Mark Twain in the Russian Pre-Revolutionary Periodical. Part 2

Journal Title: Studia Litterarum - Year 2017, Vol 2, Issue 3

Abstract

This article deals with the analysis of interpretation of the works by Mark Twain, famous American author, in the Russian pre-revolutionary periodical press (1872–1916). The objects of research are critical articles, essays, reviews, correspondences, introductions to publications of Twain’s short stories and novels, obituaries, and other materials printed in central and provincial magazines and newspapers. Perception of Twain in Russia was contingent on many factors including political and cultural situation in the country, state of social thought and literary criticism, newspaper and magazine conjuncture etc., always remaining polysemantic and conflicting. In different times, in the years of democratic rising or reaction critics looked for something in Twain’s works that corresponded to the spirit of their time and helped solve ideological and aesthetic problems. Twain had reputation of either a “pure humorist” or a great writer, philosopher, and moralist. Democrats, liberals, conservatives, feminists, adepts of realistic or naturalistic trends in art discussed Twain’s works that became a source of knowledge about the United States and inspired polemics about Russia’s further development. Twain was highly esteemed as the author of books for children and young people. Yet his works that criticized monarchism and imperialism were often ignored or abridged. The history of Twain’s interpretation in the Russian press serves as evidence of the fact that perception of foreign literature is a dynamic and bumpy process, repeating itself and moving backwards but also getting to deeper levels of meanings.

Authors and Affiliations

E. А. Stetsenko

Keywords

Related Articles

“The Testament” of XII Pandito Hambo-Lama Dashidorzhi Ithegelov in the Context of Buddhist Philosophy

The article deals with a hitherto unexamined literary text written by a famous Buddhist philosopher and scientist XII Pandito Hambo-Lama Dashidorzhi Itigelov. This text is the last poem by D. Itigelov entitled “The Test...

BIOGRAPHY GENRE IN RUSSIAN LITERATURE: EUROPEAN AND BRITISH INFLUENCES

The article examines the development of the genre of biography and life writing that influenced Russian biographical tradition. This tradition stems from Plutarch’s Comparative Biographies that influenced English life wr...

THE PLACE OF CARNIVAL IN THE CONTEXT OF MIKHAIL BAKHTIN’S PHILOSOPHY

The role that Mikhail Bakhtin’s book on Rabelais, and the carnival theme more generally, plays in Bakhtin’s philosophy is a perennial concern in Bakhtin studies. Indeed, how would one reconcile such ideas as the carniva...

NEW CONSCIOUSNESS AND NEW GENRE: A FRANCOPHONE AFRICAN NOVEL OF TRANSITIONAL TIME

In the 1990s and in the beginning of the 20 th century, Congolese and Ivorian literatures witnessed the birth of a new character, an African with bifurcated mentality that, on the one hand, keeps, at least on the superfi...

CHEKHOV’S ETHICAL HERITAGE IN THE CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN MEDICAL HUMANITIES

The paper discusses Chekhovian ethical discourse in American fiction and non-fiction that forms part of an emerging literary canon of medical humanities in the USA. Besides Chekhov’s “medical” stories, special attentio...

Download PDF file
  • EP ID EP26170
  • DOI 10.22455/2500-4247-2017-2-3-166-189
  • Views 275
  • Downloads 19

How To Cite

E. А. Stetsenko (2017). Mark Twain in the Russian Pre-Revolutionary Periodical. Part 2. Studia Litterarum, 2(3), -. https://europub.co.uk/articles/-A-26170