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Four Russian Short Stories
In these stories, four writers—all exiles from revolutionary Russia—explore four deaths in a world in which old certainties have crumbled.
56 pages, Paperback
First published February 22, 2018
17 people are currently reading
722 people want to read
About the author
Gaito Gazdanov
41 books162 followersGaito Gazdanov (Russian: Гайто Газданов; Ossetian: Гæздæнты Бæппийы фырт Гайто) (1903–1971) was a Russian émigré writer of Ossetian extraction. He was born in Saint Petersburg but was brought up in Siberia and Ukraine, where his father worked as a forester. He took part in the Russian Civil War on the side of Wrangel's White Army. In 1920 he left Russia and settled in Paris, where he was employed in the Renault factories. Gazdanov's first novel — An Evening with Claire (1930) — won accolades from Maxim Gorky and Vladislav Khodasevich, who noted his indebtedness to Marcel Proust. On the strength of his first short stories, Gazdanov was decried by critics as one of the most gifted writers to begin his career in emigration.
Gazdanov's mature work was produced after World War II. His mastery of criminal plots and understanding of psychological detail are in full evidence in his two most popular novels, The Specter of Alexander Wolf and The Return of the Buddha, whose English translations appeared in 1950 and 1951. The writer "excels in creating characters and plots in which cynicism and despair remain in precarious yet convincing balance with a courageous acceptance of life and even a certain joie de vivre." In 1953, Gazdanov joined the Radio Liberty, where he hosted a program about Russian literature until his death.
Gazdanov's mature work was produced after World War II. His mastery of criminal plots and understanding of psychological detail are in full evidence in his two most popular novels, The Specter of Alexander Wolf and The Return of the Buddha, whose English translations appeared in 1950 and 1951. The writer "excels in creating characters and plots in which cynicism and despair remain in precarious yet convincing balance with a courageous acceptance of life and even a certain joie de vivre." In 1953, Gazdanov joined the Radio Liberty, where he hosted a program about Russian literature until his death.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
March 23, 2022
She wants to place his hand to her breast, so that he should know what is happening to her heart, she wants to place his hand to her left breast for a long time, for ever...
-The Murder of Valskovsky
Quatro escritores, três russos e uma ucraniana, todos eles exilados em França, todos eles a escrever sobre a morte.
Destes quatro contos russos, o meu preferido pertence a Nina Berberova, o que não me surpreende. Ela é perita na vertigem do abismo e aqui explora-a na perfeição com o enlevo de uma mulher casada por um “patife”, como ela o caracteriza, com idade para ser seu filho.
Destaco também Galina Kuznetsova que, num conto talvez autobiográfico, visto que também ela teve de fugir dos bolcheviques de navio, em poucas páginas, num cenário em que refugiados têm de abandonar os seus cavalos, conseguiu remeter-me para uma das imagens que mais me emociona na fuga actual dos ucranianos: trazerem as transportadoras com os gatos e os seus cães pela trela.
Kunak, de Galina Kuznetsova – 4*
A Miracle, de Yuri Felsen -4*
The Murder of Valkovsky , de Nina Berberova -5*
Requiem, de Gaito Gazdanov – 3*
That is why I sympathized doubly with this man, who was unknown to me and doubtless broken by suffering. I knew the agony of withdrawal, only just having grown accustomed to the morphine’s effect and the agony of escaping it.
-A Miracle
-The Murder of Valskovsky
Quatro escritores, três russos e uma ucraniana, todos eles exilados em França, todos eles a escrever sobre a morte.
Destes quatro contos russos, o meu preferido pertence a Nina Berberova, o que não me surpreende. Ela é perita na vertigem do abismo e aqui explora-a na perfeição com o enlevo de uma mulher casada por um “patife”, como ela o caracteriza, com idade para ser seu filho.
Destaco também Galina Kuznetsova que, num conto talvez autobiográfico, visto que também ela teve de fugir dos bolcheviques de navio, em poucas páginas, num cenário em que refugiados têm de abandonar os seus cavalos, conseguiu remeter-me para uma das imagens que mais me emociona na fuga actual dos ucranianos: trazerem as transportadoras com os gatos e os seus cães pela trela.
