Irony of the Ideal (eBook)

Paradoxes of Russian Literature

Mikhail Epstein (Autor)

eBook Download: PDF

2017
440 Seiten
Academic Studies Press (Verlag)
978-1-61811-633-8 (ISBN)

Infos

Explores the most tormenting problems of Russian literature in provocative engagements with its major authors, from Pushkin, Gogol and Dostoevsky to Nabokov, Platonov and post–Soviet postmodernists. Focuses on the ironies and paradoxes that transform sublime ideals into their opposites and trigger the forces of evil and self–destruction.

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This book explores the major paradoxes of Russian literature as a manifestation of both tragic and ironic contradictions of human nature and national character. Russian literature, from Pushkin and Gogol to Chekhov, Nabokov and to postmodernist writers, is studied as a holistic text that plays on the reversal of such opposites as being and nothingness, reality and simulation, and rationality and absurdity. The glorification of Mother Russia exposes her character as a witch; a little man is transformed into a Christ figure; consistent rationality betrays its inherent madness, and extreme verbosity produces the effect of silence. The greatest Russian writers were masters of spiritual self-denial and artistic self-destruction, which explains many paradoxes and unpredictable twists of Russian history up to our time.

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 30.9.2017
• Reihe/Serie: Ars Rossica
• Verlagsort: Boston
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Literatur ► Essays / Feuilleton
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Sprach- / Literaturwissenschaft ► Anglistik / Amerikanistik
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Sprach- / Literaturwissenschaft ► Literaturwissenschaft
• ISBN-10: 1-61811-633-9 / 1618116339
• ISBN-13: 978-1-61811-633-8 / 9781618116338