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Manouche
English, Russian (translation)
- GenresLiterature
262 pages, Loose Leaf
First published January 1, 1972
About the author
Andrei Bely
162 books162 followersBoris Bugaev was born in Moscow, into a prominent intellectual family. His father, Nikolai Bugaev, was a leading mathematician who is regarded as a founder of the Moscow school of mathematics. His mother was not only highly intelligent but a famous society beauty, and the focus of considerable gossip. Young Boris was a polymath whose interests included mathematics, music, philosophy, and literature. He would go on to take part in both the Symbolist movement and the Russian school of neo-Kantianism.
Nikolai Bugaev was well known for his influential philosophical essays, in which he decried geometry and probability and trumpeted the virtues of hard analysis. Despite—or because of—his father's mathematical tastes, Boris Bugaev was fascinated by probability and particularly by entropy, a notion to which he frequently refers in works such as Kotik Letaev.
Bely's creative works notably influenced—and were influenced by—several literary schools, especially symbolism. They feature a striking mysticism and a sort of moody musicality. The far-reaching influence of his literary voice on Russian writers (and even musicians) has frequently been compared to the impact of James Joyce in the English-speaking world. The novelty of his sonic effects has also been compared to the innovative music of Charles Ives.[citation needed]
As a young man, Bely was strongly influenced by his acquaintance with the family of philosopher Vladimir Solovyov, especially Vladimir's younger brother Mikhail, described in his long autobiographical poem The First Encounter (1921); the title is a reflection of Vladimir Solovyov's Three Encounters.
Bely's symbolist novel Petersburg (1916; 1922) is generally considered to be his masterpiece. The book employs a striking prose method in which sounds often evoke colors. The novel is set in the somewhat hysterical atmosphere of turn-of-the-century Petersburg and the Russian Revolution of 1905. To the extent that the book can be said to possess a plot, this can be summarized as the story of the hapless Nikolai Apollonovich, a ne'er-do-well who is caught up in revolutionary politics and assigned the task of assassinating a certain government official—his own father. At one point, Nikolai is pursued through the Petersburg mists by the ringing hooves of the famous bronze statue of Peter the Great.[citation needed]
In his later years Bely was influenced by Rudolf Steiner’s anthroposophy[3][4] and became a personal friend of Steiner's. He died, aged 53, in Moscow.
Bely was one of the major influences on the theater of Vsevolod Meyerhold.[citation needed]
The Andrei Bely Prize (Russian: Премия Андрея Белого), one of the most important prizes in Russian literature, was named after him. His poems were set on music and frequently performed by Russian singer-songwriters.
Nikolai Bugaev was well known for his influential philosophical essays, in which he decried geometry and probability and trumpeted the virtues of hard analysis. Despite—or because of—his father's mathematical tastes, Boris Bugaev was fascinated by probability and particularly by entropy, a notion to which he frequently refers in works such as Kotik Letaev.
Bely's creative works notably influenced—and were influenced by—several literary schools, especially symbolism. They feature a striking mysticism and a sort of moody musicality. The far-reaching influence of his literary voice on Russian writers (and even musicians) has frequently been compared to the impact of James Joyce in the English-speaking world. The novelty of his sonic effects has also been compared to the innovative music of Charles Ives.[citation needed]
As a young man, Bely was strongly influenced by his acquaintance with the family of philosopher Vladimir Solovyov, especially Vladimir's younger brother Mikhail, described in his long autobiographical poem The First Encounter (1921); the title is a reflection of Vladimir Solovyov's Three Encounters.
Bely's symbolist novel Petersburg (1916; 1922) is generally considered to be his masterpiece. The book employs a striking prose method in which sounds often evoke colors. The novel is set in the somewhat hysterical atmosphere of turn-of-the-century Petersburg and the Russian Revolution of 1905. To the extent that the book can be said to possess a plot, this can be summarized as the story of the hapless Nikolai Apollonovich, a ne'er-do-well who is caught up in revolutionary politics and assigned the task of assassinating a certain government official—his own father. At one point, Nikolai is pursued through the Petersburg mists by the ringing hooves of the famous bronze statue of Peter the Great.[citation needed]
In his later years Bely was influenced by Rudolf Steiner’s anthroposophy[3][4] and became a personal friend of Steiner's. He died, aged 53, in Moscow.
Bely was one of the major influences on the theater of Vsevolod Meyerhold.[citation needed]
The Andrei Bely Prize (Russian: Премия Андрея Белого), one of the most important prizes in Russian literature, was named after him. His poems were set on music and frequently performed by Russian singer-songwriters.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 26, 2026
I would echo the only other review on GR and agree that this book is awfully dull - most likely because although claimed to be a 'biography' this is largely a work of Peyrefritte's imagination. Like his previous 'Exile of Capri' the 'biography of Jacques d'Adelswärd-Fersen the author is strong on gossip and weak on facts. Research is something that never concerned him and he is happy to invent ridiculous stories - like Manouche attending a English convent school and associating with girls from noble English Catholic families and exiled royals like the d'Orleans.
The book is full of made up stories like Mistinguett claiming descent from the duc d'Enghien or Marlene Dietrich singing in a pre-WWII Bastille Day parade in Paris it becomes boring because non of it has anything to do with Manouche and everything to do with relaying some very ancient and largely inaccurate gossip about French politicians and personalities of the 1920s and 30s. Because he refuses to stick with any possible chronology we learn about the famous brothels like Chabanais and the One-Two-Two but they are not even tangentially related to any event to Manouche's life.
I gave up long before the outbreak of WWII - life is to short to waste on rubbish like this - particularly rubbish written by an author with Peyrefittte's barely concealed unpleasant prejudices.
The book is full of made up stories like Mistinguett claiming descent from the duc d'Enghien or Marlene Dietrich singing in a pre-WWII Bastille Day parade in Paris it becomes boring because non of it has anything to do with Manouche and everything to do with relaying some very ancient and largely inaccurate gossip about French politicians and personalities of the 1920s and 30s. Because he refuses to stick with any possible chronology we learn about the famous brothels like Chabanais and the One-Two-Two but they are not even tangentially related to any event to Manouche's life.
I gave up long before the outbreak of WWII - life is to short to waste on rubbish like this - particularly rubbish written by an author with Peyrefittte's barely concealed unpleasant prejudices.
September 3, 2016
Not really sure if this is fiction or biography ,as there are many real people involved. In any event, it's as boring as hell, so I gave up halfway through. You probably wouldn't be able to find it anyway, but don't try to.
November 23, 2019
Under the covers: France during WW2.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews