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After Arkadia
Set in the years leading up to and following the Russian revolution, this diptych of novels traces the fortunes of Jeanne, an actress whose career is cut short by the events of 1917 in Odessa. Driven into hiding during the Civil War, her world collapses as her family is destroyed.
- GenresFiction
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1980
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
November 30, 2023
An unusual novel; picked up in my favourite local antique/bookshop/rummage store for a mere £1.50. I have to admit I had never heard of Nella Bielski and there is little on wiki about her. Born in the Ukraine, studying philosophy at Moscow university and moving to France in 1962. She is a long-time collaborator with John Berger and has written novels, plays and film.
The blurb on the back of the novel quoted from the Times review by Jasper Rees; "hints of Nabokovian reverie and Pasternakian symbolism". That didn't put me off and I'm glad I bought it!
Having now read it and I can cetainly see the similarities with Pasternak.
Set initially in Odessa in the months and years leading up to the Russian Revolution, the novel centres on Jeanne, a dancer. She is suddenly unable to dance and becomes a silent screen star in Russia and to an extent in America. Jeanne is a waif-like almost transparent/transluscent character who appears (but isn't) fragile. Jeanne meets and falls in love with Alexander Illytch,a surgeon/doctor. At this point war and revolution intervene. Jeanne's mother and housekeeper leave for France and Alexander leaves for the front. Jeanne is left with a rag-tag of friends and acquaintances, Isaak and the consumptive Dasha, both Bolsheviks, Filaretov, a pianist at the local cinema,Grigory the coachman/handyman and his horse and Igoriok, a child whom jeanne has become responsible for in the chaos. They stumble along for a while until the chaos of the revolution strikes. Jeanne ends up in France with her mother, where she mixes with emigres, teaches dancing and relationships. The ending is abrupt and somewhat open. There is too much potential for spoilers, but the second half of the book is very powerful; an analysis of love, loss, friendship, family with a fair amount of food thrown in. It is also a very good account of the outworking of what would now be called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
I had not heard of Nella Bielski, but I was impressed by this profound and moving novel about how humanity copes with disaster and tragedy. The character of Jeanne is a remarkable creation; many layered, passionate, compassionate; one of the strongest and most interesting characters I have come across in a long time. Well worth looking up!
The blurb on the back of the novel quoted from the Times review by Jasper Rees; "hints of Nabokovian reverie and Pasternakian symbolism". That didn't put me off and I'm glad I bought it!
Having now read it and I can cetainly see the similarities with Pasternak.
Set initially in Odessa in the months and years leading up to the Russian Revolution, the novel centres on Jeanne, a dancer. She is suddenly unable to dance and becomes a silent screen star in Russia and to an extent in America. Jeanne is a waif-like almost transparent/transluscent character who appears (but isn't) fragile. Jeanne meets and falls in love with Alexander Illytch,a surgeon/doctor. At this point war and revolution intervene. Jeanne's mother and housekeeper leave for France and Alexander leaves for the front. Jeanne is left with a rag-tag of friends and acquaintances, Isaak and the consumptive Dasha, both Bolsheviks, Filaretov, a pianist at the local cinema,Grigory the coachman/handyman and his horse and Igoriok, a child whom jeanne has become responsible for in the chaos. They stumble along for a while until the chaos of the revolution strikes. Jeanne ends up in France with her mother, where she mixes with emigres, teaches dancing and relationships. The ending is abrupt and somewhat open. There is too much potential for spoilers, but the second half of the book is very powerful; an analysis of love, loss, friendship, family with a fair amount of food thrown in. It is also a very good account of the outworking of what would now be called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
I had not heard of Nella Bielski, but I was impressed by this profound and moving novel about how humanity copes with disaster and tragedy. The character of Jeanne is a remarkable creation; many layered, passionate, compassionate; one of the strongest and most interesting characters I have come across in a long time. Well worth looking up!
Displaying 1 of 1 review