The most famous writers and poets of Russia and the world. Russian books: from classics to modern times Russian writers by year of birth
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This list contains the names of the greatest writers of all time from different nations, writing in different languages. Those who are at least somewhat interested in literature are undoubtedly familiar with them through their wonderful creations.
Today I would like to remember those who remained on the pages of history as outstanding authors of great works that have been in demand for many years, decades, centuries and even millennia.
1) Latin: Publius Virgil Maro
Other great authors who wrote in the same language: Marcus Tullius Cicero, Gaius Julius Caesar, Publius Ovid Naso, Quintus Horace Flaccus
You should know Virgil from his famous epic work "Aeneid", which is dedicated to the fall of Troy. Virgil is probably the most severe perfectionist in the history of literature. He wrote his poem at an amazingly slow speed - only 3 lines a day. He did not want to do it any faster, so as to be sure that it was impossible to write these three lines better.
In Latin, a subordinate clause, dependent or independent, can be written in any order with a few exceptions. Thus, the poet has great freedom to define what his poetry sounds like without changing the meaning in any way. Virgil considered every option at every stage.
Virgil also wrote two more works in Latin - "Bucolics"(38 BC) and "Georgics"(29 BC). "Georgics"- 4 partly didactic poems about agriculture, including various kinds of advice, for example, that you should not plant grapes next to olive trees: olive leaves are very flammable, and at the end of a dry summer they can catch fire, like everything around them, due to a lightning strike.
He also praised Aristaeus, the god of beekeeping, because honey was the only source of sugar for the European world until sugar cane was brought to Europe from the Caribbean. Bees were deified, and Virgil explained how to get a beehive if the farmer does not have one: kill a deer, wild boar or bear, rip open their belly and leave it in the forest, praying to the god Aristaeus. After a week, he will send a beehive to the animal's carcass.
Virgil wrote that he wanted his poem "Aeneid" burned after his death as it remained unfinished. However, the Emperor of Rome Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus refused to do this, thanks to which the poem has survived to this day.
2) Ancient Greek: Homer
Other great authors who wrote in the same language: Plato, Aristotle, Thucydides, Apostle Paul, Euripides, Aristophanes
Homer can perhaps be called the greatest writer of all time, but not much is known about him. He was probably a blind man who told stories that were recorded 400 years later. Or, in fact, a whole group of writers worked on the poems, who added something about the Trojan War and the Odyssey.
Anyway, "Iliad" And "Odyssey" were written in ancient Greek, a dialect that came to be called Homeric in contrast to the Attic that followed later and which replaced it. "Iliad" describes the last 10 years of the Greeks' struggle with the Trojans outside the walls of Troy. The main character is Achilles. He is furious that King Agamemnon treats him and his spoils as his property. Achilles refused to participate in the war, which had lasted for 10 years and in which the Greeks lost thousands of their soldiers in the fight for Troy.
But after some persuasion, Achilles allowed his friend (and possibly lover) Patroclus, who did not want to wait any longer, to join the war. However, Patroclus was defeated and killed by Hector, the leader of the Trojan army. Achilles rushed into battle and forced the Trojan battalions to flee. Without outside help, he killed many enemies and fought with the river god Scamander. Achilles ultimately kills Hector, and the poem ends with funeral ceremonies.
"Odyssey"- an unsurpassed adventure masterpiece about the 10-year wanderings of Odysseus, who tried to return home after the end of the Trojan War along with his people. Details of the fall of Troy are mentioned very briefly. When Odysseus ventures to the Land of the Dead, where he finds Achilles among others.
These are just two of Homer’s works that have survived and come down to us, however, whether there were others is not known for sure. However, these works form the basis of all European literature. The poems are written in dactylic hexameter. According to Western tradition, many poems were written in memory of Homer.
3) French: Victor Hugo
Other great authors who wrote in the same language: Rene Descartes, Voltaire, Alexandre Dumas, Moliere, Francois Rabelais, Marcel Proust, Charles Baudelaire
The French have always been fans of long novels, the longest of which is the cycle "In Search of Lost Time" Marcel Proust. However, Victor Hugo is perhaps the most famous writer of French prose and one of the greatest poets of the 19th century.
His most famous works are "Notre Dame Cathedral"(1831) and "Les Miserables"(1862). The first work even formed the basis of a famous cartoon "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" studios Walt Disney Pictures, however, in Hugo’s real novel, everything ended far from so fabulously.
The hunchback Quasimodo was hopelessly in love with the gypsy Esmeralda, who treated him well. However, Frollo, an evil priest, has his eye on the beauty. Frollo followed her and saw how she almost ended up as the mistress of Captain Phoebus. As revenge, Frollo turned the gypsy over to justice, accusing him of murdering the captain, whom he actually killed himself.
After being tortured, Esmeralda confessed to having allegedly committed a crime and was supposed to be hanged, but at the last moment she was saved by Quasimodo. Ultimately, Esmeralda was executed anyway, Frollo was thrown from the cathedral, and Quasimodo died of starvation while hugging the corpse of his beloved.
"Les Miserables" also not a particularly cheerful novel, at least one of the main characters - Cosette - survives, despite the fact that she had to suffer almost all her life, like all the heroes of the novel. This is a classic story of fanatical adherence to the law, but almost no one can help those who really need help most.
4) Spanish: Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra
Other great authors who wrote in the same language: Jorge Luis Borges
Cervantes's main work, of course, is the famous novel "The cunning hidalgo Don Quixote of La Mancha". He also wrote collections of short stories, a romantic novel "Galatea", novel "Persiles and Sikhismunda" and some other works.
