Russian literature - where to start? | 5 classic must-read books

In this video I will make a summary of 5 must-read books of Russian classical literature. Those are the books that you should read in your lifetime, especially if you are interested in the culture or history of Russia.
In these 19-20 classic books you will learn about Russian culture, people and have lots of food for thought about your life:
00:00 - why these books are worth reading
1:03 - "Anna Karenina" by Leo Tolstoy
3:45 - "Crime and Punishment" by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
6:06 - "War and Peace" by Leo Tolstoy
09:53 - "Dead Souls" by Nikolai Gogol
11:18 - "Master and Margarita" by Mikhail Bulgakov
/FAQ/
- What do I do?
My name is Elina, some friends call me Eli. I am from Russia, but always travel for studying or working abroad.
- What is my channel about?
Here I share my experiences of finding scholarships to study abroad for free, opportunities all over the world; I also talk about my home country Russia and compare cultural aspects of different countries.
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[@sammysliver]

How could you leave off "The Brothers Karamazov" ? Dostoyevsky's Masterwork.......Amazing book !

[@aquariusrajput]

I haven't read it yet, i have it but I'll get to it after reading 3 books. My expectations are hight with borthers Karamazov

[@enoughnonsenseplease3780]

An absolute must!

[@bradenjefferson8342]

i realize it's kind of randomly asking but do anybody know a good place to stream new movies online?

[@01real1]

Because everybody has it's own taste what he or she reads and what leaves out.

[@patrickmorgan1102]

@@bradenjefferson8342 myflixer

[@LouisHansell]

Доброе утро! We read "Crime and Punishment" and "Anna Karenina" in high school, and they are certainly memorable. The short story by Gogol, "The Nose" has always stayed with me, and I have reread it recently. Keep up your good work.

[@JamesMooreSeattle]

We read Crime and Punishment in high school too, in California (in the 80s).

[@maurom9654]

Russian literature is perhaps the most important literature of all. The Karamazov Brothers and The Demons are the greatest masterpieces of all time.

[@ReligionOfSacrifice]

I disagree & I agree. Reading two Russian books right now: "Childhood” by Leo Tolstoy & “Peter the First” by Aleksey Nikolayevich Tolstoy. FAVORITE AUTHORS 1st) Ivan Turgenev (Fathers and Sons) seven more books in the top 200 not shown here 4) "Fathers and Sons" by Ivan Turgenev 10) "Smoke" by Ivan Turgenev 20) "Virgin Soil" by Ivan Turgenev 35) "Torrents of Spring" by Ivan Turgenev 58) "First Love" by Ivan Turgenev 2nd) James A. Michener (Chesapeake) 11) "Chesapeake" by James A. Michener 12) "Poland" by James A. Michener 31) "Caribbean" by James A. Michener 32) "Hawaii" by James A. Michener 3rd) Leo Tolstoy (Resurrection) 2) "Resurrection" by Leo Tolstoy 8) "War and Peace" by Leo Tolstoy 56) "Anna Karenina" by Leo Tolstoy 83) "A Confession" by Leo Tolstoy 4th) Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich) 9) "A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich" by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn 25) "Cancer Ward" by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn 38) "In the First Circle" by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn 71) "The Gulag Archipelago, 1918-1956: an Experiment in Literary Investigation" by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn 5th) Fyodor Dostoevsky (The Idiot) 3) "The Idiot" by Fyodor Dostoevsky 17) "Crime and Punishment" by Fyodor Dostoevsky 107) "Poor Folk" by Fyodor Dostoevsky 134) "The Gambler" by Fyodor Dostoevsky 141) "White Nights" by Fyodor Dostoevsky 6th) C. S. Lewis (The Magician's Nephew) 6) The Chronicles of Narnia - series by C. S. Lewis 36) "Mere Christianity" by C. S. Lewis 164) "Out of the Silent Planet" by C.S. Lewis 175) "Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life" by C.S. Lewis 7th) Charlotte Brontë (Vilette) 7) "Vilette" by Charlotte Brontë 66) "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë 137) "The Professor” by Charlotte Brontë 161) "Shirley" by Charlotte Brontë

[@TJ-iu8lj]

My favorite book is War & Peace

[@rochelleglickman8162]

I grew up on Russian literature, and I am 70 years old. It was the biggest influence on my life as a teenager. It opened a door for me to love Russia and and its culture. My favorites are a little different then yours but I read all the books you have mentioned. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts.

