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October 20, 2006
Turgenev's Faust
On a train ride up from Edinburgh a couple of evenings ago I read Ivan Turgenev's "Faust" (as well as his "Yakov Pasynkov" which is in the same book). It's one of those stories I feel a bit guilty about liking. It's very much a "Romantic" story that centres on a guy's reading of Faust as an introduction to the power of poetry -- the classic story of the contrast of reason and feeling, 'factual' books vs. poetry, usefulness vs. passion, etc. Combine that with the somewhat grey mystique of these Russian authors and you've got a candidate for the most melancholy romance I've read. All that to say I really liked it anyway; the translator shows an outstanding use of English and the style of the book is intriguing. You read 9 consecutive letters from one friend to another describing particular events surrounding his involvement with an old crush. At times I felt the letter genre had been pushed aside to tell the story, but maybe that's because I have no idea about letter genre in 19th century Russia (not exactly something they taught me in school...). But an interesting book in any case and one that I would recommend if I didn't feel guilty recommending a 'melancholy romance'!
Josh
| By j and b | 07:03 PM
Comments
Have you "heard" Dad's sermon from Sunday evening about "Form vs. Freedom?" Basically, the sin of too much form--that is, too many rules to follow and not enough passion and joy in following them. I say, don't feel guilty for liking this stuff! (but what do I know anyway!)
Posted by: The Other Mother at October 25, 2006 07:05 PM
What? You didn't take that class on the 19th c letter genre in Russia!? It rocked!
thanks for the rec...
Posted by: Jeannette at October 20, 2006 08:08 PM