The Squabble (Hesperus Classics) [Paperback]

Nikolai Gogol (Author)

Book Description

Series: Hesperus Classics | Publication Date: August 1, 2002

Nikolai Gogol’s short story is a sublime work of tragi-comedy. In it, he brilliantly ridicules the Ukrainian passion for litigation and reveals life as something really rather absurd. Ivan Ivanovich and Ivan Nikiforovich are the greatest of friends—until the day they begin a foolish quarrel that culminates in that very worst of insults: “And you, Ivan Ivanovich, are a goose.” From that moment on, not another word is spoken between them as they choose instead to fight out their differences in the courts. But it seems theirs is a lawsuit that is set to run for years and years.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'a classic demonstration of the mastery of both hyperbole and understatement that made Gogol a unique and irreplaceable writer.' - Kirkus Review

From the Publisher

Hesperus Press, as suggested by their Latin motto, Et remotissima prope, is dedicated to bringing near what is far—far both in space and time. Works by illustrious authors, often unjustly neglected or simply little known in the English–speaking world, are made accessible through a completely fresh editorial approach or new translations. Through these short classic works, which feature forewords by leading contemporary authors, the modern reader will be introduced to the greatest writers of Europe and America. An elegantly designed series of exceptional books.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Hesperus Press (August 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1843910136
• ISBN-13: 978-1843910138
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 4.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.1 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: #1,242,424 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superior Translation, August 27, 2003

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KS (US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Squabble (Hesperus Classics) (Paperback)

I'm kinda picky about my Gogol. The recent translations by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky (The Collected Tales of Nikolai Gogol (Vintage Classics)) are lumpy and wooden to my ear.

These translation more than hit the mark; they capture Gogol's good-natured and sunny prose style. These translations are all the more effective when Gogol zings you at the end of a story; as the introduction notes, Nabokov observes that the comic is separated from the cosmic by a mere syllabant.

The only down side is that these aren't even Gogol's best (or most famous) three stories. I hope this translator continues working on Gogol.

The introduction -- which discusses Gogol's 1980s career in Hollywood writing sci-fi scripts for Roger Corman (!) -- is a must-read!