Kunak, de Galina Kuznetsova – 4*
A Miracle, de Yuri Felsen -4*
The Murder of Valkovsky , de Nina Berberova -5*
Requiem, de Gaito Gazdanov – 3*
That is why I sympathized doubly with this man, who was unknown to me and doubtless broken by suffering. I knew the agony of withdrawal, only just having grown accustomed to the morphine’s effect and the agony of escaping it.
-A Miracle
December 29, 2022
These four stories, written in the early 20th century by Russian writers in exile all explore death. Perhaps it is a result of the tumultuous time in history, but the collection felt overwrought and too melodramatic for my tastes.
Penguin Modern Classics
#1 - Letter from Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King, Jr.
#2 - Television Was a Baby Crawling Toward That Deathchamber by Allen Ginsberg
#3 - The Breakthrough by Daphne Du Maurier
#4 - The Custard Heart by Dorothy Parker
#5 - Three Japanese Short Stories (3 authors)
#6 - The Veiled Woman by Anais Nin
#7 - Notes on Nationalism by George Orwell
#8 - Food by Gertrude Stein
#9 - The Three Electroknights by Stanislaw Lem
#10 - The Great Hunger by Patrick Kavanagh
#11 - The Legend of the Sleepers by Danilo Kis
#12 - The Black Ball by Ralph Ellison
#13 - Till September Petronella by Jean Rhys
#14 - Investigations of a Dog by Franz Kafka
#15 - Daydream and Drunkenness of a Young Lady by Clarice Lispector
#16 - An Advertisement for Toothpaste by Ryszard Kapuscinski
#17 - Create Dangerously by Albert Camus
#18 - The Vigilante by John Steinbeck
#19 - I Have More Souls than One by Fernando Pessoa
#20 - The Missing Girl by Shirlely Jackson
#21 - Gazdanov & Others
Penguin Modern Classics
#1 - Letter from Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King, Jr.
#2 - Television Was a Baby Crawling Toward That Deathchamber by Allen Ginsberg
#3 - The Breakthrough by Daphne Du Maurier
#4 - The Custard Heart by Dorothy Parker
#5 - Three Japanese Short Stories (3 authors)
#6 - The Veiled Woman by Anais Nin
#7 - Notes on Nationalism by George Orwell
#8 - Food by Gertrude Stein
#9 - The Three Electroknights by Stanislaw Lem
#10 - The Great Hunger by Patrick Kavanagh
#11 - The Legend of the Sleepers by Danilo Kis
#12 - The Black Ball by Ralph Ellison
#13 - Till September Petronella by Jean Rhys
#14 - Investigations of a Dog by Franz Kafka
#15 - Daydream and Drunkenness of a Young Lady by Clarice Lispector
#16 - An Advertisement for Toothpaste by Ryszard Kapuscinski
#17 - Create Dangerously by Albert Camus
#18 - The Vigilante by John Steinbeck
#19 - I Have More Souls than One by Fernando Pessoa
#20 - The Missing Girl by Shirlely Jackson
#21 - Gazdanov & Others
April 6, 2018
Originally posted on A Frolic Through Fiction
To summarise this one easily, all of these stories explore some kind of death. With the first one, Kunak, coming to a grand total of 8 pages, I didn’t form an opinion on the story itself – however I did immediately find I didn’t get along with the writing style of this author. There were just way too many commas. It felt disjointed, and those 8 pages felt like a faulty start of staggered progress. So moving on. The second one, A Miracle, I enjoyed considerably more. The writing style of this one felt more like what you’d expect from Victorian classics, with every word carefully chosen to convey the perfect feeling. I found myself reading into the ambiguities of the stories, particularly the hospital staff, and it left me with plenty to think about after reading. Onto The Murder of Valkovsky, which again impressed me. I wasn’t too sure at first because you’re met with a series of really long sentences, but in the end I warmed to these, as they showed a real intensity in emotion and made me feel like I was inside the character’s head, almost like a stream of consciousness. The story was surrounded by a sense of jittery anxiety that comes from anticipation, and the air of mystery was only enhanced by the fact that you never learn what the main woman’s name is. As for the fourth…well, I honestly can’t remember much from it, which probably sums up the impression I gathered from it while reading. While the two bookend stories left more to be desired, the two middle stories caught my attention immediately and left me so impressed, it actually gained the higher rating.