[@dragonsbreath6860]

what are some of your favorites??

[@BigPhilly15]

Anton Chekov! Greatest short story writer of all time. Must read his collections.

[@j.p.rankin1110]

War and Peace is one of my favorite stories. I love Czarist Russia 🇷🇺 and its long history. I wish it would have never ended. Tolstoy’s books made Russian culture fascinating to me.

[@marunikusbakufu]

I have read the English versions of "Crime and Punishment" and "Anna Karenina". Loved both of these books. Trying to get through "War and Peace" and I'm finding this much more difficult.

[@ryan6600]

Too much French in this book that’s why i stopped reading it

[@TJ-iu8lj]

I read the English version of War and Peace! Such a good book. Read it twice!! 😊😊

[@vlakz3308]

Don't forget Eugene Onegin by Alexander Pushkin 😍✨

[@dk2428]

It's what got me into Russian culture and now i just can't stop digging deeper. While The Brothers Karamazov is my favorite book ever, its closely followed by Gogol's Dead Souls and Bulgakov's Master and Margarita. I also really enjoyed Fathers and Sons by Turgenev, Uncle Vanya by Chekhov, and of course The Gulag Archipelago by Solzhenitsyn

[@user-sf3fe4bh2q]

Solzhenitsin is absolute trash and lies.

[@Sargent.Pierce]

Loved your discussion. My favorites are Cancer Ward, Fathers and Children, and anything by Pushkin. On my first visit to Russia in 1992, I spent three days at Yasnya Polyana, the completion of a dream. I also went one late afternoon to Borodino and walked the battlefield, and we came back into Moscow in a rain storm with thunder showers and then we all hunkered around a small kitchen table and ate cutlets, borsch, and compot. Russia is like a dream.

[@editihic9975]

As a guy living in France, I was surprised about the part in french. Thanks for the video

[@georgiancrossroads]

Good list Eli. I have read several of these. I also love Solzhenitsyn. And as for his novels I love Cancer Ward best. It really gives me a sense of life in Russia during the middle of the 20th Century. And a sense of gratitude for being alive. )) Oh you should do one on great Russian movies too.

[@alwa4735]

Crime and Punishment is (at least was when I was in high school) obligatory reading in Poland:) Master and Margarita was additional and sometimes also obligatory. War and Peace series was very popular and many people here watched it. I knew all titles exepct of Dead souls:)

[@flipandfixdr]

Master and Margarita is my favourite book

[@marvinjackson2114]

Don’t forget Chekhov. Cornel West often speaks about how important Dr. Chekhov is to philosophical thought.

[@astermos-6616]

What works of him would you recommend?

[@petrklic7064]

@@astermos-6616 Three sisters, Cherry orchard

[@andyginterblues2961]

Russian Lit was one of my favorite courses in college, so I read many, many Russian novels, by authors mentioned here, also several books by Solzhenitsyn, including "The Gulag Archipelago". I confess that I only got through around 3/4 of "War and Peace", (you need to devote a week or two to fully digest it's content!) I also read most of the "Don" series of historical novels, ("...And Quiet Flows the Don", etc.), although I forget the author's name. They chronicle the lives of several families of peasant farmers in the Don river valley up until and during the revolution. Fascinating. Thank you for this! I hope that you will inspire others to read more about Russia, Russians are very brave and strong people.

[@erldagerl9826]

Nice to know people still read Solzhenitsyn.

[@jrnjacobsen8331]

Hello Elina. Thank you for your fine intro with 5 classic must-read books, which I recognize from our reading group of Russian literature and visits of the places in Russia, where the writers lived. We also visited St. Petersburg's “Dom Knigi”, where we also got an introduction to newer Russian authors, but most of them have not been translated into Danish, which is too small language, but of course into English. However, it was positive to see the great interest of people reading real books in Russia, and not just digitally. I look forward to see others of your videos that look really interesting. Have a nice weekend. Best regards Jørn

[@GothClassics]

I love Master and Margarita! I must have read it about five times now. Absolute classic! I love Behemoth. :D

[@ashleyupshall7641]

Fantastic novel. Unique

[@towada1066]

Maybe Doctor Zhivago? ... even in English, the most BEAUTIFUL novel which I have read.

