Classics and the Western Canon discussion

Both stories this week are very short, and by some strange coincidence they are both set close to Christmas. "Vanka" is a bittersweet story that some might consider more bitter than sweet. For me it exemplifies what Nabokov meant when he said that "Chekhov's books are sad books for humorous people; that is, only a reader with a sense of humor can really appreciate their sadness..."

On one hand, Vanka is an unfortunate little boy suffering in very sad circumstances. On the other hand, he doesn't despair and he has every hope that his grandfather will rescue him. We know that probably won't happen, but his memories of home as he writes his letter are quite charming. Perhaps Vanka has a future as a writer?

"Vanka" is story # 95 on the Eldritch Press site: http://www.eldritchpress.org/ac/jr/09...

This is such a touching little story. It is, of course, beside the point whether Vanka's grandfather were to get the letter or not, or what might happen as a result. Obviously Chekhov is interested in the boy's situation and how he feels now. It struck me that he is nine years old, so regardless of the fortunes of his letter, he can't really return to childhood. He is a grownup boy now, who will be pressed into service wherever he is. Maybe things would be better with his grandfather there, maybe not. The story seems to me to be a coming-of-age tale in which the boy hasn't yet realized he has already crossed a line of maturity that can't be crossed back over. I found the dog really curious and would be interested in hearing peoples' takes on him. He is both secretly "malicious" and, in the dream, wagging his tail. Now that I write that, I see that maybe the dream dog is like the dream life that Vanka wishes to return to--more "malicious" than he imagines it to be.

There is a sweetness here, not least in Vanka's heartwarming naïvety. Chekhov really captures just how nine year old boys react in these situations.

Thomas wrote: "...his memories of home as he writes his letter are quite charming. Perhaps Vanka has a future as a writer? "

I think he’s already a writer. That’s what he does in distress - writes, stealing a moment from his brutal life.
The whole story is actually a collage of his memories and imagination, well suited for a writer. “…and the Milky Way is as distinct as though it had been washed and rubbed with snow for a holiday..” – that is Vanka looking in the sky after a long day of chores. And the letter itself is already Chekhovian. One can discern some subtle hints at humor between the sad lines. Or maybe it’s just his naivete? Maybe. Then, I‘d say, if he does not lose that naivete [good luck, huh?], he’ll make a good writer. :)

Kathy wrote: " The story seems to me to be a coming-of-age tale in which the boy hasn't yet realized he has already crossed a line of maturity that can't be crossed back over. I found the dog really curious and would be interested in hearing peoples' takes on him. He is both secretly "malicious" and, in the dream, wagging his tail. Now that I write that, I see that maybe the dream dog is like the dream life that Vanka wishes to return to--more "malicious" than he imagines it to be.."


I think you’re right. Vanka is happy for a moment, in his dream. His letter’s being read! And yet, some part of his mind, so far maybe only on subconscious level, knows that the malicious dog wagging its tale (as a symbol of all the mischief and malice of life) is and will always be present in his life. Yes, you have a good point - a coming-of-age point of no return, indeed.

Patrice wrote: "This story hit me hard for several reasons.
Just today my son called. he very rarely calls in the middle of the day. he was coming home from the dr. my three year old grandson has pneumonia. hed as...
...
Putting all of chekovs stories together, what a bleak picture he paints."

Kind reflections, Patrice.
I'm sure your grandson will be well soon!

And yet, could Chekhov or anybody of his contemporaries have envisaged in their most horrid nightmares what the 20th century would bring about to Russians?

WWI (greatest casualties), Revolution, Civil War, Gulag, WWII (greatest casualties), Gulag again…

Millions and millions dead and even more suffering…

(I'm sure you are very grateful to your grandparents for their courage to move, Patrice..)

And by the way, I think Vanka’s grandfather is doing pretty good. “…extraordinarily nimble and lively old man…”. I thought I was reading about myself in ten years, taking into account that my grandson’s name is also Vanka, (or Ivan in the formal mode.) :)

Patrice wrote: "thanks, he is better already thanks to meds chekov could only dream about.
please dont misunderstand my feeling about russia. in fact, my father always identified as russian. his admiration for the..."

