Eugene Onegin is the master work of the poet whom Russians regard as the fountainhead of their literature. Set in 1820s Russia, Pushkin's verse novel follows the fates of three men and three women. Engaging, full of suspense, and varied in tone, it also portrays a large cast of other characters and offers the reader many literary, philosophical, and autobiographical digressions, often in a highly satirical vein. Eugene Onegin was Pushkin's own favourite work, and this new translation conveys the literal sense and the poetic music of the original.
Eugene Onegin: A Novel in Verse (Oxford World's Classics)
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
"James E. Falen's translation of Eugene Onegin conveys with accuracy and utmost fidelity the effervescent depths and heady verve of Pushkin's sparkling and profound masterpiece. Its updated language and style will take Falen's translation well into the 21st century. The notes are invaluable for students."--Sonia Ketchian, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
"A lively and readable translation."--Sr. Anna M. Conklin, Spurling University
"Everything about this edition of the new translation of Eugene Onegin is superb. Mr. Falen is an amazing translator: he fully carries out his program of retaining 'both the literary sense and the poetic music of the original, and the poem's spontaneity and wit."--Lina Bernstein, Franklin Marshall College
"Pushkin's masterpiece has had many translators, most of whom have turned this greatest Russian poet into an embarrassment. James Falen's English version is the first to approximate Pushkin's flawless poetic form and sparkling wise content. It is a miracle of ingenuity and grace, which will enter Eugene Onegin into English."--Caryl Emerson, Princeton University
"It is a great service to the field that you have made this excellent, teachable translation available in an inexpensive edition for students of Russian literature. Bless you!"--Carol Ueland, Drew University
About the Author
James E. Falen is Professor of Russian at the University of Tennessee.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
108 of 109 people found the following review helpful
By Jodi
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have read four translations of this novel and James Falen's is my favorite one. He has translated Pushkin's classic in a fun, witty way which doesn't take too much away from the original Russian version (which I have also read). Granted, something is always lost in a translation, but it certainly doesn't take away from the humor and wit of this translation. If you are interested in a literal, as-close-to-the-original-as-possible translation, then I highly suggest Nabokov's translation, which (in my opinion) is somewhat dry and boring, but extremely accurate. It is all a matter of taste...what the reader wants. If you want accuracy, you will have to sacrifice some of the fun. If you want the fun, you will have to sacrifice some of the accuracy. I prefer the fun, therefore I preferred this version of Onegin.
66 of 68 people found the following review helpful
By "mikeu3"
Format:Paperback
Eugene Onegin was Pushkin's favorite among all his works, and although it seems to take a back seat to some of the great late-19th century Russian novels among western readers, Russians themselves tend to prize it above all other works of their country's literature. In case you're not familiar with the story, it deals mainly with two of the title character's ill-fated relationships: one with his friend and neighbor Vladimir Lensky, which ends tragically due to a very unnecessary rivalry over Olga Larin; and the other with Olga's sister Tatyana, which never comes to fruition because Eugene initially rejects her, only to fall in love with her later. Interwoven among all this, Pushkin himself periodically appears to invoke his muse or to digress on such seemingly unrelated topics as his penchant for women's feet.
The work can't possibly be praised enough in a single review, and I won't try to do so; suffice it to say that Eugene's provincial boredom, Tatyana's passion, and Vladimir's poetic romanticism are all splendidly drawn, and many of Pushkin's digressions have justly become proverbs in his native land. Presumably much of the reason that the novel doesn't receive quite so much attention in the non-Russian speaking world is that, due to its verse structure (it consists of 14-line stanzas in iambic tetrameter with a consistent ababccddeffegg rhyme scheme), it's very hard to translate while still retaining both the meaning and the delightfully spirited rhythm of the original. Vladimir Nabokov asserted very emphatically back in the 1960s that any faithful translation would have to almost completely sacrifice the original's lyric quality, and Nabokov's translation is notoriously dull, if extremely adherent to Pushkin's exact meaning. Not speaking Russian, I haven't read the original, nor have I read any other translations than the one I'm reviewing, so I can't say for sure how it compares, but I can say that Falen's translation is extremely good. It adheres, for all intents and purposes, exactly to Pushkin's meter, and does so without any particularly awkward diction, resulting in an end-product that must at least approach the beauty of the Russian version. Some others seem to agree with me: in the preface to his own recent (1999) translation of Onegin, Douglas Hofstadter praises Falen's translation so highly that he has to spend a section explaining why he bothered with a translation when Falen had already done it so perfectly. While most bilingual readers would probably state that to call Falen's (or anybody else's) translation "perfect" would be a stretch, it is still a delightful work, and hopefully other English-speaking readers will acquire, as I have, a better appreciation of the beauty of Pushkin's greatest work as a result of it.