[@aaronerskine3401]

wonderful video. you did a great explanation. i look forward to reading these books.

[@starshine6472]

I read Anna Karenina for a college class and Crime and Punishment on my own on a college winter break but have not yet found the time and courage to take on War and Peace (thirty years later--I prefer to read carefully, so I'm slow). I really resonated with Anna Karenina in its poignant, complex, convincing depiction of a woman repressed by society. It seems shockingly perceptive and nuanced for being written by a man. I found Crime and Punishment quirky and eerie in the way it takes the reader inside the mind of a madman. And I actually saw The Master and Margarita in a local performance--the name sounded familiar when you mentioned it, but it took a few moments to click with my memory! That was a pretty weird plotline--I remember having a bit of a hard time following it. In other Russian books, I loved Mother by Maxime Gorky and am much surprised that this work is not more talked about. I also read Tolstoy's novella The Death of Ivan Ilyich and Turgenev's Fathers and Sons in junior high or high school and some Chekhov (my brother gave me a book when I was young) here and there over the years. And I was captivated by Nabokov's The Duel--much more so than his more-acclaimed Lolita. I also really need to look into "the father of modern Russian literature," Pushkin, especially because I'm really into poetry.

[@FD-ie4ku]

Really good video! Thank you Elina

[@faryalkhan6918]

Russian literature is my favorite,it always provoke you to look deeper in to the life and to develop a philosophical approach about your surroundings and people. And I guess the brothers Karamazov and the idiot should be added to the list.

[@paula30979]

Thank you for such a wonderful review! I feel you’ve given the best description I’ve heard so far. I look forward to seeing more of your work.

[@hibiscus1071]

Well ! Thank you for sharing Russian culture with us. I didn't know there was a mixing of both Russian and French languages in Tolstoï's original Russian version. I'm French and learnt Russian when I was younger, but unfortunately I can't speak it as well as you speak English. I really love your Channel. Merci beaucoup ! Cпасибо ! 🙏🏻

[@jk-califkid5017]

Great recommendations, Elina. I want to know more about your culture and literature. I am going to the library today to get the Master and Margarita. If they do not have it, I will get it somehow. Dead Souls seems interesting too. Your English is impeccable. You are a joy to listen to on your videos. I am glad I found you. Enjoy your weekend, Elina

[@OMGemgc]

I read all the books you have recommended! I remembered almost memorizing Anna Karenina because we made a play out of Anna Karenina in our Literature class whilst, War & Peace is just so wow, at first it seems so long but then when I'am almost finished with War & Peace, I just don't want it to end, what a book!! Just so magical and intellectually written. Thank you for this video! :)

[@jesusmind1611]

Thank you for this. I can not say enough about my love of the book Master and Margarita, I've read it in English, four times. I am in America, my whole life now Leo Tolstoy just got into my life and I am afraid I can not stop reading his short books and now I have his longer books on order and Yes to Tolstoy! I am glad I waited to learn about him as a man not a college student. I think I will save War and Peace for last, but I am in LOVE with Tolstoy since some short stories and of course I love 19th century Russia because of the Master and Margarita. It is a legend in my memory, maybe the best book I have ever read. I am so happy to find vloggers from Russia speaking about my favorite, (okay top ten) novel There is a musem? And a whole tourist industry around the story? Great news. I have found so many Russian videos on Master and Margarita I wondered if it was a big deal there. Funny too after the whole secrecy of it during Stalin If Tolstoy is even better then I have found a long wonderful road of reading ahead of me. So far I love what I am reading. I never imgained I would fall in love with Tolstoy's work like I am. I did not realize how smart he was Somehow without really ever focusing on Russia my serious study of the history of radio and TV and the 2 world wars and the rise of global technology and global trade I have to learn about Russia. Russia is a deep and old and wonderful culture, thank you for talking about great books, books are better than TV they make you engage your mind and it is something ancient, story telling Oh yeah high school ruined me and Dostoyevsky back in the 1980's. He is kind of dark too, not like the others, they are dark but Dostoyyevsky is darkly dark. Still it's the darkness makes the light shine in any good story

[@angelhuff1026]

I wrote a book named "Weak Love and Strong Love". I am not from Russia, yet the mostly fictional tale has some Russian characters. I do not know much of how a modern Russian might feel if they read my book. I did put effort into making the characters of long ago seem Russian rather than like unrealistic stereotypes.