Don Quixote is a rather cheerful character, even today, whose real name is Alonso Quejana. He read so much about warrior knights and their honest ladies that he began to consider himself a knight, traveling through the countryside and getting into all sorts of adventures, causing everyone who met him to remember him for his recklessness. He befriends an ordinary farmer, Sancho Panza, who tries to bring Don Quixote back to reality.
Don Quixote is known to have tried to fight windmills, saved people who didn't usually need his help, and been beaten many times. The second part of the book was published 10 years after the first and is the first work of modern literature. The characters know everything about the story of Don Quixote, which is told in the first part.
Now everyone he meets tries to ridicule him and Panso, testing their faith in the spirit of chivalry. He is eventually brought back to reality when he loses a fight with the Knight of the White Moon, is poisoned home, falls ill and dies, leaving all the money to his niece on the condition that she does not marry a man who reads foolish tales of chivalry.
5) Dutch: Joost van den Vondel
Other great authors who wrote in the same language: Peter Hoft, Jacob Kats
Vondel is the most prominent writer of Holland who lived in the 17th century. He was a poet and playwright and a representative of the "Golden Age" of Dutch literature. His most famous play is "Geysbrecht of Amsterdam", a historical drama that was performed on New Year's Day at the Amsterdam City Theater between 1438 and 1968.
The play is about Geisbrecht IV, who, according to the play, invaded Amsterdam in 1303 to restore the family's honor and regain the titled nobility. He founded something like a baronial title in these parts. Vondel's historical sources were incorrect. In fact, the invasion was carried out by Geisbrecht's son, Jan, who turned out to be a real hero, overthrowing the tyranny that reigned in Amsterdam. Today Geisbrecht is a national hero because of this writer's mistake.
Vondel also wrote another masterpiece, an epic poem called "John the Baptist"(1662) about the life of John. This work is the national epic of the Netherlands. Vondel is also the author of the play "Lucifer"(1654), which explores the soul of a biblical character, as well as his character and motives, to answer the question of why he did what he did. This play inspired the Englishman John Milton to write 13 years later "Paradise Lost".
6) Portuguese: Luis de Camões
Other great authors who wrote in the same language: José Maria Esa de Queiroz, Fernando António Nugueira Pessoa
Camões is considered the greatest poet of Portugal. His most famous work is "The Lusiads"(1572). The Lusiads were a people who inhabited the Roman region of Lusitania, where modern Portugal is located. The name comes from the name Luz (Lusus), he was a friend of the god of wine Bacchus, he is considered the progenitor of the Portuguese people. "The Lusiads"- an epic poem consisting of 10 songs.
The poem tells the story of all the famous Portuguese sea voyages to discover, conquer and colonize new countries and cultures. She is somewhat similar to "Odyssey" Homer, Camões praises Homer and Virgil many times. The work begins with a description of the journey of Vasco da Gama.
This is a historical poem that recreates many battles, the Revolution of 1383-85, the discovery of da Gama, trade with the city of Calcutta, India. The Louisiades were always watched by the Greek gods, although da Gama, being a Catholic, prayed to his own God. At the end, the poem mentions Magellan and speaks of the glorious future of Portuguese navigation.
7) German: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Other great authors who wrote in the same language: Friedrich von Schiller, Arthur Schopenhauer, Heinrich Heine, Franz Kafka
When talking about German music, one cannot fail to mention Bach, in the same way, German literature would not be so complete without Goethe. Many great writers wrote about him or used his ideas in shaping their style. Goethe wrote four novels, a great many poems and documentaries, and scientific essays.
Undoubtedly, his most famous work is the book "The Sorrows of Young Werther"(1774). Goethe founded the German Romanticism movement. Beethoven's 5th Symphony is completely identical in mood to Goethe's "Werther".
Novel "The Sorrows of Young Werther" tells about the unsatisfied romanticism of the main character, which leads to his suicide. The story is told in the form of letters and made the epistolary novel popular for at least the next century and a half.
However, Goethe's masterpiece is still the poem "Faust", which consists of 2 parts. The first part was published in 1808, the second in 1832, the year of the writer’s death. The legend of Faust existed long before Goethe, but Goethe's dramatic story remained the most famous story about this hero.
Faustus is a scientist whose incredible knowledge and wisdom pleased God. God sends Mephistopheles or the Devil to test Faust. The story of the deal with the devil has often been raised in literature, but the most famous is perhaps the story of Goethe's Faust. Faust signs an agreement with the Devil, promising his soul in exchange for the Devil to do whatever Faust wishes on Earth.
He becomes young again and falls in love with the girl Gretchen. Gretchen takes a potion from Faust that is supposed to help her mother with insomnia, but the potion poisons her. This drives Gretchen crazy and she drowns her newborn baby, signing her death warrant. Faust and Mephistopheles break into the prison to rescue her, but Gretchen refuses to go with them. Faust and Mephistopheles go into hiding, and God grants Gretchen forgiveness while she awaits execution.
The second part is incredibly difficult to read, as the reader needs to have a good understanding of Greek mythology. This is a kind of continuation of the story that began in the first part. Faust, with the help of Mephistopheles, becomes incredibly powerful and corrupted until the very end of the story. He remembers the pleasure of being a good person and then dies. Mephistopheles comes for his soul, but the angels take it for themselves, they stand up for the soul of Faust, who is reborn and ascends to Heaven.
8) Russian: Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin
Other great authors who wrote in the same language: Leo Tolstoy, Anton Chekhov, Fyodor Dostoevsky
Today, Pushkin is remembered as the father of native Russian literature, in contrast to that Russian literature that had a clear tinge of Western influence. First of all, Pushkin was a poet, but he wrote in all genres. Drama is considered his masterpiece "Boris Godunov"(1831) and poem "Eugene Onegin"(1825-32).
