The Song of Igor's Campaign, An Epic of the Twelfth Century [Paperback]

Vladimir Nabokov (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 16, 2009

The Song of Igor’s Campaign is the most imaginative, celebrated, and studied work of early Russian literature. It describes a chivalric expedition undertaken in the late 12th century by a minor prince in the land of Rus’ to defeat, against overwhelming odds, a powerful alliance in a neighboring territory. The anonymous poet who chronicled this adventure packed unprecedented metaphorical agility, keenness of observation, and fascinating imagery into the lean and powerful tale of the doomed campaign. Discovered in the late 18th century and only narrowly distributed, the original manuscript was destroyed in a fire, leading to endless debate about the provenance and authenticity of the extant versions. It also served as the basis of Borodin’s opera Prince Igor. Translated by Vladimir Nabokov, the verses that constitute The Song of Igor’s Campaign are presented in their original rhyme and meter, and Nabokov’s extensive annotations provide illuminations on all the aspects of the text.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Overlook TP (January 16, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 087501061X
• ISBN-13: 978-0875010618
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,001,074 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Art & History, April 27, 2009

By 

L. P. Lavoie - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Song of Igor's Campaign, An Epic of the Twelfth Century (Paperback)

' Prince Igor, five generations descended from the celebrated Vladimir who brought Russia Byzantine Christianity in 988 A.D., decided somewhat rashly to attack the pestering nomadic Cumans to the southeast. He and his brothers were soundly defeated and captured. Eventually he escaped and returned home to the utter joy of his wife and subjects. Within a year or so, possibly 1187, this bungling feat was immortalized by a uniquely gifted unknown poet in the "The Song of Igor's Campaign."
Sometime later the manuscript was lost until its rediscovery about 1790. Fortunately for us, it was copied and became more or less public before the original manuscript was lost in the great Moscow fire of 1812 during Napoleon's occupation. It has since become something of a Russian national epic even as questions were raised of its authenticity. The consensus today is that it is genuine.
The work is fascinating and a rewarding read for several reasons: great story; delightfully rendered;it has a happy ending; it hints rather strongly at the persistence of pagan beliefs notwithstanding Prince Vladimir's 988 `conversion' of Russia two hundred years earlier; and it hints at what Russia wants to
think of itself.
When history and art combine to give us a picture of a people we are doubly fortunate. Unlike all of its contemporaneous works, this is art. And Vladimir Nabokov's translation from Old Russian gives us a taste of this art better than most.