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Cuentos - Primary Source Edition
This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book.
198 pages, Paperback
Published January 14, 2014
About the author
Arkady Averchenko
341 books26 followersArkady Timofeevich Averchenko (Russian: Аркадий Тимофеевич Аверченко; March 27, 1881, Sevastopol – March 12, 1925, Prague), was a Russian playwright and satirist. He published his stories in the journal Satyricon, of which he was also an editor, in the series of "New Satyricon", and other publications. He published a total of around 20 books. Averchenko's satirical writings can be described as liberal. After the Russian Civil War, he emigrated to Central Europe and died in Prague.
Averchenko was born on the 27th of March 1881 in Sevastopol. He was the son of a poor merchant, Timofey Petrovich Averchenko.
Averchenko completed only two courses at the Gymnasia because of his poor eyesight, which rendered him unable to work on his studies for extended periods. His eye had been damaged by a childhood accident. However, as time went by, his lack of formal education was compensated by his natural intellect, as the writer N.N. Breshko-Breshkovskiy has described.
Averchenko started to work at the age of 15, employed by a private transport company. He remained there for slightly over a year before pursuing other employment. In 1897 Averchenko left for Donbass to work as a clerk in the Bryansk mine. He worked there for three years and later wrote several stories about life at the mine, including "In the Evening" and "Lightning."
In 1903, at the age of 22, he moved to Kharkiv where his first story appeared in the newspaper "South Territory" on 31 October.
During 1906 to 1907 he edited the satirical magazines Bayonet and Sword. Finally in 1907 he was fired from this work, reportedly with the words, "You are a good man, but suitable for nothing." After this, in January 1908 Averchenko left for Saint Petersburg where he was to achieve success in his career.
In 1908 Averchenko became secretary of the satirical magazine Dragonfly (later renamed to Satyricon) and in 1913 he became its editor. For many years Averchenko worked successfully as a member of the magazine's staff together with many other notable people, including Nadezhda Teffi, Sasha Chorny, and Aleksey Remizov. His most lauded humorous stories were published in the magazine. During Averchenko's work at the Satyricon it became very popular, and theatrical works based on his stories were put on by many theatres throughout the country.
From 1910 to 1912 Averchenko more than once travelled to Europe with his friends and colleagues at the Satyricon (including Aleksey Remizov). These travels served Averchenko as a rich source for his creative work, and inspired his book Expedition of Satyriconers in Western Europe which was published in 1912. Averchenko also wrote many theatre reviews under several pen names.
After the October Revolution, Averchenko's life was greatly changed. In August 1918 Bolshevik leaders declared the Satyricon anti-Soviet and suppressed it.
Averchenko and all Satyricon staff took a negative position against Soviet authority. Averchenko struggled greatly in attempting to return to his own Sevastopol; in particular, he had to travel through the Ukraine, which was being occupied by Germans. Beginning in June 1919 Averchenko worked for the newspaper South (later the The South of Russia) and urged aid for the Voluntary Army.
On the 15th of November 1920 Sevastopol was taken by the Reds. Some days before Averchenko had had time to flee via steamer ship to Constantinople.
Averchenko felt comfortable while in Constantinople as there were many other fellow Russian refugees in the city at the time.
In 1921 in Paris he published a satirical anthology, A Dozen Knives in the Back of Revolution which Lenin described as "a book of great talent by the embittered to distraction White Guard." He followed this book with a collection of stories, A Dozen Portraits in the Boudoir Format.
On the 13th of April 1922 Averchenko moved to Sofia and later moved to Belgrade. Averchenko spent a brief time in both cities before moving again and ta
Averchenko was born on the 27th of March 1881 in Sevastopol. He was the son of a poor merchant, Timofey Petrovich Averchenko.
Averchenko completed only two courses at the Gymnasia because of his poor eyesight, which rendered him unable to work on his studies for extended periods. His eye had been damaged by a childhood accident. However, as time went by, his lack of formal education was compensated by his natural intellect, as the writer N.N. Breshko-Breshkovskiy has described.
Averchenko started to work at the age of 15, employed by a private transport company. He remained there for slightly over a year before pursuing other employment. In 1897 Averchenko left for Donbass to work as a clerk in the Bryansk mine. He worked there for three years and later wrote several stories about life at the mine, including "In the Evening" and "Lightning."
In 1903, at the age of 22, he moved to Kharkiv where his first story appeared in the newspaper "South Territory" on 31 October.
During 1906 to 1907 he edited the satirical magazines Bayonet and Sword. Finally in 1907 he was fired from this work, reportedly with the words, "You are a good man, but suitable for nothing." After this, in January 1908 Averchenko left for Saint Petersburg where he was to achieve success in his career.
