The Captain's Daughter and Other Stories

The book itself is old, but in wonderful condition. There are no pages missing, and the antique texture makes me like the book even more. Thanks!!

Pushkin, of course, is the master of Russian literature. While Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, etc, are more well-recognized in the West as 'seminal figures' of Russian literature, it is Pushkin who truly embodies Russian storytelling. The translation of "The Captain's Daughter" (a novella, 140 pp) was excellent. Were this collection rated on the novella alone, it would easily get five stars. However, the rest of the stories in the collection (about another 150 pp) suffered, unfortunately, from stilted and occasionally confused translating. A shame, too, because Pushkin's stories are really meant to be simple and easily understood. Much like a Russian O. Henry, Pushkin generally thrives on the ironic. His storytelling is spartan: only the most basic details are provided, but each story is heartfelt, simple, and quite beautiful. There is a strong selection of stories in this collection, and overall, the storytelling is very good. The translation could be improved, but is fairly readable; it's a shame that the translation can weight down the flow of Pushkin's stories.

Pushkin is the Godfather of Russian literature. _The Captain's Daughter and other Other Stories_ is a decent representation of his writing style, but I found the stories much less interesting than his poetry. With that said, the title piece is by far the strongest of the collection. The story is full of high drama, love, intrigue and betrayal, as the main character struggles to maintain his sense of honor and dignity. It was a bit over the top for me, but no one writes about human emotion with the depth that Pushkin does. For that alone, _The Captain's Daughter_ is worth the read. Skip the other stories. In the final analysis, I highly recommend it.

If you are interested in delving into the fascinating world of Russian literature, look no farther for your starting point than Pushkin. Writing from a perspective of one who knew how the Russian gentry and aristocracy lived, Pushkin had the great ability to weave into his narrative firsthand accounts of living as a member of the upper class. The Captain's Daughter presents us with the young officer Grinyov, who is sent to be an officer, as his father was, in a far-flung regiment on the frontier. Here Grinyov, and his faithful servant, have an interesting adventure with fellow officers, ruffians and locals. I wont give away the ending, however, the twists and turns keep you turning the pages. All the while, Grinyov's character remains true to form, upholding the ideals of his upbringing. Fabulous read...and a quick one at that.

Pushkin is Mozart of Russian verse, prose and drama. That sounds like banality to any Russian but may help a person outside of our literary tradition to deal with the Russia's greatest writer.Small, less than handsome misfit in a constant and direct dialog with the Muses. A man whose social, financial and matrimonial achievements are no match to his art.His talents bloomed in the Lyceum, he was hailed by the most prominent poet of Russian Classicism - Gavrila Derzhavin, who had appointed the youngster his poetical heir.But Pushkin made only a few contributions to the genre - he was a devoted romantic, a Byronite. Mermaids, gypsies and noble robber brothers were the inhabitants of his adolescent poems. Drinking bouts with local Hussar officers were toppled by the boy's passionate odes to Liberty. Alexander was a celebrity guest.The guest he remained. The officers - The Decembrists - rebelled against the tsar. Puskin was not invited. The conspirators felt that "the son of the Muses" is fond of the revolutionary rhetorics, not the cause.Later, asked by the triumphant monarch does he regret his absence in rebellious ranks on that fateful December day, Pushkin confirmed his affinity with his hanged friends. He wanted to be taking seriously, he was ready to suffer. But the tsar was only amused and let Alexander go.Pushkin soared high in empirea, the verse of unbelievable beauty and clarity was streaming from his quill, but his everyday life was dominated by gambling, drinking and chasing the known libertines. Yearning to be accepted socially he offered his friendship to unworthy and very often had to contend with their condescending attitude. He was not the first socially awkward creator in human history but that understanding did nothing to lessen the pain.In his final years Pushkin decided to settle down, to accept the responsibilities, to marry, to get the position in the tsar's court.Natalia Goncharova, the first beauty of Petersburg, consented to marry him - her family was impoverished, Alexander - insistent. He was given the court rank - kamerjunker, nearly the lowest in the hierarchy, fit for a very young man making his very first steps in the court. He was insulted but the wife's acclaimed beauty compensated for that and the other disapointments. They all envy him - the lucky man!There was never enough money to put that gem in a proper setting. The beauty was expecting her due. If Alexander is incapable there are others.Art remained the only consolation. Once he woke up in the middle of the night, put on a light and fevereshly scribbled the newborn lines. He read them to the wife. - Don't you ever do that to me again! - said the sleepy beauty.His art is not able to conquer that perfection, the beauty of verse is nothing to the beauty of flesh. Pushkin is made fun of, proclaimed a cuckold. His life is nearing the end.In his last year the tortured genius writes Captain's Daughter. No mermaids here, no gypsi