Weird Fiction discussion

Starting this July we are going to be reading the Nikolai Gogol novella The Viy. I have linked to a modern translation of the work by Fedir Vinkovych for the group read. This is because I have always held the opinion that modern translations offer more than older ones in the public domain, such as Claud Field's. However, Google AI does not quite agree and makes a more nuanced assessment. Read below for more information:

I asked Google AI three questions and herein share the results since it reveals why we are reading this story in the process.

What are the characteristics about translation of the Viy by Gogol?

Here are some key characteristics concerning the translation of Nikolai Gogol's "Viy":

1. Folkloric and Supernatural Elements:
Viy: Gogol's story revolves around the figure of Viy, described as a monstrous being with eyelids that need to be lifted to see. While Gogol claimed Viy was based on Ukrainian folklore, modern scholarship suggests he may have invented or embellished this figure.

Challenges: Translators need to grapple with how to convey this figure and the supernatural elements in a way that respects the original while being comprehensible to the target audience.

Cultural Context: The story's reliance on Slavic folklore presents challenges in accurately conveying specific cultural references and supernatural beliefs.

2. Blending of Realism and the Fantastic:

Gogol's Style: "Viy" masterfully combines realistic depictions of everyday life and characters with elements of the supernatural and grotesque.

Translators' Dilemma: Translators face the challenge of maintaining this delicate balance between the realistic and fantastical elements, ensuring the supernatural feels both unnerving and grounded in the story's reality.

3. Gogol's Unique Prose:

Grotesque and Humorous: Gogol's writing style is known for its blend of the grotesque, the humorous, and the unsettling. This unique style can be challenging to capture in translation.

Word Choice and Phrasing: "Viy" includes archaic and specific vocabulary that may not have direct equivalents in other languages. Translators must make careful choices to render the nuances of Gogol's language effectively.

4. Various Interpretations:

Open to Analysis: "Viy" has been subject to various interpretations, including psychoanalytic, folklore-based, and psychological readings.

Translators' Approach: Different translations may reflect different interpretations of the story, influencing how the reader perceives the characters and themes.

5. Historical Context:
Russian Romanticism: "Viy" embodies themes common to Russian Romanticism, such as the supernatural, fear, and the conflict between good and evil. Translators need to understand this context to accurately convey the story's underlying meanings.

In summary, translating "Viy" involves navigating a complex blend of folkloric elements, a unique literary style, and various levels of interpretation. The challenges lie in conveying the story's inherent mystery and unsettling atmosphere while remaining faithful to Gogol's original vision.

Is there a good translation of the Viy by Gogol?

Yes, there are several good translations of Nikolai Gogol's "Viy" available. It's often included in collections of Gogol's tales, and the quality of the translation can significantly impact the reader's experience, especially given Gogol's unique style and vocabulary.

Here are a few options, along with some points to consider:
Pevear and Volokhonsky translation: Often praised for their "superb" translations of Russian literature, their rendition of "The Collected Tales of Nikolai Gogol" (which includes "Viy") is available and widely recommended. However, it's worth noting that some readers find their translations to have a less natural flow.

Constance Garnett translation: While considered a classic translator of Russian literature, some suggest her style might not fully capture Gogol's nuances. Nevertheless, it's still a respectable translation to consider.

David Magarshack translation: One Reddit user mentioned reading a Magarshack translation published by Penguin Classics and having a positive experience.

Christopher English translation: This translation (in the Oxford World's Classics edition) has been described as "eloquent and poetic".

Guerney's translation: Vladimir Nabokov, a prominent Russian writer himself, reportedly dismissed earlier translations and praised Guerney's work. [Me here. I've read elsewhere that Guerney's translation tones down Gogol's antisemitism to the point of eradication. This makes Guerney's translation a no-go for me. I am pro-Jewish personally, but I want to see Gogol's work the way he wrote and meant it.]

Ultimately, the best translation for you will depend on your personal preferences and what you value most in a translation. Consider looking at excerpts from different translations to see which one resonates with you. While some critics may prefer translations that focus on a literal approach, others may prefer those that prioritize capturing the spirit and humor of the original text.

How does Claud Field's translation of The Viy by Gogol compare to a more modern translation?

When comparing Claud Field's early translation of Gogol's "Viy" to more modern translations, consider these factors:

1. Language and Style:
Claud Field: As a translation from an earlier period (likely early 20th century, given the publication details found), Field's translation might use language that feels more formal or even archaic compared to contemporary usage.

