Where to Start with Russian Literature

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Hardcore Literature Lecture Series
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Happy reading!

[jimkazetsky]

Russian literature actually got me into learning Russian which subsequently got me into meeting my wife. So in a funny way I guess I owe everything to this unparalleled genre.

[LearningWithEkaterina]

Russian classics is the depressive literature with no happy endings, but so well-written. Better to read in the original but it is for only when you know the language perfectly. Thank you for the video.

[jimkazetsky]

Quick name explanation:In Russian they don’t have a middle name like we do in most of the west they have a patronymic name. Generally it’s you fathers name with the suffix “ovich”. One of the most common being if you dads name is Ivan your middle name will be “Ivanovich”. For woman it’s the same but they generally use the suffix “ovna”, so to continue the example “Ivanovna” for a woman. It’s important to know that in Russia they almost never call someone by their first and last name as you have probably noticed if you’ve read some Russian literature. The prefer to do first patronymic. So if you’re name is Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov (one of my all time favorites) people will refer to him as Rodion Romanovich in most setting. This can be formal to semi informal. If you refer to someone as just this first name this is even more informal. Another thing to not is that every name is Russian has a short name. This can be found with English names like Christopher and Chris but it’s different because the name doesn’t have to be actually shortened. A few examples Mikhail/Misha, Alexei/Alyosha, Ivan/Vanya, Alexsandr/Sasha, Victoria/Vika, Sofia/Sonya. That’s important because you will see characters referred to by this first name but also their short name. Also this helps add to stories by showing levels of formality by the name choices used which is not inconsequential. I hope that helps clear up the naming for anyone who may have been confused.

[serban]

Dostoievksi's novel Demons is one of my favourite books of all time!Extremely underrated and touching!

[mikedl]

"The boring parts are there for a reason". So true

[Benkerosadon]

Dear Benjamin, I just found out about you a week ago. I am very excited to be one of your students, followers and fans. You earned an education to Oxford one of the most prestigious schools in world. What I really admire about you is how you pass on and share the love of reading, literature and knowledge to average people like me. People like you make this world a better place to live and puts the faith back into humanity. Your parents did a great job raising you. My compliments to Mr. and Mrs. McEvoy. Bless you for what you do for the world. 🙏

[siddynickhead]

Would love to see you do a series of videos for each Russian author and go through where to begin with each one etc.

[kategoman]

I read Anna Karenina and Crime and Punishment last year - loved them both for different reasons. Loved the psychological impact on the characters in both books. Will definitely reread both novels. I also read War and Peace last year and finished it this summer. I enjoyed it on the whole but there were too many battles, philosophy and chapters on Napoleon. I did enjoy learning about the characters. Really enjoyed reading Russian literature for the 1st time. Thanks for the video and giving me an opportunity to talking about Russian literature. I found crime and punishment and Anna Karenina easy to read. I read them during the 3rd lockdown. X

[ahalyajetta]

I started reading Russian books from my childhood. We used to get children’s books with beautifully coloured pictures Published by Foreign Languages Publishing House, Moscow. Then came Chekhov, Gorky, Tolstoy, Solzhenitsyn, Dostoevsky, Pushkin etc., I still have some of those beautifully printed hard bound books of 1950s. Love to read, hold and smell them musty pages again and again. And the silky book mark ribbons!! Wow I just miss those leisurely and quiet time when we used to sit on the window sill and read books. It’s sad that though technology developed so much the art and printing quality of those days is gone.

[jasnamaja]

"The Brothers Karamazov" Dostoevsky, powerful thriller!

[yama]

Thank you for this video!

Crime and Punishment is one of my favorite books of all time. I must say that the P&V and the Oliver Ready translations are my favorites!

I was just about to start reading Chekov, and what a wonderful coincidence to have discovered your channel.


More videos on Russian and Japanese literature
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[tonelwe]

I am very glad Bulgakov was one of the authors in your video - and even though Master and Margarita is the real masterpiece, I really like that you mentioned Heart of a dog. ... and I must confess I miss Gogol, because he is hilarious and also expresses much of the Russian soul as I see it.

[tommiller]

I loved Turgenev. Shorter books, fabulous characters. Also Tolstoy's shorter works like The Cossacks, The Death of Ivan Ilyich. Maybe read more of Dostoyevski's books. They tend to build on each other, and also his shorter works.

[wbtmhvw]

It would be an unexpected recommendation, but Strugatsky brothers "It's hard to be a God" is forever in my heart. It summarises perfectly the whole country's experience of the 20th century - and it is a science fiction book. It would be a pity if there're no translation to English.

[winnietp]

Definitely keep up the good work! Your thoughts are so organised and to the point that it is evident you've read and rather "studied" Russian literature. I find it interesting how when you were talking about Borges, you turned around and said "he" is right here instead of "it" and picked up his book, it made me think that truly writers live through their work.
Amazing video!

[ladysyin]

I actually love this video! I have only read English Classics, and I am so excited to get into Russian Classics. I'm definitely picking up Anna Karenina! And, also the short stories.

This video will def be my reading guide for the rest of the year. Thank you! :)

[marcevan]

I absolutely have to get to Turgenev's short stories. I really love "Fathers and Sons" and would definitely recommend it as an entry into Russian literature.

[ninac.]

I just started Anna Karenina and I can’t put it down! The story just sucked me in.. so I don’t think that I can read it over several months. Maybe when I reread it. Honestly I was afraid of russian lit because you hear so much scary stuff. So I started with Dostojewskij’s Gentle Creature and I fell in love. So I thought I am now gonna dive into a thicker one.. I am literally obsessed. I am reading it in German tho, and after watching your video I am a bit nervous that I didn’t a better research on the different german translations

[emmaphilo]

I literally fell in love with
Levin when reading Anna Karenina. I need to go back re reading it at some point

[jenniferadam]

Anna Karenina is one of my all-time favorite books... it's one of those gorgeous things you can read over and over again and see it in entirely different lights each time.

And I adore Master and Margherita. Such an unexpected gem for me.

I would add Pushkin - to me, his life and personal history are as interesting as his work.

(Also, I love Russia too... for the ballet and the classical music as well as the literature! I am here for any Russian lit videos. This coming spring I am diving into a project that requires some intense Russian research, so I'll be immersed. :) I have been studying the language for the last 3 months and enjoying myself thoroughly. )