[@andrewduignan4065]

Greetings from Ireland. Great recommendations. Thanks for making this video. I have started to read Russian literature (English translations) last year. I enjoyed Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment, and The Brothers Karamazov. Currently reading Anna Karenina. I shall check out the other books recommended.

[@Terence.1]

Dear Elina, Your appreciation of words is inspiring. Wow is the only word I can find...

[@wenkaiyang1487]

I am so glad you mentioned Russian literature. I think it is such a great treasure to explore.

[@JoaoCosta-pn9im]

Wonderful! 👏👏 “The Brothers Karamazov” is one I read in my late teenager years (read the Portuguese translation) and have with me since then the dialog with the “Great Inquisitor” where the sentence “if God does not exist, everything is allowed” was uttered… :-))

[@CookedLight]

Interesting vlog presented very happily ☺️ A Walk in Rural Russia is my favourite so far, Ivan Denisovich is brilliant. Looking forward to reading Master and Margarita and Dead Souls 🥂

[@brucehowat203]

I have read all except the last book you mentioned. My Russian History Professor when he lectured on Russian Literature became so emotional I had to read them. I also love the short story skills of a number of top Russian writers.

[@elieynrh]

Great and insightful vid! Thanks for sharing.

[@richardcheatham9490]

I don't think we can say we "get" Russaian Lit at all until we've heard the English translation of 𝘌𝘷𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘪 𝘖𝘯𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘯 written by Aleksandr Pushkin. And I'm thinking particularly of Mary Hobson's much-awarded version that was used by Naxos as text for their recording of the work. To be able to read that English translation of this slender book while listening to Neville Jason (r.i.p.) employ all his elocution skills lays me out with each successive hearing. Then we understand why Pushkin was Ground Zero Point of Origin for all the greats from Gogol to Solzhenitsyn.

[@silviosantos6553]

I like the suggestions Alina. I've heard of some but I haven't read any. I'll do it as soon as I can. ❤️👍 By the way, I love your channel. It's very good and interesting.

[@carolzhou8478]

All these books are Amazing. I have read Dead Souls and Crime and punishment, and am reading Anna Karenina now, in Russian. I started Master i Margarita last year but found it confusing, so put it aside temporarily. I am listening to War and Peace as an audiobook.

[@RickJZ1973]

Nice review of the five books. I have only read War and Peace from your list.

[@mab3900]

Master and Margarita is one of my favorite book ever!

[@leopolddevandersnatch5788]

A beautiful girl with a even bigger beautiful brain. Three cheers, keep on reading and expanding your mind

[@JMac-fj1rg]

"The Life and Extraordinary Adventures of Private Ivan Chonkin" I read this novel during rainy summer days at my friend's cottage. My introduction to 'modern ' Russian literature. I also had a chance to read Red Calvary by Isaac Babel. The first bit of Russian literature I ever read was as a 14 year old. It was 'One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich' by Alexander Solzhenitsyn . As a boy from a western middle class background it certainly made an impression on me. Note that I have read other works by AS including the Gulag Archipelago but the story of his that stands out the most for me is ' Motriana's House'

[@brianyule1289]

I'd love to see a modern Russian literature recommendations video.

[@charlesk1089]

A book that I love is by Saltykov-Shchedrin - The Family Golovlyov. Another is by Shalamov - Kolyma Tales. Both are quite powerful.

[@alex88088]

I'm beyond fascinated by Russian literature and I really wish I could read these books in original. Although I feel like the Romanian translations stay closer to the original than the English ones, as there's not as big of a cultural gap between Russia and Romania, and also the slavic influence on the Romanian language is pretty significant in terms of vocabulary.

[@mariannefreyagutib4113]

Hey, Eli Than you for your explanation. I love the color of your hair so much and your beauty

[@rickl696]

Good comments. I loved Master and Margarita and Cancer Ward. For something a bit different, Heart of a Dog and Omon Ra.

[@hershellacey9405]

Wow. You have covered these great books well.