The first work is a play, the second is a novel in poetic form. "Onegin" written exclusively in sonnets, and Pushkin invented a new sonnet form, which distinguishes his work from the sonnets of Petrarch, Shakespeare and Edmund Spenser.
The main character of the poem is Eugene Onegin - the model on which all Russian literary heroes are based. Onegin is treated as a person who does not meet any standards accepted in society. He wanders, gambles, fights duels, and is called a sociopath, although he is not cruel or evil. This person, rather, does not care about the values and rules that are accepted in society.
Many of Pushkin's poems formed the basis for ballets and operas. They are very difficult to translate into any other language, mostly because poetry simply cannot sound the same in another language. This is what distinguishes poetry from prose. Languages often do not match the possibilities of words. It is known that in the Inuit language of the Eskimos there are 45 different words for snow.
Nevertheless, "Onegina" translated into many languages. Vladimir Nabokov translated the poem into English, but instead of one volume, he ended up with 4 volumes. Nabokov kept all the definitions and descriptive details, but completely ignored the music of poetry.
This is all due to the fact that Pushkin had an incredibly unique writing style that allowed him to touch on all aspects of the Russian language, even inventing new syntactic and grammatical forms and words, establishing many rules that almost all Russian writers use even today.
9) Italian: Dante Alighieri
Other great authors who wrote in the same language: none
Name Durante in Latin means "hardy" or "eternal". It was Dante who helped organize the various Italian dialects of his time into the modern Italian language. The dialect of the region of Tuscany, where Dante was born in Florence, is the standard for all Italians thanks to "Divine Comedy"(1321), Dante Alighieri's masterpiece and one of the greatest works of world literature of all time.
At the time this work was written, the Italian regions each had their own dialect, which were quite different from each other. Today, when you want to learn Italian as a foreign language, you will almost always start with the Florentine version of Tuscany because of its significance in literature.
Dante travels to Hell and Purgatory to learn about the punishments that sinners serve. There are different punishments for different crimes. Those who are accused of lust are always driven by the wind, despite their fatigue, because during their lifetime the wind of voluptuousness drove them.
Those whom Dante considers heretics are responsible for splitting the church into several branches, including the prophet Muhammad. They are sentenced to be split from neck to groin, and the punishment is carried out by a devil with a sword. In this ripped up state they walk in circles.
IN "Comedy" there are also descriptions of Paradise, which are also unforgettable. Dante uses Ptolemy's concept of heaven, that Heaven consists of 9 concentric spheres, each of which brings the author and Beatrice, his lover and guide, closer to God at the very top.
After meeting various famous figures from the Bible, Dante finds himself face to face with the Lord God, depicted as three beautiful circles of light merging into one, from which emerges Jesus, the incarnation of God on Earth.
Dante is also the author of other smaller poems and essays. One of the works - "On Popular Eloquence" talks about the importance of Italian as a spoken language. He also wrote a poem "New life" with passages in prose in which noble love is defended. No other writer spoke the language as flawlessly as Dante spoke Italian.
10) English: William Shakespeare
Other great authors who wrote in the same language: John Milton, Samuel Beckett, Geoffrey Chaucer, Virginia Woolf, Charles Dickens
Voltaire called Shakespeare "that drunken fool", and his works "this huge pile of dung". Nevertheless, Shakespeare's influence on literature is undeniable, not only in English, but also in the literature of most other languages of the world. Today, Shakespeare is one of the most translated writers, his complete works have been translated into 70 languages, and various plays and poems into more than 200.
About 60 percent of all catchphrases, quotes and idioms in the English language come from King James Bible(English translation of the Bible), 30 percent from Shakespeare.
According to the rules of Shakespeare's time, tragedies at the end required the death of at least one main character, but in an ideal tragedy everyone dies: "Hamlet" (1599-1602), "King Lear" (1660), "Othello" (1603), "Romeo and Juliet" (1597).
In contrast to tragedy, there is a comedy in which someone is sure to get married at the end, but in an ideal comedy all the characters get married: "A dream in a summer night" (1596), "Much ado about nothing" (1599), "Twelfth Night" (1601), "The Merry Wives of Windsor" (1602).
Shakespeare was a master at heightening the tension between characters in perfect harmony with the plot. He knew how, like no one else, to organically describe human nature. Shakespeare's real genius is the skepticism that permeates all of his works, sonnets, plays and poems. He, as expected, praises the highest moral principles of humanity, but these principles are always expressed in the conditions of an ideal world.
On the eve of World Writer's Day, Levada Center asked the question who, in the minds of Russian residents, is worthy of entering list of the most outstanding Russian writers. The survey was completed by 1,600 residents of the Russian Federation over 18 years of age. The results can be called predictable: the top ten reflects the composition of the school literature curriculum.
Human rights activist Solzhenitsyn joined her almost closely (5%). Kuprin, Bunin and Nekrasov finished at the same time - each received 4% of the votes. And then, among the names familiar from textbooks, new ones began to appear, for example, Dontsova and Akunin took a place next to Griboyedov and Ostrovsky (3% each), and Ustinova, Ivanov, Marinina and Pelevin stood on the same level as Goncharov, Pasternak, Platonov and Chernyshevsky ( 1%).
10. Lermontov
The top 10 most outstanding writers of Russia opens with a misanthropic poet, full of contempt for the soulless world, creator of demonic characters and singer of Caucasian exoticism in the form of mountain rivers and young Circassian women. However, even stylistic errors like “a lioness with a shaggy mane on her spine” or “a familiar corpse” did not prevent him from ascending the Parnassus of Russian literature and taking tenth place in the rating with a score of 6%.
9. Gorky
In the USSR he was considered the founder of Soviet literature and socialist realism, and ideological opponents denied Gorky his literary talent and intellectual scope and accused him of cheap sentimentalism. Received 7% of the votes.