January 1, 2020
A short little sampler of writing from four Russian exiled revolutionary-era writers. I was pleasantly surprised that 2/4 of the writers featured were women, which is particularly important as Russian literature is eclipsed by such giants like Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky. I also enjoyed that the four tales were tied together by one theme: death.
There is a phrase in the last story that aptly describes the entire selection: "tragic surrealism." All the stories are a bit strange. Their narratives follow traditional writing but somehow skew it so that the characters appear almost absurd and Gothic.
"Kunak" by Galina Kuznetsova was one of the two best stories. Content warning for a cruel animal death, though. Kuznetsova's story is the shortest but expertly creates a sense of suspense and dread from the first sentence. I liked how the shocking events of the story were juxtaposed with the cold, detached description of the landscape.
"A Miracle" by Yury Felsen reminded me of the style of Alexander Kuprin and the memoirs of young Tolstoy. Not much to the story, besides a general disillusionment with the world and a fractured view of humanity.
"The Murder of Valkovsky" by Nina Berberova was an interesting twist both on the story of adultery and a noir murder-mystery. Here the surrealism is particularly palpable, but so is the examination of the wife's internal struggle. It is written in the same manner that literary fiction likes to examine male fidelity and struggle with domesticity.
"Requiem" by Gaito Gazdanov was the strongest story. The writing is particularly striking during the expository passages. For example: "On a rare winter's night did the moon illuminate this frozen, almost spectral city, sprung out of someone's monstrous imagination and forgotten in the apocalyptic depths of time."
The last story takes place in Paris during the German occupation and follows a group of Russian expats who have suddenly found themselves rich from selling ordinary goods to the German army on the black market. It is solemn and lyrical and embodies the "tragic surrealism" mentioned above to the fullest. I also liked the description of the characters as such: "they were in chronic and unconscious revolt against the European reality around them." I like the idea that going about your business as usual is a revolt in itself, without grand gestures.
There is a phrase in the last story that aptly describes the entire selection: "tragic surrealism." All the stories are a bit strange. Their narratives follow traditional writing but somehow skew it so that the characters appear almost absurd and Gothic.
"Kunak" by Galina Kuznetsova was one of the two best stories. Content warning for a cruel animal death, though. Kuznetsova's story is the shortest but expertly creates a sense of suspense and dread from the first sentence. I liked how the shocking events of the story were juxtaposed with the cold, detached description of the landscape.
"A Miracle" by Yury Felsen reminded me of the style of Alexander Kuprin and the memoirs of young Tolstoy. Not much to the story, besides a general disillusionment with the world and a fractured view of humanity.
"The Murder of Valkovsky" by Nina Berberova was an interesting twist both on the story of adultery and a noir murder-mystery. Here the surrealism is particularly palpable, but so is the examination of the wife's internal struggle. It is written in the same manner that literary fiction likes to examine male fidelity and struggle with domesticity.
"Requiem" by Gaito Gazdanov was the strongest story. The writing is particularly striking during the expository passages. For example: "On a rare winter's night did the moon illuminate this frozen, almost spectral city, sprung out of someone's monstrous imagination and forgotten in the apocalyptic depths of time."
The last story takes place in Paris during the German occupation and follows a group of Russian expats who have suddenly found themselves rich from selling ordinary goods to the German army on the black market. It is solemn and lyrical and embodies the "tragic surrealism" mentioned above to the fullest. I also liked the description of the characters as such: "they were in chronic and unconscious revolt against the European reality around them." I like the idea that going about your business as usual is a revolt in itself, without grand gestures.
December 15, 2022
I don't like Russian stories generally, which is especially not a popular view for a man who reads. I find them bleak and bland, they lack passion. These are four stories about someone dying for no reason, and nobody cares enough for it to be tragic, but that is the point, and while that can be nice if done in a big realistic and deep way that challenges this perspective with some dramatic tension that just isn't possible for such short stories, especially ones without smooth translations that do not try to feel alive.