[@xxxnamkhaxxx]

wonderful video! thank you

[@daviddubinsky5216]

Super duper video. Really good. I am Canadian, and when I first moved to Quebec province, where I have now lived for many years, I had to learn French, the language of Quebec. I learned French largely by reading Dostoevsky novels - in French! I have read Tolstoy and Dostoevsky in both English and French and for some reason always much preferred the French translations. Now, many years later, I have been studying Russian for some time and can finally read in Russian, albeit still very slowly. I am greatly looking forward to reading Russian literary classics in the original Russian. For me it is quite an exciting project! By the way, for me so far, my favorite Russian classic of all was Dostoevsky's 'The Brothers Karamazov'. But I also remember that when I was reading Anna Karenina I thought it must be the best book in the world.

[@4r1777]

Recently got into Russian literature, specifically Dostoyevsky, and a little bit of Tolstoy. It is SO GOOD. I dont know how representative these writers are of general writing tradition, but they tackle the human experience in such a beautiful and honest way. Years ahead of their time, some passages of Brothers Karamazov sound like conversations being had today about modern culture. Made me realize how many thoughts about society and humanity, friendships and community we attribute as being unique to our time, that have infact been with us for much longer.

[@kevinwaite6725]

We love you and your videos Eli. Your videos are my sanctuary. Russia is amazing but I knew that before your vids, although I've learned so much and been amazed with your vids. I love your family and Ufa too haha. If Russians and Americans could bond together our people could change the world for the good. But government stands in all our ways. Thank you for making your videos for us.❤️

[@pierceaero3005]

We read War and Peace in the 10th grade in the Los Angeles public school system. Violence in Los Angeles has reflected many timeless themes covered in Tolstoy's work. In Washington D.C., George Walkers swallowed lots of Margaritas. Vlad thought it was a joke. The world believed they had the brains of a Butterflies. I agreed.

[@Vera-lj1zk]

i'm so jealous of your War and Peace edition omg... the Bondarchuk movie cover i love it

[@matthewkatsouros2963]

I have read three of these five books! Crime and Punishment and Master and Margarita are two of my favorite three novels of all time! Maybe I will give War and Peace a chance someday. I really loved "One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich" too!

[@ramakrishnansrinivasan4806]

Recently I started watching your videos. All are good. Anna Karenina novel read by me in the year 1974, in Tamil. Afterwards I read 12 times completely at various times!. I request your good self to post some more videos about 19 20 C books by Alexander Pushkin, Anto Chekhov, Fyodar Dastoevesky, Tolstoy, please...thanks...

[@kalyanguha5106]

Wish you had included Solzhenetsyn’s The gulag archipelago and Dostoevsky’s Brother Karmazov. Please do one video on great Russian poets.

[@MrBrad898540]

Hello Eli, have you ever read Oblomov, by Ivan Goncharov? It's a satire on Russian high society of the 19th Century. I have also read Crime and Punishment and Anna Karenina. War and Peace is sitting on my shelf. Thank you for all your wonderful videos!

[@madking1021]

Great recommendations.

[@user-oz8uf6cn6u]

For people who can read in Russian, I'd recommend Властелин by Александр Рудазов. It is a fantasy novel and it is a true masterpiece of modern literature.

[@Nemo-pj7vx]

Thanks for sharing

[@setharnold9764]

Of this list I've read Anna Karenina; I remember liking it well enough but couldn't recall any details now except that epic opening sentence. I also read Brothers Karamazov, and again I enjoyed it but can't remember much. I don't think my attention span would support reading such long books today. Спасибо большое :)

[@odysseusthesojourner4401]

Great video Elina! Nice list. I have read some of these in various literature classes. You might add Dr Zhivago (Pasternak) and A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich (Solzhenitsyn) to your next video. There is something special about Russian literature. Life is realistically portrayed and it touches one’s soul.

[@Moksha-Raver]

The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy was also a good read.

[@anjulkumar1994]

I ❤️ your voice, your voice is so adorable and I am big Fan of your KZbin videos 👍, ❤️ you from India 🇮🇳.

[@Jim-et3ef]

Turgenev's "Fathers and Sons" is a great book to start your adventure in Russian Literature. First, it isn't nearly as long as most Tolstoy or Dostoevsky novels. Another factor is that Turgenev was a Westernizer, though a Russian, he favored Western European Culture, which makes him more readable for Americans. His character Bazarov is one of my favorites. I first read Fathers and Sons when I was in my early 20s and I was amazed at how easily I could relate to this character from a 19th century Russian novel.

