The Portable Nineteenth-Century Russian Reader (Portable Library) [Paperback]

George Gibian (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0140151036 | ISBN-13: 978-0140151039 | Publication Date: August 1, 1993

"The Portable Nineteenth-Century Russian Reader" magnificently represents the great voices of this era. It includes such masterworks of world literature as Pushkin's poem "The Bronze Horseman"; Gogol's "The Overcoat"; Turgenev's novel "First Love"; Chekhov's "Uncle Vanya"; Tolstoy's "The Death of Ivan Ilych"; and "The Grand Inquisitor" episode from Dostoyevsky's "The Brothers Karamazov"; plus poetry, plays, short stories, novel excerpts, and essays by such writers as Griboyedov, Pavlova, Herzen, Goncharov, Saltykov-Shchedrin, and Maksim Gorky. Distinguished scholar George Gibian provides an introduction, chronology, biographical essays, and a bibliography.

Product Details

• Paperback: 672 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) (August 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140151036
• ISBN-13: 978-0140151039
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #357,691 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars everything important right here!, June 10, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Portable Nineteenth-Century Russian Reader (Portable Library) (Paperback)

This anthology is an excellent reader's companion to any modern Russian work--be it Nabokov's Pnin or Tolstoy's War and Peace. Not only does it provide excellent autobiographical coverage on all the major Russian authors of the period, but it has characteristic passages from works too big to be included that allow the dilettante and the serious reader alike to investigate Russian literature in as much depth as suits each. The book is comparable to the Norton's Anthology of English Literature, but on a smaller scale and less heavily footnoted. Authors covered include of course Pushkin, Dostoyevsky, Tolstoy, Chekhov, and Gorky, but also Griboyedov, Lermontov, Gogol, Aksakov, Tyutchev, Karolina Pavlova, Goncharov, Turgenev, Herzen, Prutkov, Saltykov-Shchedrin, Solovyov and some Russian Folk Proverbs. A rare treat it provides is the chance to read some of Dostoyevsky's political non-fiction, Tolstoy's literary criticism, and eleven Pushkin poems. Plot summaries and brief literary analyses are included with the biographical information. Very readable and complete, though some translations are written in akwardly formal language (a flaw ubiquitous in Russian translations that does not detract from the diversity of selections or the beauty of included prose)

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the great periods of world literature- anthologized, September 19, 2005

By 

Shalom Freedman "Shalom Freedman" (Jerusalem,Israel) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Portable Nineteenth-Century Russian Reader (Portable Library) (Paperback)

Nineteenth century Russia Literature is one of the great Literatures of Mankind. Consider 'War and Peace' and 'Karamozov' Tolstoy and Dostoevsky alone, two of the giants. But also in that century Pushkin, Gogol, Lermontov, Turgenev, Chekhov other very major writers.
In this anthology there are also included Herzen,Solovoyev, Saltykov- Schedrin, Griboyedov, Goncharov, Tyutchev, and others.
The Tolstoy is 'Ivan Ilyich' and the Dostoevsky 'The Grand Inquisitor' .
There are clearly written introductions to each of the works.
This a an overabundantly rich anthology,an overabundance and richness which reflects the character of nineteenth century Russian Literature as a whole.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good compiliation, February 14, 2010

By 

temply123 (kansas, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Portable Nineteenth-Century Russian Reader (Portable Library) (Paperback)

I'm not an expert on Russian literature so I can't comment on if this is better than other books like it. It does seem to be a good introduction - maybe a little advanced but I am enjoying it.