8. Turgenev
He dreamed of a career as a philosopher and even tried to get a master's degree, but he failed to become a scientist. But he became a writer. And he was quite a successful writer - his fees were among the highest in Russia. With this money (and income from the estate), Turgenev supported the entire family of his beloved Pauline Viardot, including her children and husband. The survey scored 9%.
7. Bulgakov
Russia rediscovered this writer only twenty-five years ago, after perestroika. Bulgakov was one of the first to encounter the horrors of communal apartments and obstacles on the way to Moscow registration, which was later reflected in The Master and Margarita. His contribution to literature was appreciated by 11% of Russians.
6. Sholokhov
It is still unknown who exactly wrote “Quiet Don” - an unknown writer from the “white” camp, or a group of comrades from the NKVD, or Sholokhov himself, who later received the Nobel Prize for the novel. In the meantime, he ranks sixth in the list of outstanding writers with a score of 13%.
5. Gogol
They love him not for his moralizing, but for his door to the world of the grotesque and phantasmagoria, intricately intertwined with real life. Scored the same number of points with Sholokhov.
4. Pushkin
In his youth, he loved to play pranks (for example, to shock the inhabitants of Yekaterinoslav with an outfit of translucent muslin pantaloons without underwear), was proud of his thin waist and tried with all his might to get rid of the status of a “writer.” Moreover, already during his lifetime he was considered a genius, the first Russian poet and creator of the Russian literary language. In the minds of today's readers, it ranks fourth with a score of 15%.
3. Chekhov
The author of humorous stories and the founder of tragicomedy in Russian literature in the world is considered a kind of “calling card” of Russian drama. The Russians give him an honorable third place, giving him 18% of the votes.
2. Dostoevsky
Five books by the former convict and inveterate gambler were included in the list of “The 100 Best Books of All Time” according to the Norwegian Nobel Institute. Dostoevsky, like no one else, knows and describes with utmost honesty the dark and painful depths of the human soul. He took second place in the ranking with a score of 23%.
1. Leo Tolstoy
“The Seasoned Man” earned the fame of a brilliant writer and classic of Russian literature during his lifetime. His works have been published and republished many times in Russia and abroad and have appeared on the silver screen many times. "Anna Karenina" alone was filmed 32 times, "Resurrection" - 22 times, "War and Peace" - 11 times. Even his life itself served as material for several films. Perhaps it was thanks to recent high-profile film adaptations that he earned the fame of the first writer in Russia, receiving 45% of the votes.
Russian writers and poets, whose works are considered classics, are today world famous. The works of these authors are read not only in their homeland - Russia, but throughout the world.
Great Russian writers and poets
A well-known fact that has been proven by historians and literary scholars: the best works of Russian classics were written during the Golden and Silver Ages.
The names of Russian writers and poets who are among the world classics are known to everyone. Their work will forever remain in world history as an important element.
The work of Russian poets and writers of the “Golden Age” is the dawn in Russian literature. Many poets and prose writers developed new directions, which subsequently began to be increasingly used in the future. Russian writers and poets, the list of which can be called endless, wrote about nature and love, about the bright and unshakable, about freedom and choice. The literature of the Golden Age, as well as later of the Silver Age, reflects the attitude not only of writers to historical events, but also of the entire people as a whole.
And today, looking through the thickness of centuries at the portraits of Russian writers and poets, every progressive reader understands how bright and prophetic their works, written more than a dozen years ago, were.
Literature is divided into many topics that formed the basis of the works. Russian writers and poets spoke about war, about love, about peace, opening up completely to each reader.
"Golden Age" in literature
The "Golden Age" in Russian literature begins in the nineteenth century. The main representative of this period in literature, and specifically in poetry, was Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin, thanks to whom not only Russian literature, but also the entire Russian culture as a whole acquired its special charm. Pushkin's work contains not only poetic works, but prosaic stories.
Poetry of the “Golden Age”: Vasily Zhukovsky
This time was started by Vasily Zhukovsky, who became Pushkin’s teacher. Zhukovsky opened such a direction as romanticism for Russian literature. Developing this direction, Zhukovsky wrote odes that became widely known for their romantic images, metaphors and personifications, the ease of which was not found in the trends used in Russian literature of past years.
Mikhail Lermontov
Another great writer and poet for the “Golden Age” of Russian literature was Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov. His prose work “Hero of Our Time” gained enormous popularity in its time, because it described Russian society as it was in the period of time that Mikhail Yuryevich writes about. But all readers fell in love with Lermontov’s poems even more: sad and mournful lines, gloomy and sometimes creepy images - the poet managed to write all this so sensitively that every reader to this day is able to feel what worried Mikhail Yuryevich.
Prose of the "Golden Age"
Russian writers and poets have always been distinguished not only by their extraordinary poetry, but also by their prose.
Lev Tolstoy
One of the most significant writers of the Golden Age was Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy. His great epic novel “War and Peace” became known throughout the world and is included not only in the lists of Russian classics, but also in the world. Describing the life of Russian secular society during the Patriotic War of 1812, Tolstoy was able to show all the subtleties and features of the behavior of St. Petersburg society, which for a long time since the beginning of the war did not seem to participate in the all-Russian tragedy and struggle.
Another novel by Tolstoy, which is still read both abroad and in the writer’s homeland, was the work “Anna Karenina”. The story of a woman who loved a man with all her heart and went through unprecedented difficulties for the sake of love, and soon suffered betrayal, was loved by the whole world. A touching story about love that can sometimes drive you crazy. The sad ending became a unique feature for the novel - it was one of the first works in which the lyrical hero not only dies, but deliberately interrupts his life.