I understand.
And yes, you're right, everything is understood in comparison.

I agree with Patrice that the situation is out of Vanka's and his grandfather's control. And I didn't finish the story with expectation that anything would be changing or his wonderful letter delivered.

In the Pevear and Volokhonsky edition of Selected Stories, " Vanka" is followed by "Sleepy" about a girl " Varka" in a similar situation. My reading may be influenced by that story where the unthinking use (and abuse) of the child servant is more explicitly laid out.

I think Pevear and Volokhonsky are the translators whose Anna Karenina I read a couple of years ago--excellent. How are you liking their Chekhov collection, Susan? I'm reading half from an old Norton Critical Edition and half online.

I read this short one out loud to myself and found myself amused by the character of Vanka. Chekhovs writing style surely captures the atmosphere there must be around a wishful boy like him. A bit tragic but, as said - amusing story to read.

I, like Susan, read the Vanka story in the Pevear and Volokhnosky edition of Selected Stories; I also have read both Anna Karenina and War and Peace as translated by Pevear and Volokhonsky...all are excellent translations in my estimate and I would now always select their translation if an option. I , also like Susan, read the "Sleepy" story which follows "Vanka" in that edition and when I was discussing it with my daughter, realized I had to be careful not to collate the two as there are similarities. At any rate....before I read "Vanka" today, some reason, a song that my mother used to sing at times when I was a child, got stuck in my head and the lyrics are about a child crossing the portals of adulthood (or rather non childhood) : "once you cross those portals, you may never more return" ....(School days?) and that song got me thinking "so true" and wondering how many such "portals" I have crossed, of which I never more can return...such is this tale...the portals of life.
EDIT: I (or rather my sister) have now figured out the song referenced above (which is neither here nor there to this discussion but was greatly puzzling me): It is "Toyland" (music by Herbert, lyrics by Mac Donough) and key lyrics are "Toyland, Toyland, little girl and boy land; while you dwell within it, you are ever happy then. Childhood's joy land, mystic merry toy land! Once you pass its borders, you can ne'er return again." (albeit my mother sang it saying "dear little girl and" and did sing "portals" instead of borders)

Kathy wrote: "I think Pevear and Volokhonsky are the translators whose Anna Karenina I read a couple of years ago--excellent. How are you liking their Chekhov collection, Susan? I'm reading half from an old Nort..."

Kathy, I have been using three Chekhov collections -- the Pevear and Volokhnosky Selected Stories, Robert Payne's Forty Stories of Chekhov and a Constance Garnett one volume Selected Tales. The funny thing is that there's not much overlap. P&V for example have The Man in the Case and Gooseberries, but not In Love. Payne has In Love, but not the other two. And Oysters which is one of my favorites of the ones we've read isn't in any of them. Not knowing Russian, I can only say all three translations are readable, and each one gives you a varying selection.

Susan wrote: "Kathy wrote: "I think Pevear and Volokhonsky are the translators whose Anna Karenina I read a couple of years ago--excellent. How are you liking their Chekhov collection, Susan? I'm reading half fr..."

P.S. Who was the translator for the Norton edition?

Now I'm away and didn't bring it. I'll check when I get home on Friday. But as you're describing, some of the stories are in there and some not. I'm pretty sure Oysters was!

I have the older Norton Critical Edition (1979) from the library -- the translations are variously by Constance Garnett, Ralph Matlaw, Ivy Litvinov, and Marian Fell. The newer edition (2014) has different translations by P&V, Rosamund Bartlett, and others. It looks like the critical material is different too...

Yes, the 1979 edition is exactly the one I'm using, Thomas! It's what we had on the bookshelf. Two English teachers in this house, so there's usually a musty old paperback available.

Whatever the translations, this has been a very interesting selection of stories with great discussions. Thanks, Thomas!

Susan wrote: "Whatever the translations, this has been a very interesting selection of stories with great discussions. Thanks, Thomas!"

Thank you! Let's do it again some time. We read 18 stories this time, so If we make this an annual tradition we can knock out the Chekhov story oeuvre by 2045 or something...

Happy New Year everyone, and many more!