In 1908 Averchenko became secretary of the satirical magazine Dragonfly (later renamed to Satyricon) and in 1913 he became its editor. For many years Averchenko worked successfully as a member of the magazine's staff together with many other notable people, including Nadezhda Teffi, Sasha Chorny, and Aleksey Remizov. His most lauded humorous stories were published in the magazine. During Averchenko's work at the Satyricon it became very popular, and theatrical works based on his stories were put on by many theatres throughout the country.
From 1910 to 1912 Averchenko more than once travelled to Europe with his friends and colleagues at the Satyricon (including Aleksey Remizov). These travels served Averchenko as a rich source for his creative work, and inspired his book Expedition of Satyriconers in Western Europe which was published in 1912. Averchenko also wrote many theatre reviews under several pen names.
After the October Revolution, Averchenko's life was greatly changed. In August 1918 Bolshevik leaders declared the Satyricon anti-Soviet and suppressed it.
Averchenko and all Satyricon staff took a negative position against Soviet authority. Averchenko struggled greatly in attempting to return to his own Sevastopol; in particular, he had to travel through the Ukraine, which was being occupied by Germans. Beginning in June 1919 Averchenko worked for the newspaper South (later the The South of Russia) and urged aid for the Voluntary Army.
On the 15th of November 1920 Sevastopol was taken by the Reds. Some days before Averchenko had had time to flee via steamer ship to Constantinople.
Averchenko felt comfortable while in Constantinople as there were many other fellow Russian refugees in the city at the time.
In 1921 in Paris he published a satirical anthology, A Dozen Knives in the Back of Revolution which Lenin described as "a book of great talent by the embittered to distraction White Guard." He followed this book with a collection of stories, A Dozen Portraits in the Boudoir Format.
On the 13th of April 1922 Averchenko moved to Sofia and later moved to Belgrade. Averchenko spent a brief time in both cities before moving again and ta
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 31, 2015
Señores jueces: permitidme algunas palabras en defensa de mi abogado.
September 28, 2016
Es inevitable sonreír al pasar las páginas al final de cada cuento con un humor que te deja un buen sabor de boca. No nos tomamos el humor en serio, eso deberíamos de aprender de Averchenko.
July 31, 2024
El payaso en la primera fila del teatro
Arkady Averchenko recopila su caricaturizada visión de la sociedad rusa, tomando como molde la irrosoria realidad a las que todos estamos sujetos sin importar el lugar geográfico.
Su principal objetivo son los papeles que cada persona desempeña, incluso hace uso de la auto-referencia, por lo que ni siquiera él se exime de ser burlado. La terrible seriedad de la comedia se manifiesta en los juegos narrativos que son utilizados en los cuentos, ladrones diplomáticos, abogados inseguros, terratenientes inútiles, invasores agradecidos, entre otros.
Bajo la idea del cuento "Filosofía original" podemos reconocer más claramente su intención, retratar las filosofías absurdas que cada uno seguimos para darle sentido a mundo pequeños que nos es comprensible. Es natural que una visión ajena perciba una idea como algo insignificante.
Pero he allí el balance, una serie de relatos sobre lo ridículos que podemos llegar a ser para seguir siendo quienes somos, de como toda seriedad absoluta tiene gotas de divertido, es lo que somos al fin y al cabo.
Arkady Averchenko recopila su caricaturizada visión de la sociedad rusa, tomando como molde la irrosoria realidad a las que todos estamos sujetos sin importar el lugar geográfico.
Su principal objetivo son los papeles que cada persona desempeña, incluso hace uso de la auto-referencia, por lo que ni siquiera él se exime de ser burlado. La terrible seriedad de la comedia se manifiesta en los juegos narrativos que son utilizados en los cuentos, ladrones diplomáticos, abogados inseguros, terratenientes inútiles, invasores agradecidos, entre otros.
Bajo la idea del cuento "Filosofía original" podemos reconocer más claramente su intención, retratar las filosofías absurdas que cada uno seguimos para darle sentido a mundo pequeños que nos es comprensible. Es natural que una visión ajena perciba una idea como algo insignificante.
Pero he allí el balance, una serie de relatos sobre lo ridículos que podemos llegar a ser para seguir siendo quienes somos, de como toda seriedad absoluta tiene gotas de divertido, es lo que somos al fin y al cabo.
April 27, 2025
Un autor descubierto por la casualidad. Irónico, sarcástico, buenos diálogos y personajes trazados con maestría. Agradable de leer, estos cuentos de aquella rusia de principios del siglo veinte, fin de los zares , inicio del bolchevique.
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June 29, 2026
El Mejicano; No entiendo a esos Mexicanos, ¿por qué siempre andan a la greña?
July 9, 2024
No me convence el sentido del humor de este autor, absurdo antes que irónico, pero los dos últimos cuentos me han gustado.
June 19, 2026
Cuentos alegres, ligeros y sencillos. No son los mejores cuentos que vas a leer, pero si te sacan una sonrisa.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews