История его слуги

by Eduard Limonov, Эдуард Лимонов

"Я стоял, прижавшись к дверной раме спиной, и пытался понять, в чем же я виноват. Я отослал в чистку его серые брюки, которые он сам же положил на сундук, стоящий у самой парадной двери нашего дома. Брюки были в пятнах и лежали среди других испачканных вещей, предназначавшихся для отправки в чистку. Сундук — наше специально условленное для этой цели место. Он же, оказывается, хотел взять серые брюки с собой, это были его особые самолетные брюки. Бедняга, он не имел больше брюк, в шкафах висело, может быть, с сотню костюмов...."

Genres: Fiction, Russia

400 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Russian: Эдуард Лимонов

Russian novelist and dissident political thinker.

Limonov is the leader of the unregistered National Bolshevik Party (NBP). Limonov served two years in prison for illegaly purchasing weapons.

Limonov's works are noted for their cynicism. His novels are also memoirs, describing his experiences as a youth in Russia and as émigré in the United States

Reviews

[Vit Babenco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who is superior? A master? Or his servant?
The answer isn’t always so obvious…
The tale falls on your head right out of the blue…

I had been completely captivated, completely enthralled by him for two months. Then on the twenty-eighth of February, 1979 – I remember that day of my humiliation well – his limousine came to take him to the airport, since he was going to California, and in the last minutes before he left, he treated me to a nasty little show of hysterics. He stamped his feet and stormed up and down the stairs, screaming the same thing over and over again: “God damn you! God damn you!” His face turned red, his beard bristled, and his eyes seemed about to pop out of their sockets.

The story is being told by the butler and naturally he is superior to all other characters in his tale… He talks about his love affairs in graphic depictions… He tells how he has become a housekeeper… He tells us many things… When he isn’t lying he is sincere… He calls his master Gatsby…
Edward Limonov was an unprincipled man but he was a good writer… He was an unscrupulous egotist so there was no higher person than him in the entire wide world…

…if you compare Gatsby and me, then who’s better, who’s more talented, who’s more needed by the world? For me, that’s the fateful question, the one I ask myself every day as I struggle and contend with my employer and rival, even if he’s a beast and a devil, albeit a charming devil, a product of contemporary civilization, a brilliant devil in a gorgeous car. Edward Limonov and Gatsby. Which one will triumph?

When the cat’s away the mice will play.

[Анна · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know that classic Onion headline, “Heartbreaking: The Worst Person You Know Just Made A Great Point”?

yea that’s how it’s feels reading Limonov.
Talented fucking dickhead. RIP

[John Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part 2 of Eduard Limonov's "New York trilogy." This book is stronger in form and prose than "It's Me, Eddie," and is clearly written by a Limonov who is more mature, disciplined, and rigorous than before. In this book, Limonov the extreme leftist goes to work as a butler for an incredibly rich CEO. While there he takes as much advantage as he can of the literal "enemy" of everything he holds dear, eating the rich man's food, hosting in the rich man's house, and fucking the rich man's women. In a way, Limonov addresses in this book one of the primary contradictions that leftists in the first world face - that is, it's impossible to avoid taking material advantage of the wealth and privilege that empire provides, while also calling for the end of the very thing that provides everything. The ending of the book reveals us all for who we are . . .

This book does not aim as high as "It's Me, Eddie," and possibly for that it's a stronger book. Highly recommended

[Elena · Rating 3 out of 5]

La culpa es de Carrère que, con su libro sobre Limónov, ya desvelaba los entresijos de la vida del ucraniano, dejando poco lugar para la sorpresa. Podía decir eso. Pero lo cierto es que "Historia de un servidor" no me ha gustado tanto como esperaba por motivos propios. No solo por conocer más o menos las circunstancias de su vida que, en el fondo me da igual, sino porque la escritura de Limónov no ha acabado de atraparme, esperaba más. Las andanzas sexuales me han parecido poca cosa frente a un Henry Miller; y como misántropo, un chiquillo al lado de Céline o Houellebecq. Las contradicciones del personaje no me molestan pero, por muy autor maldito que era, me pesa demasiado su acomodo a la vida en casa del multimillonario. Lo que no se le puede negar es su sinceridad y desparpajo. Espero cruzármelo en un mejor momento en la próxima entrega.

