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The Song of Igor’s Campaign
The Song of Igor’s Campaign is the most imaginative, celebrated, and studied work of early Russian literature. It describes a chivalric expedition undertaken in the late 12th century by a minor prince in the land of Rus’ to defeat, against overwhelming odds, a powerful alliance in a neighboring territory. The anonymous poet who chronicled this adventure packed unprecedented metaphorical agility, keenness of observation, and fascinating imagery into the lean and powerful tale of the doomed campaign. Discovered in the late 18th century and only narrowly distributed, the original manuscript was destroyed in a fire, leading to endless debate about the provenance and authenticity of the extant versions. It also served as the basis of Borodin’s opera Prince Igor. Translated by Vladimir Nabokov, the verses that constitute The Song of Igor’s Campaign are presented in their original rhyme and meter, and Nabokov’s extensive annotations provide illuminations on all the aspects of the text.
128 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1185
26 people are currently reading
792 people want to read
About the author
Vladimir Nabokov
893 books15k followersVladimir Nabokov (Russian: Владимир Набоков) was a writer defined by a life of forced movement and extraordinary linguistic transformation. Born into a wealthy, liberal aristocratic family in St. Petersburg, Russia, he grew up trilingual, speaking Russian, English, and French in a household that nurtured his intellectual curiosities, including a lifelong passion for butterflies. This seemingly idyllic, privileged existence was abruptly shattered by the Bolshevik Revolution, which forced the family into permanent exile in 1919. This early, profound experience of displacement and the loss of a homeland became a central, enduring theme in his subsequent work, fueling his exploration of memory, nostalgia, and the irretrievable past.
The first phase of his literary life began in Europe, primarily in Berlin, where he established himself as a leading voice among the Russian émigré community under the pseudonym "Vladimir Sirin". During this prolific period, he penned nine novels in his native tongue, showcasing a precocious talent for intricate plotting and character study. Works like The Defense explored obsession through the extended metaphor of chess, while Invitation to a Beheading served as a potent, surreal critique of totalitarian absurdity. In 1925, he married Véra Slonim, an intellectual force in her own right, who would become his indispensable partner, editor, translator, and lifelong anchor.
The escalating shadow of Nazism necessitated another, urgent relocation in 1940, this time to the United States. It was here that Nabokov undertook an extraordinary linguistic metamorphosis, making the challenging yet resolute shift from Russian to English as his primary language of expression. He became a U.S. citizen in 1945, solidifying his new life in North America. To support his family, he took on academic positions, first founding the Russian department at Wellesley College, and later serving as a highly regarded professor of Russian and European literature at Cornell University from 1948 to 1959.
During this academic tenure, he also dedicated significant time to his other great passion: lepidoptery. He worked as an unpaid curator of butterflies at Harvard University's Museum of Comparative Zoology. His scientific work was far from amateurish; he developed novel taxonomic methods and a groundbreaking, highly debated theory on the migration patterns and phylogeny of the Polyommatus blue butterflies, a hypothesis that modern DNA analysis confirmed decades later.
Nabokov achieved widespread international fame and financial independence with the publication of Lolita in 1955, a novel that was initially met with controversy and censorship battles due to its provocative subject matter concerning a middle-aged literature professor and his obsession with a twelve-year-old girl. The novel's critical and commercial success finally allowed him to leave teaching and academia behind. In 1959, he and Véra moved permanently to the quiet luxury of the Montreux Palace Hotel in Switzerland, where he focused solely on writing, translating his earlier Russian works into meticulous English, and studying local butterflies.
His later English novels, such as Pale Fire (1962), a complex, postmodern narrative structured around a 999-line poem and its delusional commentator, cemented his reputation as a master stylist and a technical genius. His literary style is characterized by intricate wordplay, a profound use of allusion, structural complexity, and an insistence on the artist's total, almost tyrannical, control over their created world. Nabokov often expressed disdain for what he termed "topical trash" and the simplistic interpretations of Freudian psychoanalysis, preferring instead to focus on the power of individual consciousness, the mechanics of memory, and the intricate, often deceptive, interplay between art and perceived "reality". His unique body of work, straddling multiple cultures and languages, continues to
The first phase of his literary life began in Europe, primarily in Berlin, where he established himself as a leading voice among the Russian émigré community under the pseudonym "Vladimir Sirin". During this prolific period, he penned nine novels in his native tongue, showcasing a precocious talent for intricate plotting and character study. Works like The Defense explored obsession through the extended metaphor of chess, while Invitation to a Beheading served as a potent, surreal critique of totalitarian absurdity. In 1925, he married Véra Slonim, an intellectual force in her own right, who would become his indispensable partner, editor, translator, and lifelong anchor.
The escalating shadow of Nazism necessitated another, urgent relocation in 1940, this time to the United States. It was here that Nabokov undertook an extraordinary linguistic metamorphosis, making the challenging yet resolute shift from Russian to English as his primary language of expression. He became a U.S. citizen in 1945, solidifying his new life in North America. To support his family, he took on academic positions, first founding the Russian department at Wellesley College, and later serving as a highly regarded professor of Russian and European literature at Cornell University from 1948 to 1959.