Modern Translations: Modern translators, such as Pevear and Volokhonsky, are known for their approach to capturing the original text's nuances, even if it results in a less "smooth" read, which can sometimes be seen as "freewheeling, exuberant performances". Their aim is to convey Gogol's style as closely as possible to the English reader, even if it feels a little "foreign" at times. This can sometimes involve preserving word choice or phrasing that might not be instantly recognizable in modern English, as suggested by discussions around "domestication" versus "foreignization" in translation.

2. Focus and Approach:
Claud Field: Field's note in his introduction to "The Viy" indicates an effort to present the story in a simple form, acknowledging it as a "specimen of such folk-lore" and stating he made no alterations. This suggests a focus on the narrative's folklore aspect.

Modern Translations: Modern translations may prioritize conveying Gogol's unique literary qualities, such as his dark humor, cynical satire, and exploration of themes like fear and superstition, as noted by sources describing Gogol's genius. They might delve deeper into capturing the psychological and social undercurrents of the story.

3. "Domesticated" vs. "Foreignized" Translations:
General Principle: Translations can lean towards either "domestication" (making the text more familiar to the target audience's culture) or "foreignization" (preserving aspects of the source culture in the translation). Older translations like Field's might have been more prone to domestication to make the text easily accessible to English readers of the time.

Gogol's Work: Gogol's stories, including "The Viy," often involve specific cultural details and folklore. Modern translators might opt for a more "foreignized" approach to retain the authentic flavor of the original.

In Summary:
Claud Field's translation of "The Viy" likely offers a more accessible, older-fashioned reading experience, prioritizing the narrative's folk-tale quality. More modern translations, such as those by Pevear and Volokhonsky, might offer a more nuanced and potentially more challenging read, aiming to capture the intricacies of Gogol's style and the cultural context of the story.

AI responses may include mistakes.

Me here again. If you want a modern translation, further poking around in AI and reading the free sample at Amazon led me to the conclusion that Fedir Vinkovych's is outstanding! Following the link here in this group to that work will put you in good stead.

I went a different route. I am up for a challenge, so I ordered a copy of Pevear and Volokhonsky's translation. It is not stand-alone, however. It comes in a collection with a lot of other Gogol stories. I will say that the translators selected not Gogol's most famous or well-known stories, but rather his weirdest and most horrifying. I couldn't resist. The translation I am reading is in the following: The Collected Tales of Nikolai Gogol.

Who is joining in this July?

I will probably read this [again]. Maybe I will actually read one of the translations just to see how it reads in English. Maaaan told you already how scared I was as a kid of this "LIFT UP MY EYELIDS... I CANNOT SEE... (view spoiler)[ THERE HE IS!!!! (hide spoiler)]
The beginning of this story is somewhat similar to that one story from the Strange stories from a Chinese studio.that we read here a while back - you know, where the survivor's first action was to go the magistrate and get a document about it.
There were a couple really weird and not-true-to-original movies of this, including the Forbidden Empire (2014). Here is - just in case - a somewhat cheesy Russian 1967 film with English subtitles, a lot closer to the actual book.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSlgE...

I was wondering where my copy of The Collected Tales of Nikolai Gogol was, went online to check, only to discover I failed to order the book somehow. It's no big deal. I have a copy of "The Viy" in a Dover edition back when I read "Diary of a Madman" (Diary of a Madman and Other Stories) as a group read in some other group. "The Viy" is the second story in that collection. I have no idea who the translator is, but I'm ready to roll!

Hmm, I asked Google AI and it says: The translator of "The Viy" in the Dover edition of Diary of a Madman and Other Stories by Nikolai Gogol is likely Claud Field. While the search results for the Dover edition itself don't directly mention the translator of "The Viy", they reveal that Dover has reprinted a collection titled The Mantle and Other Stories which includes "The Viy" and is translated by Claud Field. It's common for Dover to reprint earlier successful translations, and it's highly probable that they used Field's translation for "The Viy" in their Diary of a Madman collection.

Isn't this just a very short story though?! Like not even an hour to read short. I would definitely prefer novels or short story collections. I will definitely give this a read it's possible this story just has a lot of symbolism or material to discuss and that's why it was chosen. But as far as I can see this is all for July? 😭

Here's a PDF version. It doesn't say who translated it but it looks modern.
https://cafeliterarioba.com/wp-conten...

