An Anthology of Russian Literature from Earliest Writings to Modern Fiction: Introduction to a Culture

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Russia has a rich, huge, unwieldy cultural tradition. How to engage it? This pathbreaking classroom reader was designed to respond to that challenge. The literary works selected for inclusion in this anthology introduce the core cultural and historical themes of Russian civilization. Each text has resonance throughout the arts-in Rublev's icons, Meyerhold's theater, Mousorgsky's operas, Prokofiev's symphonies, Fokine's choreography, and Kandinsky's paintings. They are supported by introductions, helpful annotations, bibliographies of resources, and a companion multimedia CD that brings the anthology's cultural references to life. Intended for courses in Russian literature, Russian culture and civilization, and comparative literature, the anthology

� introduces Russian literature from the Igor Tale to village prose� integrates literature into the larger fabric of history, culture, and the arts� presents both new and classic translations, with helpful annotations� elucidates historical and cultural contexts and thematic continuities and variations� features useful resource guides to related works in all media� includes an interactive multimedia CD with a background narrative, historical and biographical information, and vivid excerpts from "great performances" of Russian film, music, dance, theater, and graphic arts

FROM THE CRITICS

Europe-Asia Studies

A vividly fresh and individual yet broad introduction to the rich panoply of Russian culture.

Booknews

Arrangement of the selections is chronological, except for the early 19th century, when the progression is interrupted in order to arrange texts by topic. The introduction to each section places the literary works in their historical context and notes later cultural resonances. Following each text is an introductory guide to primary and secondary sources, including available aesthetic transformations of the work, its subjects, and its motifs in film, video, musical recordings, and art collections. These listings emphasize Russian rather than non- Russian responses in the arts (e.g. Sergei Bondarchuk's film adaptation of War and Peace rather than the American version). Rzhevsky is in the Russian department at SUNY, Stony Brook. Paper edition (unseen), $29.95. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

Victor Terras

Strikes a good balance between 'Russianness' and accessibility to an American reader. — Brown University

Caryl Emerson

An astonishing anthology. ... A vivid, diversified introduction to one of the world's most provocative cultures. — Princeton University

Nancy Condee

The multimedia CD provides a valuable opportunity for the student to see the complex ways in which cultural texts circulate in Russian society. Its multi-referentiality considerably expands the student's intellectual access to key themes, articulated in a broad range of media and stylistic registers. — University of Pittsburgh

Vladimir Alexandrov