict translators philosophy (word for word as opposed to thought for thought) who said Constance Garnett only had one voice so idk how true that is.

[@amitazsidhu9896]

Really like your content and I would really want to engage in some kind of discussion on literature and specially Russian literature. Let us know whatever comes up🙌

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Thank you, Amitaz :) There's tons of great discussion about Russian Literature over at the book club. We've been talking about Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky, Chekhov, and Turgenev recently! www.patreon.com/hardcoreliterature

[@animula6908]

I love the idea of choosing the translation others used, to mark its influence if nothing else. I studied Russian for two years in school to read The Original Russian Classics. But I never stopped to think that it might be better to understand them as they were understood by others, on general principle. Nor did I foresee being considered practically a foreign spy due to drastic changes in the political landscape. #GeekMystique

[@thingsthatareart.andwhytha5713]

For Tolstoy I always enjoy the Maude translations.

[@riskybusiness7291]

I started with Crime and Punishmont when I was 19... Not an easy read. From what I know of Brother's Kar. that would be a _much_ better albeit longer place to start

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Interesting! :) Yes, I would agree with you at least that Brothers Karamazov is the better novel - his masterpiece!

[@ЕвгенийЛобанов-ф3с]

I find that many english speaking guys pronounce bUlgakov) and it looks like its not easy to pronounce, sounds heavy) in fact he is bulgAkov, sounds a bit lighter) Anyway good job, Benjamin!)

[@user-ox7yj3nn9q]

Talking about translations, I felt a great amount of anxiety when I noticed my Булгаков White Guard's edition was dated 1988. This is back in communist Romania. Trying to figure out the direction of censorship not only in the original, but in the Romanian translation. I'd love a review to the book.

[@uslovsua]

Reading Russian literature as part of the school program growing up was pure torture for a lot of us born in post-soviet country 😂 I definitely enjoy it quite a bit more now as a grownup. Checkov is great, my favorite to read when traveling 🤗 Give Boris Akunin a try; he is a fantastic writer and historian!

[@katyamcphail3668]

Didn’t we just love receiving a summer reading list in the 9th grade as 15-16th year olds. I clearly remember both “War and Peace” as well as “Crime and punishment” were on that list. For most ordinary pupils that was too much and killed their desire to read and understand these classics as it was forced down onto them.

[@frodobaggins4255]

Please do a review/recommendations on Arabic literature ✋🏼

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

It's definitely in the works :)

[@1siddynickhead]

Totally agree about Constance Garnett. I read Brothers Karamazov in her words and it was not good. Loved Ann Dunnigan's translation of War and Peace is superior to P&V imho

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Amazing insight, thank you! I'll have to check out Dunnigan's translation :)

[@1siddynickhead]

@@BenjaminMcEvoy I hope you enjoy it! I've heard from several Russian speakers online and offline that the flow of language is better while the P&V version is described as conveying Tolstoy's style rather dryly. I'm no expert! I'm just dipping my toes into Russian lit :)

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

@@1siddynickhead Amazing!! I'm so excited to read it :)

[@Arkturbettel]

Прекрасный канал, чувак) Спасибо, подписался. Очень интересно узнать твое мнение по поводу современных русских писателей, таких как Владимир Сорокин, Людмила Улицкая или Виктор Пелевин.

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Спасибо, чувак) к сожалению, я не знаю этих писателей. Но я прочитаю некоторые из их книг и дам вам знать свои мысли))

[@Qladstone]

Anna Karenina was great, but the English translation by P&V I used (though highly recommended) always felt somewhat stifled. I feel that it's quite unsatisfying to sense the greatness of the language being lost in translation. I can read in French, perhaps French translations are better? Otherwise there's plenty of great literature in French and I'd prefer to read literature in the original. Reading Huge/Flaubert/Stendhal in French would be a much better experience than reading Chekov/Tolstoy translated.

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

That's really cool that you can read French. Yes, absolutely, why not try it in French? It would be interesting to compare them :) French Literature alone is a great reason to dive into the language - I would add Proust to your wonderful list :)

[@shakespearaamina9117]

Great ☺️ Thanks 💕

[@PointHazard]

Please tell me where you get your Everyman books??

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Bookstores and online, my friend.

[@NY-gr3td]

Does anyone know what specific edition of those books Benjamin owns? I really like how they look, but can't find them anywhere

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

They're from Everyman's Library :) I've taken the dust jackets off so they look different from how they have them in the bookstore!

[@NY-gr3td]

@@BenjaminMcEvoy oh, thank you so much! My stupid brain couldn’t comprehend the fact that the pictures were the dust covers😂. I also wanted to say that I really enjoyed the video in which you read Volodya, thank you!!

[@ЛизаХ-л2г]

Great review! Thank you for your kind words and welcome to Russia!

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Thank you!)))

[@quoileternite]

Bulgakov : "The white guard".

[@Adott2]

What about George Gibian's translation of Anna Karenina which he did for Norton?

[@jp-st8vn]

Hey brother! What do you think about the daniel mueenuddin's translation of a sportsmans notebook? Is it good? Love you ❤❤