Fedor Dostoevsky
In addition to Leo Tolstoy, Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky also became a significant writer. His book “Crime and Punishment” became not just the “Bible” of a highly moral person with a conscience, but also a kind of “teacher” for someone who has to make a difficult choice, having foreseen all the outcomes of events in advance. The lyrical hero of the work not only made the wrong decision that ruined him, he took upon himself a lot of torment that gave him no rest day or night.
Dostoevsky’s work also contains the work “Humiliated and Insulted,” which accurately reflects the entire essence of human nature. Despite the fact that a lot of time has passed since it was written, the problems of humanity that Fyodor Mikhailovich described are still relevant today. The main character, seeing all the insignificance of the human “little soul”, begins to feel disgust for people, for everything that people of the rich strata are proud of, which are of great importance to society.
Ivan Turgenev
Another great writer of Russian literature was Ivan Turgenev. He wrote not only about love, but also touched upon the most important problems of the world around him. His novel Fathers and Sons clearly describes the relationship between children and parents, which remains exactly the same today. Misunderstanding between the older and younger generations is an eternal problem in family relationships.
Russian writers and poets: The Silver Age of Literature
The beginning of the twentieth century is considered to be the Silver Age in Russian literature. It is the poets and writers of the Silver Age who gain special love from readers. Perhaps this phenomenon is caused by the fact that the writers’ lifetime is closer to our time, while Russian writers and poets of the “Golden Age” wrote their works, living according to completely different moral and spiritual principles.
Poetry of the Silver Age
The bright personalities who highlight this literary period are, undoubtedly, the poets. Many directions and movements of poetry have emerged, which were created as a result of the division of opinions regarding the actions of the Russian government.
Alexander Blok
The gloomy and sad work of Alexander Blok was the first to appear at this stage of literature. All of Blok’s poems are permeated with longing for something extraordinary, something bright and light. The most famous poem “Night. Street. Flashlight. Pharmacy” perfectly describes Blok’s worldview.
Sergey Yesenin
One of the most prominent figures of the Silver Age was Sergei Yesenin. Poems about nature, love, the transience of time, one’s “sins” - all this can be found in the poet’s work. Today there is not a single person who would not find Yesenin’s poem capable of liking and describing their state of mind.
Vladimir Mayakovsky
If we talk about Yesenin, then I would immediately like to mention Vladimir Mayakovsky. Harsh, loud, self-confident - that’s exactly what the poet was like. The words that came from the pen of Mayakovsky still amaze with their power - Vladimir Vladimirovich perceived everything so emotionally. In addition to harshness, in the works of Mayakovsky, whose personal life was not going well, there are also love lyrics. The story of the poet and Lily Brik is known throughout the world. It was Brik who discovered all that was most tender and sensual in him, and in return Mayakovsky seemed to idealize and deify her in his love lyrics.
Marina Tsvetaeva
The personality of Marina Tsvetaeva is also known throughout the world. The poetess herself had unique character traits, which is immediately evident from her poems. Perceiving herself as a deity, even in her love lyrics she made it clear to everyone that she was not one of those women who were capable of being offended. However, in her poem “So many of them have fallen into this abyss,” she showed how unhappy she was for many, many years.
Prose of the Silver Age: Leonid Andreev
Leonid Andreev, who became the author of the story “Judas Iscariot,” made a great contribution to fiction. In his work, he presented the biblical story of the betrayal of Jesus a little differently, presenting Judas not just as a traitor, but as a man suffering from his envy of people who were loved by everyone. Lonely and strange Judas, who found delight in his tales and tales, always received only ridicule in the face. The story tells about how easy it is to break a person’s spirit and push him to any meanness if he has neither support nor close people.
Maksim Gorky
The contribution of Maxim Gorky is also important for the literary prose of the Silver Age. The writer in each of his works hid a certain essence, having understood which, the reader realizes the full depth of what worried the writer. One of these works was the short story “Old Woman Izergil”, which is divided into three small parts. Three components, three life problems, three types of loneliness - the writer carefully veiled all this. A proud eagle thrown into the abyss of loneliness; noble Danko, who gave his heart to selfish people; an old woman who had been looking for happiness and love all her life, but never found it - all this can be found in a small, but extremely vital story.
Another important work in Gorky’s work was the play “At the Lower Depths”. The life of people who are below the poverty line is what became the basis of the play. The descriptions that Maxim Gorky gave in his work show how much even very poor people, who in principle no longer need anything, just want to be happy. But the happiness of each of the heroes turns out to be in different things. Each of the characters in the play has their own values. In addition, Maxim Gorky wrote about the “three truths” of life that can be applied in modern life. White lies; no pity for the person; the truth that a person needs is three views on life, three opinions. The conflict, which remains unresolved, leaves each character, as well as each reader, to make their own choice.
Russian classics are well known to foreign readers. Which contemporary authors have managed to win the hearts of foreign audiences? Libs compiled a list of the most famous contemporary Russian writers in the West and their most popular books.
16. Nikolay Lilin , Siberian Education: Growing Up in a Criminal Underworld
Our rating is opened by the sizzling one cranberry . Strictly speaking, “Siberian Education” is a novel not by a Russian author, but by a Russian-speaking one, but this is not the most serious complaint against him. In 2013, this book was filmed by Italian director Gabriele Salvatores, with John Malkovich himself playing the main role in the film. And thanks to a bad film with a good actor, the book of the dreamer-tattoo artist Nikolai Lilin, who moved to Italy from Bendery, did not rest in peace, but entered the annals of history.