During this academic tenure, he also dedicated significant time to his other great passion: lepidoptery. He worked as an unpaid curator of butterflies at Harvard University's Museum of Comparative Zoology. His scientific work was far from amateurish; he developed novel taxonomic methods and a groundbreaking, highly debated theory on the migration patterns and phylogeny of the Polyommatus blue butterflies, a hypothesis that modern DNA analysis confirmed decades later.
Nabokov achieved widespread international fame and financial independence with the publication of Lolita in 1955, a novel that was initially met with controversy and censorship battles due to its provocative subject matter concerning a middle-aged literature professor and his obsession with a twelve-year-old girl. The novel's critical and commercial success finally allowed him to leave teaching and academia behind. In 1959, he and Véra moved permanently to the quiet luxury of the Montreux Palace Hotel in Switzerland, where he focused solely on writing, translating his earlier Russian works into meticulous English, and studying local butterflies.
His later English novels, such as Pale Fire (1962), a complex, postmodern narrative structured around a 999-line poem and its delusional commentator, cemented his reputation as a master stylist and a technical genius. His literary style is characterized by intricate wordplay, a profound use of allusion, structural complexity, and an insistence on the artist's total, almost tyrannical, control over their created world. Nabokov often expressed disdain for what he termed "topical trash" and the simplistic interpretations of Freudian psychoanalysis, preferring instead to focus on the power of individual consciousness, the mechanics of memory, and the intricate, often deceptive, interplay between art and perceived "reality". His unique body of work, straddling multiple cultures and languages, continues to
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
December 3, 2015
The Song Igor's Campaign can be read in less than 90 minutes and is well worth the effort for anyone who has already familiarized themselves with the conventions of medieval oral epics. If you have read Beowulf you will be prepared for Igor's campaign. If you have read the Song of Roland, you will actually enjoy it.
I read an earnest but flat version in French that I found on WikiSource. I later found the Nabakov version online. I needed to read only a few stanzas to realize that it had dramatically superior literary qualities. I strongly advise GoodReads members to read the Nabakov version.
I read an earnest but flat version in French that I found on WikiSource. I later found the Nabakov version online. I needed to read only a few stanzas to realize that it had dramatically superior literary qualities. I strongly advise GoodReads members to read the Nabakov version.
April 6, 2020
Fine XII secolo, il principe dei Rus (i Russi) Igor, con pensieri di gloria, decide di attaccare i Polovcy (i Turchi). Così parte, con tutta la sua druzina (il corpo armato al servizio dei capi Rus), alla ricerca di questa tanto amata ed inafferrabile gloria, contro i pagani! Arrivati...
Poema epico di forte impatto emotivo. La scrittura è quanto di più evocativa avessi mai letto, con uno sguardo alla Natura ed a ciò che li anima, l'autore (sconosciuto, forse uno alla corte del principe Igor?) ci racconta del viaggio del dolore, di morte e devastazione con grande poetica. Gli animali sono protagonisti preponderanti nello Slovo (il nome russo dell'opera) ed anche le piante, i corsi d'acqua, i fiumi, insomma la Natura tutta.
A rendere la lettura stupenda è, anche, l'apparato saggistico e storiografico correlato. L'introduzione, le varie versioni, la storia che sta dietro all'opera, il mistero dell'autore, le note, le illustrazioni... insomma tutto mi ha affascinato, coinvolto e non poco!
Da recuperare!
http://bifrost.it/SLAVI/Fonti/Cantosc...
Poema epico di forte impatto emotivo. La scrittura è quanto di più evocativa avessi mai letto, con uno sguardo alla Natura ed a ciò che li anima, l'autore (sconosciuto, forse uno alla corte del principe Igor?) ci racconta del viaggio del dolore, di morte e devastazione con grande poetica. Gli animali sono protagonisti preponderanti nello Slovo (il nome russo dell'opera) ed anche le piante, i corsi d'acqua, i fiumi, insomma la Natura tutta.
A rendere la lettura stupenda è, anche, l'apparato saggistico e storiografico correlato. L'introduzione, le varie versioni, la storia che sta dietro all'opera, il mistero dell'autore, le note, le illustrazioni... insomma tutto mi ha affascinato, coinvolto e non poco!
Da recuperare!
http://bifrost.it/SLAVI/Fonti/Cantosc...
December 6, 2020
Думаю, самая известная часть "Слова..." - Плач Ярославны, но всё произведение написано как эпос и читается соответственно. А с XII века мало что изменилось:
Интересно, что некоторые историки и литераторы считают "Слово..." подделкой, написанной в XVIII веке (правда, судя по отзывам, А. А. Зализняк их неплохо приструнил в своей монографии Слово о полку Игореве: Взгляд лингвиста). Стоит прочесть.
И начяша князи про малое «се великое» млъвити, и сами на себѣ крамолу ковати, а поганіи съ всѣхъ странъ прихождаху съ побѣдами на землю Рускую.
А князья дружин не собирают,
Не идут войной на супостата,
Малое великим называют
И куют крамолу брат на брата.
А враги на Русь несутся тучей,
И повсюду бедствие и горе.
