Customer Reviews

You Must Know Everything

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The short stories collected in this volume are the ones which were long forgotten, forbidden, published only once or never before their debut here. Nathalie Babel, the daughter of Isaac Babel, has chosen the stories and written and excellent introduction and background for each of them. The stories are superbly translated by Max Hayward, and Babel's exquisite, unique language requires great care...

There are samples of different types of writings: short stories complete in their form; excerpts from the diary written during the 1920 war with Poland, when Babel traveled with the Red Army; pieces of journalism critical towards the early Soviet system (especially moving for me); sketches and planned beginnings of the unwritten novels (my favorite - "The Jewess"); anegdotical Jewish tales, which gave the foundation for Babel's flag character, Benia Krik. The collection is varied and remarkably interesting in its variety. Babel' eye for observation is sharp as is his linguistic ability and together they form great literary achievements.

This collection is a good place to begin the acquaintance with Isaac Babel for those who do not know him, and a perfect compliment to his better known writings.

"she said no more." "there was silence in the room." -"you must know everything"

the praiseworthiness of a collection of stories is contingent not upon the praiseworthiness of the writer but the collector(s). how and what to collect. who to have translate. the collection in these regards is a followable one. it offers a fair sampling of babel in different contexts in different pursuits in writing.

the praiseworthiness of the author cannot be to do with the praiseworthiness of a posthumous collection. the work is the work he filled his time with. and he was good at filling his time this way.

the collection is separated into sections specific to types of writings.

know this though simply: babel in "his notebook", "diary", "observations on war," "notes on the stories" is the same babel who by virtue of his stinging brevity (a slap without words glows redder) and perspicacity brought his reader to this page. if you know babel then further pleasingly with this book you shall. if you've yet to then from this begin to:

"'you never say anything, grishchuk,' i said frantically. 'how do you expect me to understand, you tiresome fellow?' he was silent and turned away."