[@mab3900]

Hey! Im from Quebec and it was a pleasure to hear you speak French. Thats true a lot of older Russians I met could speak French fluently! It was interesting!

[@NKHV251]

I understood🤗

[@simonliddell1897]

Russian literature got me hooked on Russia and I subsequently lived in Russia for seven years. To me the towering achievement is The Brothers Karamazov . Chekov and Pushkin I think its OK to have left from this list (you made it to hard by giving yourself five) assuming you will have another for Poets and Theatre Script writers although Chekov's short stories are great. Bulgakov just didn't do it for me, despite all the recommendations from Russian friends I only got half way ... How about the five best classic Russian movies that was the other thing that peaked my interest in Russia in the mid 80s.

[@yidirbouchemoua7623]

📈📈📈 good informations ❤️❤️❤️

[@goldmaple5290]

I have read a few Russian novels - Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy, Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, and Dr. Zhivago by Boris Pasternak. In high school, I read One Day in the Life of Ivan Denosovich by Alexander Solzhenitsyn. I tried reading War and Peace by Tolstoy but it is too long with too many characters.

[@BorealHobbit]

Tolstoy is my favorite, though I have only read War and Peace, because he clearly so loves people. Dostoevsky takes a more somber view of humanity. Crime and Punishment was so profound and deep, I was SOOO happy and relieved on virtually the last page when he finally finds resolution. I am slowly going through Brothers Karamotsov, but right now I am excited to have discovered and started to read Master and Margarita which seems almost unknown in my circles here in the US and I just started it recently

[@DHendo214]

Great recommendations. Curious to know if you have any recommendations on the translated editions of these books. Which translator do you recommend?

[@HrRezpatex]

Thank you i will get every single one of them. I think i will start with "Master and Margarita" by Mikhail Bulgakov, it has been recomended for me before. :) I can only hope that the translation will be good as well.. About translation and different versions of the same history, my mind goes to one of my favourite comedy books, "3 Men In A Boat". The book is of course the best, but it has also been made a movie about it, and the English movie is great and funny. But fortunately i saw the Russian version of this movie too, and it is actually even better then the English version. :)

[@user-ug8cx3oj9p]

To be honestly , I dodn't recommend you with Russian literature with Bulgacov 🤔

[@fanstream]

Yes, 5 masterpieces. If you include 5 more: "The Brothers Karamazov", "The Idiot", "Stories of Chekhov", "Fathers And Sons", "Life and Fate"

[@tishomingo4524]

Also loved Bulgakov's "Heart of a Dog".

[@westernwanderer8397]

I just got a copy of War and Peace by Tolstoy. What have I gotten myself into? So many pages; it may take me a while, I must work too. I have always had a goal of reading the classics, so here I go. I will also look into the books you covered. Dead Souls sounds interesting. Your French was great!

[@BrianDeParma]

Almost all the novels you mention are on my to-be-read list. Probably the first will be Master and Marguerite, since I find it less intimidating and I'm more interested in the 20th century than 19th century history. I've read Life and Fate and a short story collection by Vasily Grossman and I found them amazing. Now I want to read The House on the Embankment, since the themes of political repression and the relationship between state, power and the individual are very interesting to me. You should make more videos about Russian literature or cinema!

[@robloxmaniacdanceandshake7871]

OK)... I like you again!... No one covers good books..Can feel your passion about such intellectual subjects .Bravo!...But, you didn't cover Pushkin!)))... Great summaries!!..... Next time you can cover what Russian classical composers you like best, and what modern Russian artists you find interesting!))

[@rimasmeleshyus9486]

Congratulations, very nice books 📚 I read it when Iived in Europe. Now I am living in Hawaii islands. I lived in Russia 🇷🇺 great culture .Thanks for sharing video .❤ 🌹 💐

[@user-ug8cx3oj9p]

Hello , it's so glad that you thinks a good about Russian culture

[@jrnjacobsen8331]

I noticed also the French parts in "War & Peace" and understand it was very common in high society. I found more interesting details in the book "The French Language in Russia" by Derek Offord, Vladislav Rjeóutski, and Gesine Argent, where the books and stories you mentioned of Lev Tolstoi, and Fedor Dostoevskii are analysed (recommended)

[@florinbala8669]

excellent literature ... unique & very rich in all aspects ...