Are there any Siberians among the readers? Get your palms ready for facepalms! “Siberian Education” talks about the Urks: an ancient clan of people, stern, but noble and pious, exiled by Stalin from Siberia to Transnistria, but not broken. The lesson has its own laws and strange beliefs. For example, you cannot store noble weapons (for hunting) and sinful weapons (for business) in the same room, otherwise the noble weapon will be “infected”. The infected cannot be used, so as not to bring misfortune to the family. The contaminated weapon should be wrapped in the sheet on which the newborn baby was lying, and buried, and a tree planted on top. The Urks always come to the aid of the disadvantaged and weak, they themselves live modestly, and use the stolen money to buy icons.
Nikolai Lilin was introduced to readers as a “hereditary Siberian urka,” which seems to hint at the autobiographical nature of the imperishable. Several literary critics and Irvine Welsh himself praised the novel: "It is difficult not to admire the people who stood up to the Tsar, the Soviets, and Western materialistic values. If values and lessons were shared by all, the world would not be faced with an economic crisis caused by greed." Wow!
But it was not possible to deceive all readers. For some time, foreigners who fell for the exotic bought the novel, but upon discovering that the facts described in it were fabricated, they lost interest in the book. Here's one review on the book's website: "After the first chapter, I was disappointed to find that this was an unreliable source of information about the Eastern European underworld. In fact, 'urka' is the Russian term for 'bandit,' not a definition of an ethnic group." And this is just the beginning of a series of inarticulate, meaningless fabrications. I would not mind the fiction if the story were good, but I don’t even know what irritates me more in the book: the flatness and Mary-ness of the narrator or his amateurish style.”
15. Sergey Kuznetsov ,
Psychological thriller Kuznetsov's "" was presented in the West as "Russia's answer to """. A cocktail of death, journalism, hype and BDSM, some book bloggers rushed to include, no less, in the top ten best novels of all time about serial killers! Readers also noted that through this book they became acquainted with Moscow life, although the characters’ conversations about political parties and certain events were not always clear: “Cultural differences immediately make this book stand out and make it somewhat refreshing.”
And the novel was criticized for the fact that scenes of violence are presented through the killer’s stories about what has already happened: “You are not with the victim, you do not hope to escape, and this reduces the tension. Your heart does not flutter, you do not wonder what will happen next.” "A strong start for inventive horror, but the clever storytelling becomes boring."
14. ,
With all the book publishing activity of Evgeniy Nikolaevich / Zakhar Prilepin in his homeland, he seems to be little concerned about translating his books into other languages. " ", " " - that's probably all that can be found in Western bookstores right now. "Sankya", by the way, with a foreword by Alexei Navalny. Prilepin's work is attracting the attention of foreign audiences, but reviews are mixed: "The book is well written and fascinating, but suffers from the general post-Soviet writer's uncertainty about what he is trying to say. Confusion about the future, confused views about the past and a widespread lack of understanding of what is happening in life today are typical problems. Worth a read, but don't expect to get too much out of the book."
13. , (The Sublime Electricity Book #1)
Recently, a Chelyabinsk writer published good news on his personal website: his books "" and "" have been republished in Poland. And on Amazon the most popular is the noir cycle “All-Good Electricity”. Among the reviews of the novel "": "A great writer and a great book in style magical steampunk ", "A good, fast-paced story with a lot of plot twists." "An original combination of steam technology and magic. But the story's greatest strength is, of course, its narrator, Leopold Orso, an introvert with many skeletons in his closet. Sensitive but ruthless, he is able to control other people's fears, but has difficulty controlling his own. His supporters include a succubus, a zombie and a leprechaun, and the latter is quite funny."
12. , (Masha Karavai Detective Series)
9. , (Erast Fandorin Mysteries #1)
No, don't rush to look on the bookshelves detective Akunin "The Snow Queen". Under this title, the first novel from the cycle about Erast Fandorin, that is, "", was published in English. Introducing it to readers, one of the critics said that if Leo Tolstoy had decided to write a detective story, he would have written “Azazel.” That is, The Winter Queen. Such a statement generated interest in the novel, but in the end, reader reviews varied. Some were delighted by the novel and could not put it down until they finished reading it; others were reserved about the "melodramatic plot and language of the short stories and plays of the 1890s."
8. , (Watch #1)
"Watches" is well known to Western readers. Someone even called Anton Gorodetsky the Russian version of Harry Potter: “If Harry were an adult and lived in post-Soviet Moscow.” When reading "" - the usual fuss around Russian names: “I like this book, but I can’t understand why Anton always says the full name of his boss - “Boris Ignatievich”? Has anyone guessed? I’ve only read half of it so far, so maybe , will there be an answer later in the book?" Recently, Lukyanenko has not pleased foreigners with new products, so today he is only in 8th place in the ranking.
7. ,
Those who have read the novel "" by medievalist Vodolazkin in Russian cannot help but admire the titanic work of translator Lisa Hayden. The author admitted that before meeting Hayden he was sure that translation into other languages of his skillful stylization of the Old Russian language was impossible! It’s all the more pleasant that all the hard work paid off. Critics and ordinary readers met non-historical novel very warmly: “A quirky, ambitious book,” “A uniquely generous, multi-layered work,” “One of the most moving and mysterious books you will read.”
6. ,
Perhaps it will come as a surprise to Pelevin’s fans that the novel ““, a cult novel in the writer’s homeland, has been supplanted abroad by his earlier work “”. Western readers put this compact satirical book on a par with "" Huxley: "I highly recommend reading it!", "This is the Hubble telescope facing the Earth."