Интересно, что некоторые историки и литераторы считают "Слово..." подделкой, написанной в XVIII веке (правда, судя по отзывам, А. А. Зализняк их неплохо приструнил в своей монографии Слово о полку Игореве: Взгляд лингвиста). Стоит прочесть.
Read
August 3, 2016Vladimir Nabokov's translation of Igor's defeat:
From early morn to eve,
and from eve to dawn,
tempered arrows fly,
sabers resound against helmets,
steel lances crack.
In the field unknown, midst the Kuman land,
the black sod under hooves
was sown with bones
and irrigated with gore.
As grief they came up
throughout the Russian land.
What dins unto me,
what rings unto me?
Early today, before the effulgences,
Igor turns back his troops:
he is anxious about his dear brother Vsevolod.
They fought one day;
they fought another,
on the third, toward noon,
Igor's banners fell.
Here the brothers parted
on the bank of the swift Kayala.
Here was a want of blood-wine;
here the brave sons of Rus
finished the feast -
got their in-laws drunk,
and themselves lay down
in defense of the Russian land.
The grass droops with condolements
and the tree with sorrow
bends to the ground.
For now, brothers, a cheerless tide has set in;
now the wild has covered the strong;
Wrong has risen among the forces
of Dazhbog's grandson;
in the guise of a maiden
[Wrong] has stepped into Troyan's land;
she clapped her swan wings
on the blue sea by the Don,
and clapping, decreased rich times.
From early morn to eve,
and from eve to dawn,
tempered arrows fly,
sabers resound against helmets,
steel lances crack.
In the field unknown, midst the Kuman land,
the black sod under hooves
was sown with bones
and irrigated with gore.
As grief they came up
throughout the Russian land.
What dins unto me,
what rings unto me?
Early today, before the effulgences,
Igor turns back his troops:
he is anxious about his dear brother Vsevolod.
They fought one day;
they fought another,
on the third, toward noon,
Igor's banners fell.
Here the brothers parted
on the bank of the swift Kayala.
Here was a want of blood-wine;
here the brave sons of Rus
finished the feast -
got their in-laws drunk,
and themselves lay down
in defense of the Russian land.
The grass droops with condolements
and the tree with sorrow
bends to the ground.
For now, brothers, a cheerless tide has set in;
now the wild has covered the strong;
Wrong has risen among the forces
of Dazhbog's grandson;
in the guise of a maiden
[Wrong] has stepped into Troyan's land;
she clapped her swan wings
on the blue sea by the Don,
and clapping, decreased rich times.
Read
October 20, 2022An interesting view of early Rus history and myth, late twelfth century. One of the cultural anchors for Russia's claims to Ukraine, I suppose. Clearly Kiev was the center of the affiliated princes. The names and relationships are so repetitive (Igors, Svyatislavs, Vseslavs,Yaroslavs, Vladimirs,...) that it's hard to keep 300 years of history in the introduction straight.
There is lots of infighting among them; so much that it jeopardizes the Rus defenses against the Polovetsians (nomad raiders) to the south. Igor and his brother and their men ride south to rile things up out of pure cussedness, just after the Rus Grand Prince has finally made peace with the Polovetsians. There is a bad omen, which Igor's men ignore. It doesn't turn out well for them or the Rus. But this happens to be the poem that has survived, so Igor gets the fame. Maybe Putin should have studied this disastrous incursion into Polovetsian territory before he designed the Ukraine strategy.
There is some nice poetry.
And some that conveys the warrior ethos:
Yes, come sacrifice you and your men for a stupid young man's selfish mistakes.
There is lots of infighting among them; so much that it jeopardizes the Rus defenses against the Polovetsians (nomad raiders) to the south. Igor and his brother and their men ride south to rile things up out of pure cussedness, just after the Rus Grand Prince has finally made peace with the Polovetsians. There is a bad omen, which Igor's men ignore. It doesn't turn out well for them or the Rus. But this happens to be the poem that has survived, so Igor gets the fame. Maybe Putin should have studied this disastrous incursion into Polovetsian territory before he designed the Ukraine strategy.
There is some nice poetry.
The grass bows in pity
and the trees, in sorrow,
Bend to the ground.
For now, O brothers, A time of sorrrow has come,
And desolaation covers our troops.
And some that conveys the warrior ethos:
You, wild Ryurik and David!
Is it not your golden helmets
That are floating in blood?
Is it not your brave warriors
Who, wounded by tempered sabres,
Scream like wild oxen on an unknown plain!
Step then, lords, into your golden stirrups,
For the wrong of our times,
For the Russian Land,
For the wounds of Igor,
the wild son of Svyatoslav!
Yes, come sacrifice you and your men for a stupid young man's selfish mistakes.