I wouldn't dislike anyone for loving this, but I would pity their desire for such gloomily barren stories.
I wouldn't dislike anyone for loving this, but I would pity their desire for such gloomily barren stories.
July 30, 2023
These stories were very, well, Russian, especially the sad and disturbing opener, “Kunak,” by Galina Kuznetsova. But they’re all beautifully written, in their sparse, terse way. The highlight is Nina Berberova’s “The Murder of Valkovsky,” which gives away the ending in the title yet doesn’t quite do it in the way you’re led to expect. I also liked “Miracle,” by Yury Felsen, which is given an extra layer of melancholy by the matter-of-fact detail given at the front of the book that he died in Auschwitz in 1943.
Overall, three stories that really stick with you and a fourth that is … fine, if not particularly memorable. A pretty good selection, I’d say.
Overall, three stories that really stick with you and a fourth that is … fine, if not particularly memorable. A pretty good selection, I’d say.
July 16, 2018
Each of the four authors collected together in the twenty-first Penguin Modern, Four Russian Short Stories, were exiles of Revolutionary Russia. Galina Kuznetsova, Yury Felsen, Nina Berberova, and Gaito Gazdanov each 'explore deaths in a world in which old certainties have crumbled' in 'Kunak' (1930), 'A Miracle' (1934), 'The Murder of Valkovsky' (1934), and 'Requiem' (1960) respectively.
I was very excited to get to this volume, as I adore Russian literature, and had not read anything by any of these authors before. The content of these tales is varied and far-reaching, as one might expect; the first is about a horse, the second about hospital patients and addiction, the third deals with a married woman's infatuation with another man, and the fourth, which takes place in wartime Paris, focuses upon the emergence of the black market and artwork. Four Russian Short Stories is fascinating to read, and a real treat for fans of Eastern European literature.
I was very excited to get to this volume, as I adore Russian literature, and had not read anything by any of these authors before. The content of these tales is varied and far-reaching, as one might expect; the first is about a horse, the second about hospital patients and addiction, the third deals with a married woman's infatuation with another man, and the fourth, which takes place in wartime Paris, focuses upon the emergence of the black market and artwork. Four Russian Short Stories is fascinating to read, and a real treat for fans of Eastern European literature.
July 23, 2018
Four Russian Short Stories, includes stories from four exiled Russian authors, and is the twenty-first book in Penguin's Little Modern series. It's a short little thing at only 50 odd pages, and makes for a quick read. This was a bit of a disappointing read for me, and I think I went into this with too high expectations. Out of the four stories, two I didn't like at all, one was alright, and one I really liked. I just haven't decided if four disappointing stories are worth one really good one. I'd like to read more from that author, but in all hasty I don't think I'm a sort story sort of person.
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January 6, 2019
Really liked the short stories, they were all amazing and unique! I wish some of them were longer, the characters were interesting. I love this sort of books, through books like this you find new authors!
May 25, 2018
This contains stories by Nina Berberova, Yury Felsen, Gaito Gazdanov and Galina Kuznetsova and it was fun. It left me wanting more, so that can only be good, right? It’s hard to choose a favourite.
May 9, 2019
Four stars for the haunting, eerie, unresolved state of each story
September 22, 2018
Čtyři krátký povídky o smrti od Rusáků v exilu. Jelikož byly napsány textem, jedná se o tzv. literární disciplínu textil. To je samozřejmě doména spíš angličanů, kteří vynalezli město Mančester, a Arabů, kteří již v dobách Šeherezády vynalezli džiny. Já jsem dnes taky jeden džin objevil a to hned osmkrát a s tonikem Nerad bych se tu ale pouštěl do hlubokých literárních terminologistik, ještě bych vám zavařil hlavy a to bych nerad, protože nemám zavařovací sklenice.
Po vyčerpávajícím úvodu tedy zpět k povídkám: nic moc.
Po vyčerpávajícím úvodu tedy zpět k povídkám: nic moc.
