Повесть о том, как один мужик двух генералов прокормил

by Салтыков-Щедрин М.Е.

Как любой великий писатель Михаил Евграфович Салтыков-Щедрин обладает неповторимым стилем и языком; его литературный дар был признан современниками и потомками - сегодня это один из любимых классиков, чьи ироничные произведения абсолютно актуальны.

Genres: Russia, Short Stories, Classics, Russian Literature, Fiction

15 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1869

Reviews

[Naveed Nawaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my acquaintances started a business from scratch. He use to do all of his work all by himself without any help. His business started to grow and slowly but steadily, he hired a couple of employees. After that, I didn't ever see him working himself. At first he lost the will to work himself and then slowly and gradually, the ability. It's a beautiful story and it somehow reminded me of this incident. Reminded me of how you must stay on your feet. Hard work is a virtue, laziness is a curse. If you're relying on people for things you ought to be doing yourself, it might end up suffocating you.

[Louis Boyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incisive critique of Russian political hierarchy in the 19th century. Via a humorous and rather absurd yet ironic narrative, it elucidates the exploitation of the peasantry and the absurdities of the contemporary social hierarchies.

[Phrodrick slowed his growing backlog · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fortunately, Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin’s allegorical story How a Muzhik Fed Two Officials is short. Like much Russian humor it is rather dour and explicit. Two very senior Russian officials, bureaucrats who carry the rank and title of generals, find themselves whisked to an earthy paradise. Being long accustomed to the giving of orders and having no practical habits or hobbies, they are incapable of taking even minimal actions in thierown behalf. Luckily their little island also has a compliant but multi talented Muzhik.

A muzhink is a Russian surf. Neither slave not free, he is bound to a particular place unless that place is sold or taken by another. Generally, they are agricultural labor, but they may be tradesmen, or specialized workers. In any case they are bound to the land and to through the land to its owner.

Without thinking, or caring, the two officials exploit the laborer, taking from him not just bare survival, but comfortable living while the muzhink lives on whatever is left of his labor. Get it?

[Timothy Coplin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh how necessary the peasantry is to the wellbeing and continued existence of the upper classes. That said, Muzhik or no Muzhik, the 'Haves' have no excuse for their lack of basic skills beyond their own private requirements in life. Long live Muzhik.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fell flat, not the most interesting plot line.

[Per · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://www.gutenberg.org/files/13437...

[Animesh Priyadarshi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastically sarcastic ☺️

[Todd A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious look at the bureaucratic mindset and self-imposed slavery.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Какая же база от Салтыкова-Щедрина, которую прочувствуешь на максималках уже в осознанном возрасте.
Фр, веселись, мужчина!

[Isaac Chan · Rating 2 out of 5]

What in the actual fuck even was the point of this story? Is this a troll? It could've easily been 'The story of how grass grew' or 'The story of how paint dried'.

[Drasko · Rating 4 out of 5]

An allegory in which bureaucrats are dying from hunger in spite of being surrounded by all sorts of food and other goodies. They need peasant (muzhik) to feed them and serve them as without exploiting working classes they can't exist!

[AURORA RU · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vislabākais, kas bija skolas programmā pa 12 gadiem, lai neteiktu, ka tas bija vispār vienīgais labais, kas bija skolā un vienīgais, kas mani nedaudz sagatavoja tam, kas pēc tam sekoja..

[Abbas · Rating 1 out of 5]

Отметил пользовательское отношение генералов к мужику. Генерал мужика воспринимает не как человека, а как ленивое животное, которое можно и нужно использовать для достижения своих целей. Ну вот например, какое у меня отношение к ишаку, животное которое можно использовать для перевозки маленьких и средних грузов. Считаю ли я, что ишак имеет равные со мной права? Нет, я так не считаю. Вот примерно так же генералы относятся и к мужику.

[M. Azhaari Shah Sulaiman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Agak melucukan juga sebenarnya. Sebelum itu, Muzhik adalah golongan orang Russia yang daif, bukan pemain muzik ya.

Pengajarannya adalah sesetengah orang kadang kala seperti tidak mahu adapt dengan persekitaran baru. Dua orang bekas pegawai kerajaan itu walaupun sudah bersara dan berpindah ke desa, namun masih mahu hidup seperti gaya bos. Meskipun berduit, tapi hidup nya tak kena cara seperti orang desa.

[Anwesh Ganguli · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't quite get the story, but one thing I understood was how government officials
exploit the normal people, the poor especially. That's what I understood from the
story. It was an ok-ish kinda experience reading this story.

[Nathan C. · Rating 3 out of 5]

What did I think? Russians are crazy. Crazy, crazy, crazy.

[for-much-deliberation ... · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two ex-officials unable to do many things on their own eventually find a muzhik to help them out...