September 25, 2017
This is one of the more fascinating medieval national epics, if only for the story of its discovery, its destruction in the Moscow fire of 1812 (and survival in flawed copy form), and the debate of its very authenticity. Nabokov translates the prose poem into a lyric that preserves -- and even enhances --
the rhythm of the text (which is present in other prose translations, but much less so than in Nabokov’s version) and doesn’t interfere with the sweeping narrative. The result is the kind of narrative poem that reminds one of Pushkin and Lermontov -- probably because the Igor epic was an inspiration for their own work. We can see in this English translation how the epic encapsulates both Russian Romantic poetics and the national cultural themes of invasion, bravery in battle, unity (often through militarism), exile, escape, and redemption.
the rhythm of the text (which is present in other prose translations, but much less so than in Nabokov’s version) and doesn’t interfere with the sweeping narrative. The result is the kind of narrative poem that reminds one of Pushkin and Lermontov -- probably because the Igor epic was an inspiration for their own work. We can see in this English translation how the epic encapsulates both Russian Romantic poetics and the national cultural themes of invasion, bravery in battle, unity (often through militarism), exile, escape, and redemption.
January 8, 2017
*Read for class.
January 13, 2024
Reread it for the 3 time for uni, but it’s still very good
UPDATE:
4th time for my exam which will be on the 19th. Pray for me
UPDATE:
4th time for my exam which will be on the 19th. Pray for me
September 26, 2021
Прочтение этого эпоса - мой путь близкого знакомства с русской литературой: давно хотела, давно пора. В школе это проходится очень вскользь и не очень доступно для современных школьников.
Short plot recap: Игорь идёт на половцев с братом и сыном (чтобы привести домой золота и баб), сначала лёгкая победа незначительного количества этих самых половцев, но вскоре и серьёзное поражение ( сын и (возможно) брат Игоря убиты, Игорь же сам взят в плен. Его отец, Святослав, прознав об этом, гневается и сообщает пассии Игоря об этом, Ярославна плачет по Игорю и , собственно, до него доходит её плач. В "заточении" с Игорем обходились очень достойно: половцы хотели Игоря женить на своей, но он всё отказывался, а , прослышав про плач своей любимой, и вовсе смог убежать с помощью сообщника. В конце даётся величественное восхваление Игоря и его воинов)
Так вот, тут много метафор, эпитетов, олицетворений и иносказаний, что очень любопытно для (между прочим) 1185 года, скорей всего эпос был написан Киевским монахом, который хотел немного приукрасить и разнообразить этот сюжет!
Неплохо, Древняя Русь, очень даже неплохо)
Чему можно научиться: 1) после всех его приключений, Игорь перестаёт быть язычником и становится православным.2) Если собрался идти в поход против кого-либо, сначала спроси совета (и разрешения) у ближнего своего. 3) это наш ответ "Беофульфу".
Short plot recap: Игорь идёт на половцев с братом и сыном (чтобы привести домой золота и баб), сначала лёгкая победа незначительного количества этих самых половцев, но вскоре и серьёзное поражение ( сын и (возможно) брат Игоря убиты, Игорь же сам взят в плен. Его отец, Святослав, прознав об этом, гневается и сообщает пассии Игоря об этом, Ярославна плачет по Игорю и , собственно, до него доходит её плач. В "заточении" с Игорем обходились очень достойно: половцы хотели Игоря женить на своей, но он всё отказывался, а , прослышав про плач своей любимой, и вовсе смог убежать с помощью сообщника. В конце даётся величественное восхваление Игоря и его воинов)
Так вот, тут много метафор, эпитетов, олицетворений и иносказаний, что очень любопытно для (между прочим) 1185 года, скорей всего эпос был написан Киевским монахом, который хотел немного приукрасить и разнообразить этот сюжет!
Неплохо, Древняя Русь, очень даже неплохо)
Чему можно научиться: 1) после всех его приключений, Игорь перестаёт быть язычником и становится православным.2) Если собрался идти в поход против кого-либо, сначала спроси совета (и разрешения) у ближнего своего. 3) это наш ответ "Беофульфу".
January 18, 2024
Действия - 2%, болтовни и патриотизма - 98%!!!!!
-Получилась очень странная даже по меркам эпично-средневековой литературы книжка,-подумал я, до того как прочитал приложения, пояснения и прочие примечания (а их тут ого-го сколько!!!!!). И выяснилось, что древнерусская литература вся основана на принципе историзма, т.е. писали ТОЛЬКО о реальных исторических событиях и, соответственно, реальных людях с некоторыми художественными добавлениями!!!! Стало страшно и очень печально, но при этом понятно откуда взялся весь этот оголтелый квасной русский патриотизм (какая ирония - само слово "патриотизм" нерусское!!!).
-Получилась очень странная даже по меркам эпично-средневековой литературы книжка,-подумал я, до того как прочитал приложения, пояснения и прочие примечания (а их тут ого-го сколько!!!!!). И выяснилось, что древнерусская литература вся основана на принципе историзма, т.е. писали ТОЛЬКО о реальных исторических событиях и, соответственно, реальных людях с некоторыми художественными добавлениями!!!! Стало страшно и очень печально, но при этом понятно откуда взялся весь этот оголтелый квасной русский патриотизм (какая ирония - само слово "патриотизм" нерусское!!!).
July 9, 2022
Слушали с Эмилией в машине. Аудио книга, из серии "Живая класика".
Не думаю, что я мог бы прочитать этот текст самостоятельно.
