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Alexander Pushkin's dramatic work displays a scintillating variety of forms, from the historical to the metaphysical and folkloric. After Boris Godunov, they evolved into Pushkin's own unique, condensed transformations of Western European themes and traditions. The fearful amorality of A Scene from Faust is followed by the four Little Tragedies, which confront greed, envy, lust, and blasphemy, while Rusalka is a tragedy of a different kind--a lyric fairytale of despair and transformation.Here, James E. Falen's verse translations are accompanied by a first-rate introduction from Caryl Emerson, an equally distinguished Russianist, which emphasizes the cosmopolitan nature of Pushkin's drama, the position of Russian culture on the European stage, together with excellent analyses of the individual works in the volume. Falen's translations of Pushkin are widely admired and his OWC translation of Eugene Onegin is considered the best available. This collection is sure to interest both casual readers and students of Russian literature.About the Series: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.
The central conflict involves the moral and political instability of the Russian throne as Boris Godunov grapples with the weight of his usurped power. Pushkin explores the psychological erosion of a ruler haunted by the specter of a murdered child, set against a backdrop of social unrest and pretenders to the crown. The narrative framework utilizes a series of dramatic vignettes and verse plays that shift between historical realism and metaphysical inquiry. These works examine the tension between individual ambition and the inexorable forces of fate and history.
Readers and critics frequently highlight the versatility of Pushkin's dramatic voice, noting how he transitions seamlessly from historical chronicle to intimate, philosophical tragedy. Discussion often centers on the precision of James E. Falen's verse translations, which are praised for maintaining the rhythmic integrity of the original Russian text. Scholars emphasize the importance of the Little Tragedies as a study of human obsession and moral failure. The collection is widely regarded as a vital resource for understanding the evolution of Russian drama within the broader European tradition. Readers appreciate the inclusion of expert introductions that provide necessary historical context for these complex works.
Page Count:
256
Publication Date:
2009-11-02
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0199554048
ISBN-13:
9780199554041
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