August 27, 2018
Four short stories from four writers-- who all exiles from revolutionary Russia, exploring stories about death and survival in different views.
Kunak (Galina Kuznetsova)
A story of an abandoned horse discovered swimming for its life during a chaotic refugees attempt to find safety at the coast. This was fairly okay, not my favorite but on how the writer narrated the scene was superb, such devotion and suspense.
A Miracle (Yury Felsen)
A mysterious story told by a patient narrator (who recuperating after a serious operation) about his new bed neighbor, a morphinist. I like how the writer portraying the character's feeling-- intriguing and very secretive. Ending was unexpected.
The Murder of Valkovsky (Nina Berberova)
About love, companionship, passion and death. Dramatic and classic.
Requiem (Gaito Gazdanov)
Beautifully written, this was my favorite among all four. Melancholic, it feels like the narrator was reading a diary of his friendship and lost, very appealing and tragic.
Might be unfair to rate them all as one cause I think they deserve star rating differently. But anyhoo, overall I quite love it a lot. 3.5 stars!
Kunak (Galina Kuznetsova)
A story of an abandoned horse discovered swimming for its life during a chaotic refugees attempt to find safety at the coast. This was fairly okay, not my favorite but on how the writer narrated the scene was superb, such devotion and suspense.
A Miracle (Yury Felsen)
A mysterious story told by a patient narrator (who recuperating after a serious operation) about his new bed neighbor, a morphinist. I like how the writer portraying the character's feeling-- intriguing and very secretive. Ending was unexpected.
The Murder of Valkovsky (Nina Berberova)
About love, companionship, passion and death. Dramatic and classic.
Requiem (Gaito Gazdanov)
Beautifully written, this was my favorite among all four. Melancholic, it feels like the narrator was reading a diary of his friendship and lost, very appealing and tragic.
Might be unfair to rate them all as one cause I think they deserve star rating differently. But anyhoo, overall I quite love it a lot. 3.5 stars!
May 27, 2018
For short stories by exiles, one who tragically died in a concentration camp.
Kunak is short and pithy, as an abandoned horse is discovered swimming for its life by a group of people.
A Miracle is the standout story here, as an inpatient awaits, then experiences a strange form of company during his recuperation.
The Murder of Valkovsky is the one most like those of classic Russian lit but, oddly, remains the least effective.
Requiem is a wartime tale of life and death and is rather affecting.
Kunak is short and pithy, as an abandoned horse is discovered swimming for its life by a group of people.
A Miracle is the standout story here, as an inpatient awaits, then experiences a strange form of company during his recuperation.
The Murder of Valkovsky is the one most like those of classic Russian lit but, oddly, remains the least effective.
Requiem is a wartime tale of life and death and is rather affecting.
February 21, 2019
I own a couple of copies of penguin modern, all of them are really good, especially this one. It contains four short stories featuring death by four russian writers. I especially liked the third story.
June 18, 2019
Don’t Remember
Less than a month has gone by, but I hardly remember anything of what the stories said. The first one was about a horse. Don’t know if this says something about the stories themselves, or about me…
Less than a month has gone by, but I hardly remember anything of what the stories said. The first one was about a horse. Don’t know if this says something about the stories themselves, or about me…
March 16, 2021
As the title suggests four short stories. A mixed bag of stories but i enjoyed them all, especially the one by Gaito Gazdanov. Owning several of his books, it is time to read them I feel. His was a very enjoyable story.
March 24, 2020
Gazdanov's "Requiem" makes this 5 stars
April 25, 2020
Kunak, Galina Kuznetsova: ★★★☆☆
A Miracle, Yury Felsen: ★★★☆☆
The Murder of Valkovsky, Nina Berberova: ★★★★☆
Requiem, Gaito Gazdanov: ★★★★☆
A Miracle, Yury Felsen: ★★★☆☆
The Murder of Valkovsky, Nina Berberova: ★★★★☆
Requiem, Gaito Gazdanov: ★★★★☆
December 14, 2025
Overall I found these kinda mid. Each one got better than the last, peaking by far with the final one, but even that wasn’t ground breaking enough for me. Maybe I’m reading too many short stories these days because I found these a little generic, which is a shame but also if it’s going to be picked as a modern classic it needs to stand out. Definitely not a pain to read like the others but I probably don’t explore their other works.