Понятно, что Слово мы изучали когда-то �� школе, для меня это почти пол века назад.
Понятно, что что-то я помнил, особенно фразу "растекашится мыслью по древу", а вот плач Ярославны мы даже заучивали ...
Само произведение пропитанно национализмом и милитаризмом, понятно, что это дух того времени, и никого не интересовало то количество сложенных голов, которое привело князя Игоря к победе, та кровь, пролитая русскими молодыми людьми, которой залили поле боя.
Не думаю, что я мог бы прочитать этот текст самостоятельно.
Понятно, что Слово мы изучали когда-то �� школе, для меня это почти пол века назад.
Понятно, что что-то я помнил, особенно фразу "растекашится мыслью по древу", а вот плач Ярославны мы даже заучивали ...
Само произведение пропитанно национализмом и милитаризмом, понятно, что это дух того времени, и никого не интересовало то количество сложенных голов, которое привело князя Игоря к победе, та кровь, пролитая русскими молодыми людьми, которой залили поле боя.
August 28, 2010
Nabokov is typically self-deprecating regarding his talents as a translator and a poet, but this "unreadable" poem is actually quite readble indeed. I don't agree with him that it is among the best medieval poems, but it is an interesting historical document and Nabokov's historical and poetical notes make interesting reading.
June 2, 2023
An epic in which the battle is lost. A national identity tied to cycles of invasion and reclamation.
March 9, 2021
Fortunately, we Armenians have an epic poem (Daredevils of Sassoun) as well. The value of an epic poem is not only in literature. It is about the traditions, history and ethnic origin of the nation. However, while locals can easily follow each line of their epic poem, foreigners may find it a little odd and difficult to understand.
The same is with 'The Song of Igor's Campaign'.
Undoubtedly, the role of this poem in Russia is very high, especially among the younger generation. It reveals the beauty of the old Slavic language, illustrates the national spirit and contributes to Russian literature.
The same is with 'The Song of Igor's Campaign'.
Undoubtedly, the role of this poem in Russia is very high, especially among the younger generation. It reveals the beauty of the old Slavic language, illustrates the national spirit and contributes to Russian literature.
August 23, 2021
O épico da Rússia medieval. Muito interessante e complementado por uma extensa e didática introdução.
October 11, 2023
Якась фігня
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October 11, 2023WHEN I CATCH YOU FLLS RUSĂ A LITERATURĂ ȘI CULTURĂ
April 14, 2025
I really enjoyed this. As far as medieval poetry goes, it’s hard to find anything from closer to Eastern Europe. This was a delight to find, and it was quite refreshing to read after reading Medieval English poets (screaming).
I really enjoyed his translation!!!
I really enjoyed his translation!!!
December 12, 2022
Когда перый блин - комом.
December 1, 2022
Что прочитала...пойду хоть вебинар посмотрю
.
Прочитала второй раз и, конечно, понравилось куда больше. Может, руки дойдут отзыв написать когда нибудь ✨️✨️
.
Прочитала второй раз и, конечно, понравилось куда больше. Может, руки дойдут отзыв написать когда нибудь ✨️✨️
February 22, 2022
I don't like many epics, but this one I especially did not like. The only interesting thing I can say about it is that the frequent references to Kyiv in the epic help me understand why Putin wants to invade Ukraine.
September 17, 2017
This epic poem, written anonymously in the twelfth century, is a classic of Russian literature and recounts the battles between Prince Igor and the Polovetsians. It is in some ways a tragedy. Because of my lack of understanding of this time period in Russian history, I become confused at a number of points. That said, there are some ringing lines:
“And the Polovetsians by untrod paths
Flee to the Great Don;
Their cars screech at midnight
Like, say, a flock of startles swans.
Igor leads his troops towards the Don;
Like a mother bird he keeps them from harm;
Like wolves they court danger in the ravines,
Like eagles screaming over the bones of dead animals;
The foxes make their way behind red shields.” (32)
“Now shame has replaced glory
And thundering violence has stunned freedom;
Div has plunged to earth.
And, lo, the beautiful Gothic madens
Are singing on the shore of the Blue Sea:
Jingling their ornaments of Russian gold,” (40)
If you find yourself drawn to medieval or epic poems, or are a student of Russian history, I’m sure you will find this poem fascinating.
See my other reviews here!
“And the Polovetsians by untrod paths
Flee to the Great Don;
Their cars screech at midnight
Like, say, a flock of startles swans.
Igor leads his troops towards the Don;
Like a mother bird he keeps them from harm;
Like wolves they court danger in the ravines,
Like eagles screaming over the bones of dead animals;
The foxes make their way behind red shields.” (32)
“Now shame has replaced glory
And thundering violence has stunned freedom;
Div has plunged to earth.
And, lo, the beautiful Gothic madens
Are singing on the shore of the Blue Sea:
Jingling their ornaments of Russian gold,” (40)
If you find yourself drawn to medieval or epic poems, or are a student of Russian history, I’m sure you will find this poem fascinating.
See my other reviews here!