"In his 20s, Pelevin witnessed glasnost and the emergence of hope for a national culture based on the principles of openness and justice. At 30, Pelevin saw the collapse of Russia and the unification<…>the worst elements of wild capitalism and gangsterism as a form of government. Science and Buddhism became Pelevin’s support for his search for purity and truth. But in combination with the outgoing empire of the USSR and the crude materialism of the new Russia, this led to a shift in tectonic plates, a spiritual and creative shock, like a magnitude 9 earthquake, which was reflected in “Omon Ra”.<…>Although Pelevin is fascinated by the absurdity of life, he is still searching for answers. Gertrude Stein once said, "There is no answer. There will be no answer. There never was an answer. This is the answer." I suspect that if Pelevin agrees with Stein, his tectonic plateaus will freeze, the shock wave of creativity will go out. We, the readers, would suffer because of this."
"Pelevin never allows the reader to find balance. The first page is intriguing. The last paragraph of Omon Ra may be the most precise literary expression of existentialism ever written."
5. , (The Dark Herbalist Book #2)
Next are several representatives Russian LitRPG
. Judging by the reviews, a native of Grozny, author of the “Dark Herbalist” series, Mikhail Atamanov, knows a lot about goblins and gaming literature: “I strongly recommend giving this truly unusual hero a chance to impress you!”, “The book was excellent, even better.” But not yet strong in English: “An excellent example of LitRPG, I liked it. As others have already commented, the ending is rushed, and the translation of argot and colloquial speech from Russian into English is inaccurate. I don’t know whether the author was tired of the series, or fired the translator and the last 5% of the book relied on Google Translate. Didn't like the Deus ex machina ending too much. But still 5 stars for the big boo. I hope the author continues the series from level 40 to 250. I'll buy it!
4. , aka G. Akella, Steel Wolves of Craedia(Realm of Arkon #3)
Have you opened the book ""? Welcome to the online game "World of Arkon"! "I love it when an author grows and improves and a book or series becomes more complex and detailed. After finishing this book, I immediately began rereading it - perhaps the best compliment I could pay an author."
“I highly, highly recommend reading it and compliment the translator (despite the mysterious Elven Presley!). Translation is not just a matter of replacing words, and here the translation of content from Russian into English is done extremely well.”
3. , (The Way of the Shaman Book #1)
" " Vasily Makhanenko collected a lot of positive reviews: “An excellent novel, one of my favorites! Treat yourself and read this series!!”, “I am very impressed with the book. The story and character progression are well written. I can’t wait for it to come out in English next book", "I've read the whole thing and want a continuation of the series!", "This was a great read. There were some grammatical errors, usually a missing word or some inaccurate wording, but they were few and far between."
2. , (Play to Live #1)
The series “Play to Live” is based on an amazing collision that will leave few people indifferent: a terminally ill guy Max (in the Russian version of the book “” - Gleb) goes into virtual reality in order to again feel the pulse of life in the Other World, make friends, enemies and experience incredible adventures.
Sometimes readers grumble: "Max is ridiculously over-gifted. For example, he reaches level 50 in 2 weeks. He is the only one who creates a necessary item in a world with 48 million experienced gamers. But I can forgive all this: who wants to read a book about a gamer , who is stuck on level 3 killing rabbits? This book is popcorn reading, pure junk food, and I enjoy it. From a Women's Perspective I would give the book a 3 out of 5: Everyday Misogyny Max does some derogatory, supposedly funny things. , comments about women, and the only female character sometimes cries and sometimes has sex with Max. But overall, I would recommend this book to a gamer. She is pure pleasure."
“I haven’t read the author’s biography, but judging by the book and the links, I’m sure he’s Russian.<…>I have worked with many of them and always enjoyed their company. They never get depressed. That's what I think makes this book amazing. The main character is told that he has an inoperable brain tumor. However, he is not too depressed, does not complain, just evaluates his options and lives in VR. Very good story. She is dark, but there is no evil in her."
1. , (Metro 2033 #1)
If you are familiar with modern Russian science fiction writers, it’s not difficult to guess who will be at the top of our ranking: books translated into 40 languages, sales of 2 million copies - yes, it’s Dmitry Glukhovsky! Odyssey in the scenery of the Moscow subway. "" is not a classic LitRPG, but the novel was created for symbiosis with a computer shooter. And if once the book promoted the game, now the game promotes the book. Translations, professional audio books, a website with a virtual tour of the stations - and a logical result: the “population” of the world created by Glukhovsky is growing every year.
"It's a fascinating journey. The characters are real. The ideologies of the various 'states' are believable. The unknown in the dark tunnels, the tension runs high. By the end of the book, I was deeply impressed by the world the author had created and how much I cared about the characters." “Russians know how to write apocalyptic, nightmarish stories. You only need to read “Roadside Picnic” by the Strugatsky brothers, “Day of Wrath” by Gansovsky or see the amazing “Letters from a Dead Man” by Lopushansky to feel that they understand well what it means to live on the edge of an abyss. Claustrophobia and dangerous, frightening dead ends; "Metro 2033" is a world of uncertainty and fear, on the verge between survival and death."
“Russian literature is the only unhindered guide in the West’s desire to understand the secrets of the Russian soul, its culture and identity. No restrictions or prohibitions, political hostility or sanctions for you. I bought a volume of a Russian classic and you get to know yourself quietly, dosing it - sitting, lying down, standing, in the subway, at home... Pushkin, Gogol, Lermontov, Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Chekhov... Be careful with Chekhov - you can go on a drinking binge...”
Abroad began to become thoroughly acquainted with Russian literature through the writer Ivan Turgenev, who settled in Baden-Baden in 1863. Having become close to the most famous Western writers, cultural and artistic figures, with the intelligentsia and politicians of that time, Turgenev very quickly became the most famous and most widely read Russian author in Europe. It was with the works of Turgenev that the Western reader began to comprehend the full depth and richness of the Russian language.
In 1878, at the international literary congress in Paris, the writer was elected vice-president; in 1879 he was awarded an honorary doctorate from Oxford University. Chancellor of the German Empire Clovis Hohenlohe called Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev the best candidate for the post of Prime Minister of Russia. He wrote about Turgenev: “Today I spoke with the smartest man in Russia.”