April 5, 2023
Requiem was the best one.
August 8, 2023
Four short stories, all well written and worth your time. The one that stood out for me was the disturbingly unmoored, terror-filled first story ‘Kunak’, by Galina Kuznetsova.
August 26, 2023
Vivid settings, wonderful narration.
Read
December 23, 2025The Russians! Always great. Requiem by Gazdanov was the best.
March 21, 2018
Why are modern Russian writers always so grim? These stories – all penned by exiles from revolutionary Russia – explore four deaths, each echoing a distinct persona of Death with a capital D.
Kunak: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Arresting in its brevity, Kunak wields Death's double-edged scythe of cruelty and compassion – the former made all the more horrific by the blunt twist. No, that isn't quite right. The predictability of the blunt twist. Because, with our pitiful human hearts, we let ourselves get lost in Kuznetsova's hopeless fantasy, buoyed by the crowd's naïve expectation and these soon-to-be exiles' new beginnings, only for it all to then and swept away "in the quick-flowing water" that is life.
A Miracle: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Here, Death taunts us from afar – we never even learn the name of one of his victims. Yet even as Yury Felsen swaddles his readers in a sterile, stupefying hospital ward, Death manages to show off his most cunning poison: despair.
I admit I was confused by the final line though. Did it matter who the wife was? Was it just to show the cavalier, impersonal face of Death? Am I overthinking it? Will we ever know?
The Murder of Valkovsky: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I enjoyed this story the least, although the lucid characterisations were a light, pleasant read. Death was not impactful here besides providing some relief. But as I did not sympathise much with the heroine, even this relief was rather subdued. Not to mention the detached, dreamlike quality the whole scene had. As much as she succeeded in encouraging my (uncharacteristic) delight at the heroine's mild ludicrousness, Berberova ultimately failed to make me care.
I suppose the takeaway was still somewhat intriguing: we all know passion kills, but passion depleted is still more deadly than its thrall.
Requiem: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Until the final two pages, Requiem was unremarkable. Death was quick, matter-of-factly foreshadowed, typically tragic. And yet – amongst characters and customs so foreign, so unlikely to arouse any feelings of fellowship, I was inexplicably moved to tears. There is something in the human condition that cannot help but warm in the presence of brotherhood, even a brotherhood we were never members of.
Overall rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"Seven o'clock? Another hour gone. But I'm not afraid. There's only one thing I regret: that I've lived for so many years without knowing where human happiness is to be found."
Kunak: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Arresting in its brevity, Kunak wields Death's double-edged scythe of cruelty and compassion – the former made all the more horrific by the blunt twist. No, that isn't quite right. The predictability of the blunt twist. Because, with our pitiful human hearts, we let ourselves get lost in Kuznetsova's hopeless fantasy, buoyed by the crowd's naïve expectation and these soon-to-be exiles' new beginnings, only for it all to then and swept away "in the quick-flowing water" that is life.
A Miracle: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Here, Death taunts us from afar – we never even learn the name of one of his victims. Yet even as Yury Felsen swaddles his readers in a sterile, stupefying hospital ward, Death manages to show off his most cunning poison: despair.
I admit I was confused by the final line though. Did it matter who the wife was? Was it just to show the cavalier, impersonal face of Death? Am I overthinking it? Will we ever know?
The Murder of Valkovsky: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I enjoyed this story the least, although the lucid characterisations were a light, pleasant read. Death was not impactful here besides providing some relief. But as I did not sympathise much with the heroine, even this relief was rather subdued. Not to mention the detached, dreamlike quality the whole scene had. As much as she succeeded in encouraging my (uncharacteristic) delight at the heroine's mild ludicrousness, Berberova ultimately failed to make me care.
I suppose the takeaway was still somewhat intriguing: we all know passion kills, but passion depleted is still more deadly than its thrall.