Read
April 15, 2023было интересно познакомиться со Словом как с артефактом истории, но уж очень больно сейчас его читать в контексте военного времени, когда там, пусть и в отдаленном от нас времени и контексте, распевается культ правителя и культ войны
Слово Сида в английской литературе облажает похожим весом; не знаю как его преподают на Туманном Альбионе сейчас, но вот я бы оч хотел, чтобы наши последующие поколения не пропитывались духом "Они сражались за родину"
Слово Сида в английской литературе облажает похожим весом; не знаю как его преподают на Туманном Альбионе сейчас, но вот я бы оч хотел, чтобы наши последующие поколения не пропитывались духом "Они сражались за родину"
June 16, 2018
This is admittedly a bit dry, and there is a reason, I think, that poets very rarely in modern times write 100+ page epic poems. But I also think it's an important historical piece for poets to read to get a perspective of this style. It's also good source material to use for implementing storytelling and myth elements into modern poetry.
December 25, 2025
Якщо хочете розібратися в численних Ігорях, Олегах і Святославах - послухайте подкаст ПереФарбований лис про цей твір https://youtu.be/MtshUQ2qVZ0
November 12, 2025
The foreword comes across as a very obscure parody. It reads like a fake foreword to an adventure novel, such as Edgar Rice Burroughs, explaining how the manuscript came to their attention and then was sadly lost again. The kind of convoluted story that explains how a document arrived from Mars, or from the 25th century. It reads, in fact, very much like similar parodies of scholarly writing, by Stanislaw Lem. I often thought Lem (or his translator) a bit silly in those things, but if this is representative of what he was emulating, he has indeed done a wonderful job of imitating what he was satirizing.
It was so much like a satire, I had to look it up to make sure the poem itself is real and not just a fabrication by Nabokov. It apparently is, although I still don’t trust it to be.
The poem, possibly from shortly after the 1185AD event it describes (Nabokov thinks 1187 is most likely) is fascinating, and much of that fascination comes from the complete lack of context for modern readers, something Nabokov notes often—we have no idea why the unknown author wrote what he did, or how he did, and we often don’t even known whether it was the original author who wrote a particularly confusing or historically challenged piece.
The bracketed “and” is Nabokov’s bracket, filling in for missing or obscured text.
The poem itself is a short part of the book, only forty-three pages, most of them unfilled. The other ninety-two pages are the the strange introduction, ahead of the poem, and then a several pages of translation comments in the back, which, while dry, do contain interesting bits of linguistic lore.
This is only half of his commentary on why he translated sinee vino as “blue wine”, the rest of it being even further afield.
It was so much like a satire, I had to look it up to make sure the poem itself is real and not just a fabrication by Nabokov. It apparently is, although I still don’t trust it to be.
The poem, possibly from shortly after the 1185AD event it describes (Nabokov thinks 1187 is most likely) is fascinating, and much of that fascination comes from the complete lack of context for modern readers, something Nabokov notes often—we have no idea why the unknown author wrote what he did, or how he did, and we often don’t even known whether it was the original author who wrote a particularly confusing or historically challenged piece.
…the princes have begun to say
of what is small:
“This is big,”
while against their own selves
they forge discord,
[and] while from all sides with victories
the pagans enter the Russian land.
The bracketed “and” is Nabokov’s bracket, filling in for missing or obscured text.
The poem itself is a short part of the book, only forty-three pages, most of them unfilled. The other ninety-two pages are the the strange introduction, ahead of the poem, and then a several pages of translation comments in the back, which, while dry, do contain interesting bits of linguistic lore.
Sinee vino: blue wine. The allusion is either to whortleberry wine or dark grape wine. One recalls that the Greeks saw the dark-blue sea as wine-colored (for the interpretation of which there is no need to drag in a reflected sunset as some color-blind Homerians do). A very dark red wine does have a purple-blue depth of tone like the southern seas—especially in warm patches near the coast. In fact, I would have said “purple wine” had not the epithet almost turned to blood-red under the influence of Continental, especially French, concepts of pourpre.
This is only half of his commentary on why he translated sinee vino as “blue wine”, the rest of it being even further afield.
Saddle, brother, your swift steeds.
As to mine, they are ready,
saddled ahead, near Kursk;
as to my Cursers, they are famous nights—
swaddled under war-horns,
nursed under helmets,
fed from the point of the lance;
March 20, 2022
--1.5 stars rounded up--
This epic poem, written by an unknown author in the 1100's, is one of the oldest surviving works of Russian literature, and the Russian equivalent of Beowulf or The Song Of Roland. It describes a failed campaign led by Igor, a Kievan Rus' prince (Kievan Rus was a loose federation of peoples in the region now made up of Belarus, Ukraine and Western Russia), against nomadic, pagan tribes known as the Kumans. Like many poems of the era, it survived through oral tradition for many years before being lost and then, almost miraculously, found again in written form. This led many to doubt its authenticity in the years following the discovery, however, it's widely accepted to be the real deal nowadays. Luckily, a copy was made of this written version (for Catherine the Great) just a few years before the 1812 Fire of Moscow destroyed the original copy.
