r/RussianLiterature

The Underground Man types three paragraphs at a stranger at 2am and then deletes the whole thing. And anyone commenting "wow, I related so hard" is just proving his point.

My copy of the book in Brazilian Portuguese.

I'm taking my time rereading A Russian Gentleman by Sergey Aksakov, and I'm enjoying every moment of it. It's such a great classic that deserves far more attention than it gets.

I recently picked up these three books because I've been thinking about exploring Russian literature, and they seemed like a good place to start.

I've already started War and Peace and I'm about 250 pages in. So far, I'm honestly surprised by how much I'm enjoying it. I was expecting it to be a slow, difficult read, but it hasn't disappointed me once. There hasn't been a single page that felt boring.

Before this, I was reading Kafka and Camus. While I can appreciate what they were trying to do, their writing didn't quite click with me, and I found parts of it a bit slow.

Would you say this is a good starter pack for someone getting into Russian literature? I'm already planning to read Anna Karenina and more of Dostoevsky's novels after these, but I'd love to hear your recommendations. Which Russian authors or books do you think are essential, and why?

I took these on my last visit to Moscow, back in 2021, this is the Library room at restaurant Cafe Pushkin. It is my absolute favourite, the food is incredible. They have over 3,000 authentic period books on the shelves. The atmosphere there is fantastic, it’s incredibly easy to imagine yourself as a 19th-century gentleman, trying to find a great book to read.

It’s interesting to think about Pushkin and his legacy. He doesn't get anywhere near the same attention here in the UK as other Russian greats, but seeing how deeply he is respected in Russia is fantastic. I was surprised when I saw he has his own square! I can’t wait to go back there again one day.

Why do you think he’s not so well known, or widely read, outside of Russia? It feels like Tolstoy and Dostoevsky are the default for most of us.

A caveat before anything else: I haven’t quite finished it yet. I’m very close—Nekhlyudov is about to follow the penal convoy—so please avoid spoilers beyond that point.

I went into Resurrection aware that it tends to receive rather mixed reviews, particularly compared with Tolstoy’s better-known novels. The criticism I encountered most often was that it becomes too morally didactic or that Tolstoy’s preaching overwhelms the story.

Perhaps that will become more pronounced in the remaining pages, but so far it hasn’t bothered me at all. In fact, Resurrection has turned out to be my favourite Tolstoy novel by quite some distance.

What has impressed me most is how extraordinarily relatable many of Tolstoy’s observations remain. His treatment of self-deception, guilt, respectability and the ease with which people accept cruelty once it has been absorbed into institutions feels incredibly sharp.

Nekhlyudov’s habit of recognising an uncomfortable truth, resolving to change and then finding himself pulled back towards comfort and convention feels painfully human.

Even the supposedly “preachy” passages have generally felt earned to me because they arise from what Nekhlyudov is witnessing and from Tolstoy’s anger at a system that allows everyone to disclaim personal responsibility.

I’m curious whether others found the moral argument intrusive, or whether Resurrection is simply underrated because it is judged against War and Peace and Anna Karenina rather than on its own terms.

I haven't included short stories here. The books are listed in order from best to worst!

I welcome any opinions, but please don't be rude; this is my sincere take on these books.

P.S. I’m currently reading Erich Maria Remarque’s *Arch of Triumph*; I’m about 70% through the story, but I’ve already added the book to the list—I wouldn’t rule out the possibility that it might move up in the rankings.

Looking for other Russian literature texts which focus on the subject of these pages of C and P: ie, role of the woman/ wife/ mother/ domestic. Seeking suggestions for more women centric Russian literature of the same style. Thanks!

Finally Finished this 'Demon' after 50 days of love,laugh, struggle and commitment I have finished this book of 787 pages my first one.

Where do I start telling you how good and how accurate this book is , some people called it was prophecy Of Communism in Russia, Death ,Hunger , Misery , tyranny of Big Government. in not more than few hands millions of lives futur.

The most Deaths took place in Communism Around 12 Million in Russia. Died of brutality and Tyranny and hunger at the hands of few powerful.

But you will be surprised to know it started with very small Weak Men, Stupid Women, and Spoiled young adults. Kind of like what's happening in the west today . The Evil Leftist poltics.

Dostoevysky's Demon, Is story of Revolutionaries trying to change the fabric of society by pushing the country in chaos. By any Means charm ,tyranny, lies, Power, Money and murder.

Stupid rich influential women and weak Men, and Spoiled Children,Who wants to change the society by pushing the country into chaos and then showing the false way to 'better society' of Nihilism, Socialism.

I started reading this great book on 20th November and I was excited, First 150 pages were struggle but Satarical comedy keeps you in ,(which i didn't get it because I was shocked from perception i had going into this book) Chronicler in this book was describing the characters and was funny in Satarical way . Absolutely pulling your guts out your mouth laugh.🤣

But then once it starts to give out the details and formation of the plan and slow activities of the plot.Which was inspired by real events that had also taken place in Russia during the life time of Dostoevysky.

I promise whenever Dostoevysky brings his characters together at one stage that's when you see the best of his writings but also when he goes into each character s soul and thoughts, i could never understand for Dostoevysky s genius for being so in depth of human beings soul and thought,The strings of thoghts that he writes is out of this world.

And i Must say I was surprised how funny Dostoevysky can be.

It was an achievement and heartbreaking to come to an end of the book and to learn about characters and some what frightening to know if we were to be like close to one of these characters we d face the same fate. That's how close the characters are in all of his books.

I have finished reading Demon and now moving to Brothers Karamzov.

I think all who read books Must read Dostoevysky writings.

I’m open to English editions too since most of my bookshelf is in English, but I’ve just never come across an English copy that I actually like. As over-the-top as The Master and Margarita can be, I’m not really a fan of overly elaborate (creepy) covers. So I’ve just started browsing the Russian market instead. The first photo is definitely my favorite so far.

I am a bit confused regarding whom to choose for anna karenina.

Also..penguin classics sells p&v-translated copy at 320 and oxford world classics sells Rosamund Bartlett-translated copy at 720. Is it worth paying double for bartlett?

Documentary film of the Russian writer Leo Tolstoy and his family, 1909