But Ivan Turgenev’s main merit is propaganda. Throughout his entire life abroad, he tirelessly “promoted” Russian literature as the most undervalued within Russia itself. Thus, Europe met Pushkin, Lermontov, Gogol...
They say that people become interested in the literature of a particular country when they show interest in the country itself. This is partly true. In relation to Russia, this interest on the part of the West never ceased and reached its peak in the 21st century. It is noteworthy that once having discovered Pushkin, Lermontov, Gogol, Turgenev, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Chekhov and many other prolific masters of Russian literature, the West never ceases to associate Russian literature and Russia itself with these great names. Of course, in this regard, modern writers have a hard time, and oddly enough, Russian writers of the 21st century have to compete with Russian classics of the 19th century. After all, there is still a huge demand for the export of Russian classics. The facts speak about this:
The film adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s “War and Peace” speaks of the popularity of the Russian classic abroad - there are more than 7 different versions of the film. Another example is “Anna Karenina” - it was filmed about 18 times in different countries.
Chekhov still remains the leader in the number of foreign film adaptations of Russian classics - his works became the basis for film/television versions about 200 times. He is one of the 3 most screened writers in the world.
“In the galaxy of great European playwrights... the name of Chekhov shines like a star of the first magnitude,” wrote George Bernard Shaw at the beginning of the 20th century.
However, if Tolstoy and Dostoevsky in the West are known more from books, then Chekhov is rather not read, but “watched”: the writer is little known as the author of humorous stories, but is rightfully considered a playwright of the first magnitude along with Shakespeare, Shaw and Wilde. His plays are some of the most popular in the world. But Chekhov himself did not foresee his future fame. He told his friend Tatyana Shchepkina-Kupernik: “They will read me for seven, seven and a half years, and then they will forget.”
One more thing is surprising. Fame in a writing career directly depends on its “promotion”. Writing with talent or genius is not enough. You need to invest in advertising and self-PR. And the best PR is a scandal. Take, for example, Nabokov’s world fame, having written the scandalous “Lolita,” he might not have written anything else. The scandalous plot itself, and all the attempts to ban the publication of the novel, made its publication an event and provided the book with huge circulations. Solzhenitsyn talentedly made his name “in politics” and the propaganda machine helped him.
Now it’s already difficult to play politics. It is almost impossible to realize a political intrigue on which you can “take off.” There is money left.
Nowadays, few Russian names are noticeable in the West - of course, primarily due to the language barrier. In pre-revolutionary Russia there was not much difference between the bearers of Russian culture and European culture. All educated people in Russia spoke English, French, and German well. Tolstoy almost received the first Nobel Prize for Literature, Turgenev was absolutely recognized in Paris as a writer, Dostoevsky had a huge influence on Freud and many others. Then there was a single multilingual culture. Now it’s the other way around: globalization has led to a situation where English alone dominates. So it turns out that cultures are different, but all writers have the same language. At the same time, it cannot be said that bearers of Russian culture became victims of any special discrimination. There is simply one dominant culture and it is English-speaking.
But we digress.
And yet, which Russian writers, by modern standards, are the most famous abroad?
Leo Tolstoy - “War and Peace”, “Anna Karenina”;
Fyodor Dostoevsky - “Crime and Punishment”, “The Idiot”, “The Brothers Karamazov”;
Anton Chekhov - “Uncle Vanya”, “Lady with a Dog”, “Kashtanka”;
Alexander Pushkin - “Eugene Onegin”;
Nikolai Gogol - “Dead Souls”;
Ivan Turgenev - “Fathers and Sons”;
Mikhail Bulgakov - “Fatal Eggs”, “The Master and Margarita”;
Vladimir Nabokov - “Lolita”;
Alexander Solzhenitsyn - “The Gulag Archipelago”, “One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich”;
Ivan Bunin - “Sukhodol”, “Village”;
Alexander Griboedov - “Woe from Wit”;
Mikhail Lermontov - “Hero of Our Time”, “Demon”;
Boris Pasternak - Doctor Zhivago.
With modern Russian literature everything is much more complicated. Nevertheless, quite popular: Polina Dashkova, Dmitry Glukhovsky, Zakhar Prilepin, Mikhail Shishkin, Victor Pelevin, Sergei Lukyanenko, Boris Akunin.
In the 90s, the only modern Russian author whose books could be easily obtained in English was Pelevin - despite the fact that this was still a specific reading. Over the past ten years, however, some things have changed, others have been translated - Boris Akunin has had the greatest success: in England his detective stories still sell well... In the West they like a Russian writer to be bearded and serious.
In England it’s clear, but what about in the USA? According to the famous publicist Owen Matthews(Owen Matthews), “the literature of modern Russia cannot offer the American reader, brought up on the philosophical novels of Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, anything that can return them to the “magical land” open to them in the books of the classics.” That is why the percentage of Russian literature in modern America does not exceed 1-3%.
Deputy Head of Rospechat Vladimir Grigoriev believes:
“The fact that our writers have not been making stars lately is largely due to extra-literary issues.” Remember the growing popularity of Mikhail Shishkin in Western European countries after he spoke out against the Kremlin’s policies... And vice versa - as soon as Zakhar Prilepin, who was quite successfully translated and published in English-speaking countries, began to speak out in support of the so-called Novorossiya, we began to experience certain difficulties in its promotion."
We've really gone backwards. First, sport turned into a tool of political pressure, now literature. The next thing you know, the Bolshoi Theater will stop touring the world. Perhaps the excitement for Russian painting will even subside. But nothing. But we began to export twice as much gas, oil, tanks and Kalash rifles...