SPOILERS
As for the largely-factual plot, in short, the Kumans have been raiding Russian villages. In a quest for personal glory, Igor hastily charges into battle without really thinking things through, ignoring the various warnings from nature that he is biting off more than he can chew (the howling of wolves, the cawing of birds seen as bad omens, etc.). Things start off well but on the third day of fighting, Igor is captured. After a period of time (I think it was a year), he escapes and returns home, a bit of a hero.
One thing I like about the poem is that the author makes a point of drawing attention to the fact that Igor's decisions were a bit silly really, and got other people killed. The presence of nature throughout is notable, as is the author's plea that the various warring princes in the region unite and start working together against their common enemies, like the Kumans (or the Mongols, who soon went onto conquer the divided region). There was some nice imagery and it was interesting to read such an old text from this part of the world. Additionally, regarding the translation, while I haven't read any others, I can't imagine anyone has done it better than Nabokov.
As for the downsides, aside from the points mentioned in the previous paragraph, I just found it all a bit dull. Of course, with poetry there is always a certain amount lost in translation, and with any work as old as this, there is also a lot being lost in the cultural meanings of things. Still, I felt with this good translation, its extensive notes and a bit of patience, I was able to get a fairly good sense of the work overall - it just wasn't really for me. However, I don't regret reading it and am glad to know about it as a point of reference while reading more recent Russian literature in the future.
This epic poem, written by an unknown author in the 1100's, is one of the oldest surviving works of Russian literature, and the Russian equivalent of Beowulf or The Song Of Roland. It describes a failed campaign led by Igor, a Kievan Rus' prince (Kievan Rus was a loose federation of peoples in the region now made up of Belarus, Ukraine and Western Russia), against nomadic, pagan tribes known as the Kumans. Like many poems of the era, it survived through oral tradition for many years before being lost and then, almost miraculously, found again in written form. This led many to doubt its authenticity in the years following the discovery, however, it's widely accepted to be the real deal nowadays. Luckily, a copy was made of this written version (for Catherine the Great) just a few years before the 1812 Fire of Moscow destroyed the original copy.
SPOILERS
As for the largely-factual plot, in short, the Kumans have been raiding Russian villages. In a quest for personal glory, Igor hastily charges into battle without really thinking things through, ignoring the various warnings from nature that he is biting off more than he can chew (the howling of wolves, the cawing of birds seen as bad omens, etc.). Things start off well but on the third day of fighting, Igor is captured. After a period of time (I think it was a year), he escapes and returns home, a bit of a hero.
One thing I like about the poem is that the author makes a point of drawing attention to the fact that Igor's decisions were a bit silly really, and got other people killed. The presence of nature throughout is notable, as is the author's plea that the various warring princes in the region unite and start working together against their common enemies, like the Kumans (or the Mongols, who soon went onto conquer the divided region). There was some nice imagery and it was interesting to read such an old text from this part of the world. Additionally, regarding the translation, while I haven't read any others, I can't imagine anyone has done it better than Nabokov.
As for the downsides, aside from the points mentioned in the previous paragraph, I just found it all a bit dull. Of course, with poetry there is always a certain amount lost in translation, and with any work as old as this, there is also a lot being lost in the cultural meanings of things. Still, I felt with this good translation, its extensive notes and a bit of patience, I was able to get a fairly good sense of the work overall - it just wasn't really for me. However, I don't regret reading it and am glad to know about it as a point of reference while reading more recent Russian literature in the future.
Read
November 13, 2022The edition I used was Nabokov's lovingly rendered 1960 translation. I found this both readable and at times very beautiful. As a text on its own, it is a simple tale of warmongering, failure, capture, and the return home. I found the singular focus on a historical figure who, as Nabokov himself notes, 'history remembers ... as an insignificant, shifty and pugnacious prince,' with whom the unknown original poet has 'greatly magnified [the events of the story]' to be fascinating: most long narrative poems focussed on conquest and valour are ready to sing praises of heroic, intelligent, if sometimes tragic figures. Even if heroes of epic poems do fail, or meet their deaths, they are oft portrayed with a sense of otherworldly strength or intelligence regardless: in particular I am thinking of Beowulf, who is I suppose our closest chronological compatriot to Igor (the poem having been written sometime in the late 1180s). So Igor is quite different, and I was quite taken aback by the idea that the poem hinged on the hero's failure in battle.
I am not well versed in twelfth century Slavic poetry. As such, the true prize of this book lies in the foreword and commentary provided by Nabokov himself, what with his usual wry, often hilarious asides, notes, and observations. He somehow manages to write with the augustness of a learned literary individual, but with the frankness and good nature of a friend who is sincerely sharing his obsession with you.
Like the commentary to Eugene Onegin, I found these observations to be a helpful preparatory guide to the poeticism and prosody. If anything, he is much more judicious here than with Onegin: I read the entirety of the foreword, almost 900 lines of poetry, and accompanying end notes in less than a day. It's certainly a short poem, but Nabokov's brevity here is unmistakably key: he swiftly lays the groundwork for you and accompanies you through the very journey, pointing out areas of interest along the way. His personality shines through here, as well. For example, with regards to one particular confusing stanza, he readily admits in the endnotes, 'The passage is very muddled in the text. This is the best I can do.'