[Israel Montoya Baquero · Rating 4 out of 5]

¿Qué puedo decir de este libro? Limonov 100%
El escritor continua narrándonos sus peripecias americanas, en esta ocasión al servicio de un acaudalado millonario neoyorquino, después de lo acontecido en "Soy yo, Edichka".
Esta claro que no es un autor para todos los gustos y que, adoptando una postura tan radical como la del propio poeta, o se ama o se odia. Yo, categóricamente, me incluyo entre sus fieles admiradores...

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing novel about living in the shadow of decadent wealth. In Limonov's scathing style as a Russian punk living in New York, he condemns yet craves the excesses of the bourgeoisie. Highly recommended.

[Kobe Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is mostly about a guy bragging about getting laid. If that's what you say bruh

[Miloš Milenković · Rating 3 out of 5]

Limomov je talentovan pisac, ali je prilično gadan čovek

[Mick Harvey · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the misanthropic vein of the work of Celine, Houellebecq et al, Limonov's rambling misanthrope narrator is fuelled by delusions of grandeur and hatred for hypocrisy and weakness, despite displaying massive amounts of these traits throughout the novel. Whilst the plot is pretty thin, and the prose often a little leaden, the story is kept going by a wry sense of humour and a pointed eye undercutting the laughable pretentions of every strata of social life.

[Nikita Kuzin · Rating 3 out of 5]

После Эдички уже не так впечатляет, слишком много однообразия и повторений. Какие-то моменты эмигрантского быта и какие-то наблюдения очень точны, но проблема всегда одна: у Лимонова ровно один герой - он сам любимый. В мире все-таки нет таких людей (или персонажей), за действиями и мыслями которых хочется наблюдать неотступно на протяжении сотен страниц. Так что принцип "тех же щей да погуще влей" тут не срабатывает.

[J.Christmas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is better written and structured than "It's me, Eddie" – which was essentially one long hysterical outcry – although perhaps less poignant. Limonov's narrator (presumably autobiographical) isn't particularly likeable, but he is honest to such an extent that one can't help but respect his frankness. At the same time, all the talk of justice and revolution is somewhat undermined by the narrator solely chasing recognition and women.

[Charly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lo mejor de Limonov está aquí.

[Olga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Красивая зрелая проза, особенно зрелая по сравнению с "Это я, Эдичка".

[մառա]

Весь обед в гостиной звучал Вивальди. «Точно, - думаю я иронически. - Вивальди хорош для пищеварения».

[Grizel · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book proves that Limonov's most famous book, `It's Me, Eddie' was a fluke. Not that that was all that, either, but this one is practically unreadable. I slogged through it nevertheless, enduring Limonov's traditional themes of anger and narcissistic self-pity couched in literary and philosophical pretentiousness.
Really, the only reason I read his stuff is because he tried to foment an armed insurrection in Russia, which attracted the support of various European right-wingers like Alain de Benoist and got him (Limonov)thrown in jail. He also once said something to the effect that he wanted to create a political movement that combined the best elements of Nazism and Stalinism. I thought he could use some watching , but fortunately he seems too inept to actually accomplish what he intends. And his books are really, really boring.

[Andrei · Rating 3 out of 5]

Уже не так плохо, как "Эдичка", но все еще не очень. Лимонов, сука, ну как можно быть такой двуличной мразью? Этот петух постоянно ноет что-то про революцию и справедливость, но при этом с радостью идет прислугой к бизнесмену только ради сытой жизни в богатом доме. Самое крутое, что когда в конце один из издателей тыкает ему этим в лицо, пукан Эдички просто разрывается (метафорически, такой-то его Пьер де Чьелло был закалён в предыдущем опусе). Короче, "Вся суть поэтов-леваков 2: ебем жирух и чистим говно". Моя оценка 3 пердящих овуляхи из 5.

[Lesa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this because I was working for the French literary agency that got it published in the U.S. And it had a rock n roll cover. The first time I encountered a character with trichotillomania in a book.

[Yuli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Лично мне было интересно, так как описываемая ситуация знакома - 2 месяца прожила/ проработала у богатых людей. Но в этой книге уже нет любви - всё озлоблено и постоянная бездушная ёбля слуги Лимонова под конец совсем надоедает.