Requiem: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Until the final two pages, Requiem was unremarkable. Death was quick, matter-of-factly foreshadowed, typically tragic. And yet – amongst characters and customs so foreign, so unlikely to arouse any feelings of fellowship, I was inexplicably moved to tears. There is something in the human condition that cannot help but warm in the presence of brotherhood, even a brotherhood we were never members of.
Overall rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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March 7, 2018
The second Penguin Modern that I have read recently has been this collection of short stories by Russian writers.
The stories include: Kunak by Galina Kuznetsova, A Miracle by Yury Felsen, The Murder of Valkovsky by Nina Berberova, and Gaito Gazdanov's Requeim. Each of them deal with a death in differing contexts in their own unique style, and in my opinion, varying degrees of success in terms of keeping the reader interested. Felsen's A Miracle, was in my opinion slow, uninteresting and failed to leave any lasting impact on me whatsoever- the same can almost be said of Kuznetsova's Kunak, as it was extremely short, and it came across as nothing more than an extensive description of a scene unfolding. Given that these two stories were the first two in this short stories collection, my hopes for an interesting story was diminishing.
Thankfully, The Murder of Valkovsky is somewhat of an improvement- but it wasn't a riveting read. The characters are more interesting, which helps for the story to have a voice which the reader can interact with, criticise or agree with. The writing is something I appreciated more in Berberova's work as she manages to capture certain emotions more vividly, and that is perhaps the best aspect of this short story.
But by far my favourite story of this collection is Gazdanov's Requeim. My enjoyment and appreciation of this story is largely down to the three factors that are missing from the other stories: an appealing writing style, an interesting story, and a clear message that is conveyed to the reader. The ending is moving and is the highlight of this collection of short stories. Gazdanov's style intrigues me, and I am interested in reading more works of his- this Penguin Modern book has done its job by introducing me to a writer that I would not normally come across. Here's to reading more Russian Literature!
The stories include: Kunak by Galina Kuznetsova, A Miracle by Yury Felsen, The Murder of Valkovsky by Nina Berberova, and Gaito Gazdanov's Requeim. Each of them deal with a death in differing contexts in their own unique style, and in my opinion, varying degrees of success in terms of keeping the reader interested. Felsen's A Miracle, was in my opinion slow, uninteresting and failed to leave any lasting impact on me whatsoever- the same can almost be said of Kuznetsova's Kunak, as it was extremely short, and it came across as nothing more than an extensive description of a scene unfolding. Given that these two stories were the first two in this short stories collection, my hopes for an interesting story was diminishing.
Thankfully, The Murder of Valkovsky is somewhat of an improvement- but it wasn't a riveting read. The characters are more interesting, which helps for the story to have a voice which the reader can interact with, criticise or agree with. The writing is something I appreciated more in Berberova's work as she manages to capture certain emotions more vividly, and that is perhaps the best aspect of this short story.
But by far my favourite story of this collection is Gazdanov's Requeim. My enjoyment and appreciation of this story is largely down to the three factors that are missing from the other stories: an appealing writing style, an interesting story, and a clear message that is conveyed to the reader. The ending is moving and is the highlight of this collection of short stories. Gazdanov's style intrigues me, and I am interested in reading more works of his- this Penguin Modern book has done its job by introducing me to a writer that I would not normally come across. Here's to reading more Russian Literature!
March 8, 2018
These short stories weren’t necessarily unenjoyable, but I just didn’t find satisfaction from them whatsoever. In this new Penguin Modern, you have four exiled Russian writers - Nina Berberova, Yury Felsen, Gaito Gazdanov and Galina Kuznetsova - all writing about death and crime. These writers have fled their homeland as a result of the 1917 revolutions and subsequent Civil War, which add an extra something to the stories.
I just didn’t really understand what was going on in them. Not because they were difficult to understand, or because I was unable to follow along, but because they were so random. The first story, for example, is about a horse swimming and eventually disappearing in the ocean. Although the background story - people escaping on boats - was interesting, it was only alluded to. I just didn’t get it. Maybe I’m missing the bigger picture? Maybe it because I don’t really understand the context? Either way, I didn’t like it.