[@user-qj2bi3ph6p]

That first sentence really resonates. The book is so much better than the movie. The descriptions of people's feelings were so realistic, I wondered how an old man could put himself in the place of young women so accurately when I read it. I know it's not that important, but the choice of Keira Knighteley, though a great actress, as the protagonist was surprising as she doesn't match the description in the book.

[@afiannessa2456]

“Crime and punishment” is the reason I know this channel.. Dostoyevsky narrated Petersburg so passionately, its Neva, k bridge, streets.. Now I am so interested in Russia, their culture, language..and Elina gave me a big picture about all of them..I am amazed to know that there is also a Muslim region in Russia and she is making a video about it..i am damn exitedd

[@joecrozier3236]

Vasily Grossman, Life and Fate. For understanding the Russian mind and heart, Grossman is to the 20th century what Tolstoy is to the 19th.

[@Danny_Boel]

Half a life ago I read "Cancer ward" by Alexander Solzhenitsyn, (in English translation) despite the sad subject it was very beautiful.

[@AgeCobra]

You look so nice there with your hair that way and wearing the sweater .I need to to learn that dosdonya

[@johnbutler2437]

Hi Eli, I loved your video. Can you tell me please, what are the best translations of the writers you mentioned above? Thank you, John.

[@theculturedbumpkin]

Tolstoy is on my reading this for this year

[@Souker69]

I have read all five of them and many more (we were lucky to have great translators here in Greece), and i can not stress enough how great they are! If i would dare add one or two more books, that would be "Demons" from Dostoyevski (just because it's my favorite from all his books) and "Stories from Kolyma" by Varlam Shalamov (that one is a really heavy punch in the stomach). Russian literature has reached such depths and heights that it can be compared not to Mount Everest but to Mount Olympus on planet Mars! Do yourselves a favor and don't watch the movies or any series. READ THE BOOKS!

[@Teefs143]

I love elina

[@Nobilangelo]

I've read all the ones you recommend, they are part of my shelf of about twenty Russian books (all in English translation of course, because I do not speak Russian). I also have Chekhov, Dostoyevsky, Solzhenitsyn, and others. Russian writing is very intense. Russian culture has also contributed so much to the world in ballet, music. It would be a much poorer world without Swan Lake, the Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, the Bolshoi, the Kirov, the great Russian orchestras, the great Russian pianists such as the superlative Vladimir Horowitz... Now Russia is being a bastion of conservatism, hated by the wicked left in the West.

[@hershellacey9405]

Hated is a very strong word.

[@fredbaptist]

So far the best book I've ever read is The Brothers Karamazov the P & V translation; it's the second time I've read this and I intend to read it again someday in another translation - probably Avsey's . I have also read Anna Karenina in the Maude translation which I also liked a lot but I feel Dostoevsky's masterpiece is better. War & Peace is on my to do list but I have also read Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment and The Idiot which are both I feel excellent with Notes from the Underground to come next. So far Dostoevsky is my favourite author although closely followed by Dickens. I wonder if Eli has any preference for translations of her recommendations?

[@alanledesma4945]

Crime and punishment is the best book I've ever read, I'll never forget the sense of emptiness I've felt when I finished it

[@Enzosend]

Could you do a video tour of Old St. Petersburg from a literary viewpoint? Recently enjoyed Crime and Punishment and would love to see the waterfront area and old bridges and buildings and haymarket, etc as depicted in the story. Thanks!

[@globalcitizen6309]

Russian literature is certainly the greatest of all followed by the French literature! Dostoevsky is truly a prophet and we all must read anything he has written! Russia has many great writers whom reading their masterpieces is a must in life! I have read a lot of Russian literature and could not imagine my life without having known these writers and having lived life experiences with the characters they've created!

[@allenlazur5785]

Thanks

[@bwv211]

I loved 'The Master and Margherita' and 'A country doctor's notebook' by Bulgakov

[@pcmendes1973]

I’ve just finished Maxim Gorky’s My Universities. Recommended!

[@hydeyoung9059]

Hello. I think Russia is very, very good in many areas. Literature is one of them. I also read Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky books in my own country. Crime and Punishment , Anna Karenina very great works. It's a beautiful video. Thanks. See you.