29 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
James Falen has offered his version of the Russian classic, and has captured both the meaning and the verse. The stanzas flow effortlessly in Falen's hands, it may very well be the best translation yet. Of course, Nabokov is not around to cast his judgement on it. He panned every other translation that had been printed and penned his own in prose, so as not to stray too far from original meaning. But, even he said it was no more than a crib, as what Puskin had achieved in Eugene Onegin was a restructuring of the Russian language, giving it a beauty few had thought it possessed.
Orlando Figes similarly noted that Onegin was the first truly Russian lyrical novel. Pushkin had forsaken the standard French and sought to find the words expressive enough to convey the contradictory nature of the Russian soul. The novel in verse ebbs and flows as Pushkin takes you from St. Petersburg to Moscow to the Russian countryside, weaving a charming tale with many fascinating asides. The texture is so rich and the characters so enduring that this lyrical novel has attained mythological status in Russian literature. No understanding of the subject is complete without having read Eugene Onegin.
But, if language is essential to understanding Onegin then any translation will ultimately come up short. However, Falen has shown great respect for the novel and its language, unlike Douglass Hofstadter's juvenile attempt to translate it. Falen offers copious endnotes and a fascinating introduction. He tips his hat to Nabokov and the others who have translated this novel in the past. The language Falen uses is modern, giving Onegin a freshness lacking in other translations.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A fresh, brisk, witty, and at times despairing translation
Ok . . . the debate is over for me. The James Falen translation is definitely the one to read (note to Kindle readers: it's well worth the $7 to get this vs. a free version. Read more
Published on April 23, 2011 by Thomas Francis Neal III
3.0 out of 5 stars
More of an argument for learning Russian than a good read
People read literature for a number of reasons, from being required to for a class to wanting to understand the worldviews of another age to wanting to appreciate a historically... Read more
Published on February 16, 2010 by C. Ackerman
4.0 out of 5 stars
4 and 1/2 Stars
Alexander Pushkin is the father of Russian literature, writing its first works to enter the world canon and becoming so popular and influential that he altered the Russian language... Read more
Published on February 9, 2010 by Bill R. Moore
5.0 out of 5 stars
As perceived by a native Russian brought up with that novel
The translation is literally excellent and there is nothing to add.
Despite that I should say, that this is the only translation of the Pushkin's major work into the... Read more
Despite that I should say, that this is the only translation of the Pushkin's major work into the... Read more
Published on September 12, 2009 by Vadim Rumynskiy
2.0 out of 5 stars
Eugene Onegin
Book arrived with crumpled front cover. It was not possible to tell if it was shipped this way or damaged in transit.
Published on November 18, 2008 by MALCOLM E. OHAGAN
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent condition and excellent read
I was very pleased with the delivery and condition of this book. It's also a very good read.
Published on October 9, 2008 by Miya Taylor
5.0 out of 5 stars
A fabulous translation, fabulous poetry
I came to this book by way of reading Le Ton Beau de Marot by Douglass Hofstadter, and therefore I was expecting a sparkling and smooth translation of Pushkin. Read more
Published on September 6, 2008 by J. Duker
4.0 out of 5 stars
Pushkin And The Death of Epic Verse
Coming to this, I was already familiar with Pushkin -- both from his short story "Queen of Spades" (and Tchaikovsky's operatic version), and from other allusions to him in later... Read more
Published on August 19, 2008 by Joseph Barbarie
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The Russian Romeo & Juliet
Long hailed as the Russian Shakespeare, Pushkin's novel in verse is a tantalizing combination of never comedic irony and agonizingly unrequited love. Read more
Published on April 25, 2008 by Craft Clothier
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Pure Delight
James Falen's stunning translation of Eugene Onegin is a paragon of grace and subtlety. Despite the formidable challenge of converting Russian verse into English, this edition... Read more
Published on August 3, 2007 by D. F. Whipple
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