With the others, especially the crime ones, I just felt they lacked. As usual, it was probably because of the short story format. I’m yet to find an enjoyable short story that doesn’t feel rushed, ends in an unsatisfactory way or has any development in plot and character. With crime stories (I found this with Coyle’s Sherlock Holmes for example), the length doesn’t allow the writer to fully explore the crime scene and then possible suspects. It needs more room, thus explaining why these stories fell short for me.
I picked this up because I want to read more Russian writers, and I thought this would be a great place to start. It probably is for those of you who enjoy short stories and crime fiction, but I don’t really. I’ll have to read a novel next time, and see if I like it more.
I just didn’t really understand what was going on in them. Not because they were difficult to understand, or because I was unable to follow along, but because they were so random. The first story, for example, is about a horse swimming and eventually disappearing in the ocean. Although the background story - people escaping on boats - was interesting, it was only alluded to. I just didn’t get it. Maybe I’m missing the bigger picture? Maybe it because I don’t really understand the context? Either way, I didn’t like it.
With the others, especially the crime ones, I just felt they lacked. As usual, it was probably because of the short story format. I’m yet to find an enjoyable short story that doesn’t feel rushed, ends in an unsatisfactory way or has any development in plot and character. With crime stories (I found this with Coyle’s Sherlock Holmes for example), the length doesn’t allow the writer to fully explore the crime scene and then possible suspects. It needs more room, thus explaining why these stories fell short for me.
I picked this up because I want to read more Russian writers, and I thought this would be a great place to start. It probably is for those of you who enjoy short stories and crime fiction, but I don’t really. I’ll have to read a novel next time, and see if I like it more.
December 24, 2018
“Four Russian Short Stories” by Gazdanov & Others
Four short stories from four writers in this Penguin Modern book #21. Exiles from revolutionary Russia, exploring stories about death and survival in different views.
* Kunak (Galina Kuznetsova)
Oh, the abandoned horse swimming for its life whilst chaotic refugees seek access to an overcrowded ship.
* A Miracle (Yury Felsen) was first published in 1934. Set in a clinic the narrator is bored and must recuperate. A most unexpected ending.
“My rule is to agree, not to argue, not to object. That way, the outside world remains somehow acceptable: I haven’t the energy to fight. Sometimes, with no good cause, I hope that everything will clear up…”
* The Murder of Valkovsky (Nina Berberova)
About love, companionship, passion and death. Dramatic and classic.
* Requiem (Gaito Gazdanov)
Appealing and tragic.
“For Christ's sake, stop harrowing my soul with all your shouting.” (p44)
“The February dusk fell, plunging Paris into the icy darkness typical of this time of year, and night shrouded everything that had just taken place. Afterwards, it began to seem as if none of this had ever happened, as if it had all been an apparition, eternity’s brief intrusion into the historical reality in which we just happened to live, uttering foreign words in a foreign tongue, not knowing where we were headed, having forgotten whence we came.”
Four short stories from four writers in this Penguin Modern book #21. Exiles from revolutionary Russia, exploring stories about death and survival in different views.
* Kunak (Galina Kuznetsova)
Oh, the abandoned horse swimming for its life whilst chaotic refugees seek access to an overcrowded ship.
* A Miracle (Yury Felsen) was first published in 1934. Set in a clinic the narrator is bored and must recuperate. A most unexpected ending.
“My rule is to agree, not to argue, not to object. That way, the outside world remains somehow acceptable: I haven’t the energy to fight. Sometimes, with no good cause, I hope that everything will clear up…”
* The Murder of Valkovsky (Nina Berberova)
About love, companionship, passion and death. Dramatic and classic.
* Requiem (Gaito Gazdanov)
Appealing and tragic.
“For Christ's sake, stop harrowing my soul with all your shouting.” (p44)
“The February dusk fell, plunging Paris into the icy darkness typical of this time of year, and night shrouded everything that had just taken place. Afterwards, it began to seem as if none of this had ever happened, as if it had all been an apparition, eternity’s brief intrusion into the historical reality in which we just happened to live, uttering foreign words in a foreign tongue, not knowing where we were headed, having forgotten whence we came.”
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