Whitney wrote: "Isn't this just a very short story though?! Like not even an hour to read short. I would definitely prefer novels or short story collections...But as far as I can see this is all for July?"

Take a look at the main page again, the group is reading a short story collection alongside Viy. And check out this topic if you'd like to nominate one or two books for August.

Longer works are the norm for our group. I don't mind a short read, although I do wish that the people who voted for Viy would join in the discussion, too. I've noticed that it's the same in other groups: people will vote, but then they're nowhere to be found when their selection wins.

Dave J. wrote: "Whitney wrote: "Isn't this just a very short story though?! Like not even an hour to read short. I would definitely prefer novels or short story collections...But as far as I can see this is all fo..."
This would be a great thing to bring up in voting,

To Dave's point: It was my suggestion, but I don't remember if I voted or what I voted for :) I posted quite a bit about it somewhere - probably, on the nomination page; I am a bit afraid to overdominate this discussion.
So, there are movies. The old Soviet movie you can watch on Youtube with English subtutles. The 2014 one I think, you can rent from amazon.

If you have questions about any symbolism - maybe I could answer. Many of the actual monsters Gogol created himself, they are not folklore; they are compatible with folk stories though.
If you ever feel like reading another Russian novel - Master and Margarita, you will find the witch scenes somewhat reflecting those of Gogols'.
If you wish for more reading, you can get this story as part of Gogol's collection; perhaps you might find it enriching, He's got several different kinds of stories - more of this "Ukrainian village ghost stories" series and "Russian empire city dwellers" one that is more satire, [In case it is confusing, Gogol, a writer from the Russian Empire, was born and grew up in Ukraine part of the Russian empire and lived in St Petersburg most of his life. So he s a Ukrainian writer and a Russian one. Viy, a story about Ukrainian village, was written in St Petersbourg; and it was considered to be an important piece of Russian literature, which we all read back in the day. It used to be all one country.]


anyhow, just for the flavor of the story, here is a short episode from a different set of stories - The Nights Near Dikanka River - where a young lad visits a local guy who's in cahoots with the dark side; the latter is seen using his magical abilities to increase the efficiency of eating what in America is call pierogies (I think, in the original these are galushkas; same thing, sort of a dumpling)" https://vk.com/video-128781915_456239322
Ukraine was owned by Turkey for a bit, which influenced the national dress as you see here.
anyhow - happy to have a dialogue if anybody wants :)

I am reading this story again, frankly because I don't remember my previous reading, even though I highlighted (electronically) the heck out of it. My highlights made no sense, so I am removing them on this reading.

This story is not what I expected. It's something about a quest made by a representative of four classes of people: a grammarian, a rhetorician, a philosopher, and one other equally useless that now escapes me. I'm wondering what the point of it is. I should probably read this in one sitting rather than a page here, a page there three days later, etc.

students of seminary go home on vacation :) (view spoiler)[ on the way, Khoma Brut stops for a night at this place; and is confronted by an ugly old witch who is variously abusing him and rides him to some witches fest; he takes the upper hand though, and the witch is dying. In the morning, he body of the witch turns into the body of local merchant's daughter. Khoma is tasked with conducting a vigil at her coffin in the church overnight. At night, the church is filled with demons of various shapes. Khoma drew a chalk circle around himself and so is invisible to thm. By the end of the night, they bring out Viy (the One Who Sees), his eyelids down to the floor. "Lift up my eyelids, - commands he - I cannot see" they lift up his eyelids and he turns his pointing finger at Khoma - THERE HE IS! And they all attack him. (hide spoiler)]

Thanks for the summary. I was just wondering if I might find one in Wikipedia.

Come to think of it, I could Google AI it, couldn't I?

Summarize the viy by gogol: (view spoiler)["Viy," a short story by Nikolai Gogol, tells the terrifying tale of seminary student Khoma Brut, who is forced to spend three nights praying over the body of a young woman who is revealed to be a witch. Khoma experiences supernatural horrors, including encounters with demonic forces and the monstrous Viy, whose gaze brings death. The story explores themes of fear, faith, and the conflict between reason and superstition, set against a backdrop of dark folklore and dark comedy. (hide spoiler)]

"Here's a more detailed breakdown:"

No thanks. Maybe after I read the story all the way through. Your summary was a lot like AI's, Zina!

Dan wrote: "Your summary was a lot like AI's, Zina!
"
hahaha well, I suppose I am not very original in my reading :)
the grammarian, theologian etc stuff in the beginning are the seminarian boys goofing off.