I am not well versed in twelfth century Slavic poetry. As such, the true prize of this book lies in the foreword and commentary provided by Nabokov himself, what with his usual wry, often hilarious asides, notes, and observations. He somehow manages to write with the augustness of a learned literary individual, but with the frankness and good nature of a friend who is sincerely sharing his obsession with you.
Like the commentary to Eugene Onegin, I found these observations to be a helpful preparatory guide to the poeticism and prosody. If anything, he is much more judicious here than with Onegin: I read the entirety of the foreword, almost 900 lines of poetry, and accompanying end notes in less than a day. It's certainly a short poem, but Nabokov's brevity here is unmistakably key: he swiftly lays the groundwork for you and accompanies you through the very journey, pointing out areas of interest along the way. His personality shines through here, as well. For example, with regards to one particular confusing stanza, he readily admits in the endnotes, 'The passage is very muddled in the text. This is the best I can do.'
November 18, 2022
Время чтения: 30 минут
Это самые печальные и полностью забытые временные рамки чтения. Да, я не помню многого, но что-то сейчас попытаюсь рассказать.
""Слово про похід Ігорів" - героїчна поема, що описує події 1185 року, а саме невдалий похід князя Ігоря проти половців. До речі, чи знаєте ви, що мова йде про чоловіка Ярославни, а не княгині Ольги? Ярославна - перший жіночий образ в українській літературі. Не можу сказати, що я в захопленні від твору, та знаю напевне - не знати про цей твір не можна. Це наша історія. Чого вартує "золоте слово" Святослава, звернене до своїх синів. Пам'ятаймо про класику - саме така література буде актуальною завжди. "
Именно это написала (или просто скопировала с интернета, ибо прежде такое же видела на другом сайте) BonesChapatti . Несмотря на эти слова, хочу сказать, что мои надежды убиты, а поэма забыта на века. Да и читают её только ради того, чтобы сдать ВНО или сдать домашку на уроке. Подобная литература меня вообще никак не интересует, а написано настолько скучно, что я чуть не заснула. Сама поэма не очень, ибо в ней достаточно непонятно написаны события, как для меня, нет сильных эмоций и восхищения/разочарования.
"О Руська земле, ти вже за горою!
Пітьма світліє. Вранішня зоря
Встає над полем, маревом повитим.
Стих соловей. Вороння крик зняло...
(Перевод: О Русская земля, ты уже за горой!
Тьма светлеет. Утренняя звезда
Встает над полем, иллюзией увитая.
Замолк соловей. Вороны крик зазвучал/появился...)"
Уже эти слова говорят о том, что всё грустно и печально. И что очень много трупов русских солдат. Перевод не точен, ибо перевела сама, могла как-то не так сделать, так что извините заранее.
Как итог, если вы из Украины и ещё не окончили школу - читайте перед экзаменом ВНО, а так оно вам вообще не нужно и не нервируйте себя по этому поводу. Читать ли? Конечно же - нет. Ну, правда. Зачем? В каком случае читать - я уже сказала, а большего и не надо.
До встречи на Луне~
Это самые печальные и полностью забытые временные рамки чтения. Да, я не помню многого, но что-то сейчас попытаюсь рассказать.
""Слово про похід Ігорів" - героїчна поема, що описує події 1185 року, а саме невдалий похід князя Ігоря проти половців. До речі, чи знаєте ви, що мова йде про чоловіка Ярославни, а не княгині Ольги? Ярославна - перший жіночий образ в українській літературі. Не можу сказати, що я в захопленні від твору, та знаю напевне - не знати про цей твір не можна. Це наша історія. Чого вартує "золоте слово" Святослава, звернене до своїх синів. Пам'ятаймо про класику - саме така література буде актуальною завжди. "
Именно это написала (или просто скопировала с интернета, ибо прежде такое же видела на другом сайте) BonesChapatti . Несмотря на эти слова, хочу сказать, что мои надежды убиты, а поэма забыта на века. Да и читают её только ради того, чтобы сдать ВНО или сдать домашку на уроке. Подобная литература меня вообще никак не интересует, а написано настолько скучно, что я чуть не заснула. Сама поэма не очень, ибо в ней достаточно непонятно написаны события, как для меня, нет сильных эмоций и восхищения/разочарования.
"О Руська земле, ти вже за горою!
Пітьма світліє. Вранішня зоря
Встає над полем, маревом повитим.
Стих соловей. Вороння крик зняло...
(Перевод: О Русская земля, ты уже за горой!
Тьма светлеет. Утренняя звезда
Встает над полем, иллюзией увитая.
Замолк соловей. Вороны крик зазвучал/появился...)"
Уже эти слова говорят о том, что всё грустно и печально. И что очень много трупов русских солдат. Перевод не точен, ибо перевела сама, могла как-то не так сделать, так что извините заранее.
Как итог, если вы из Украины и ещё не окончили школу - читайте перед экзаменом ВНО, а так оно вам вообще не нужно и не нервируйте себя по этому поводу. Читать ли? Конечно же - нет. Ну, правда. Зачем? В каком случае читать - я уже сказала, а большего и не надо.
До встречи на Луне~
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