Classics and the Western Canon discussion

This thread is for any materials you have found that will help us along in our reading of the novel. Critical works, web links on Russia in the 19th century, notes on vocabulary--it's up to you.

Here are some links that might be interesting on items from the first reading assignment.

bast shoes

http://donsmaps.com/footwear.html

unopened pages--Why Anna needed a paper knife

http://www.mywingsbooks.com/coll-term...

Russian troika (horse-drawn sledge)

http://tinyurl.com/29q24w

the "spirited beast from the Don"

http://tinyurl.com/2ee88t

Russian black pied cattle (Pava and her calf?)

http://tinyurl.com/26qje8

Laurele wrote: "This thread is for any materials you have found that will help us along in our reading of the novel. "

Nabokov -- yes, the Nabokov of Lolita, who was also a professor at various institutions, including Wellesley, Cornell, and Harvard -- published Lectures on Russian Literature which contains a lengthy series of lectures on Anna Karenina. The book is out of print, but is available second hand or from inter library loan. (He also has Lectures on Literature, Lectures on Don Quixote, and maybe others.)

I'll be reading the AK lectures over the next several weeks, and will post things of interest, but there is much that isn't postable -- for example, he has copies of Nabokov's notes, sketches of the situations in the novel, etc. (Can't be more detailed until the discussion starts.)

The Teaching Company has a series of lectures titled "Classics of Russian Literature" which I know Laurel has, but others might be interested in it. It's on sale at the moment; the audio download is only $49.95. And/or Laurel may be willing to summarize the professor's comments on AnnaK as our discussion proceeds.

Everyman wrote: "The Teaching Company has a series of lectures titled "Classics of Russian Literature" which I know Laurel has, but others might be interested in it. It's on sale at the moment; the audio download..."

Professor Weil is excellent. Here is the link to the "Classics of Russian Literature" series: http://www.teach12.com/ttcx/coursedes...
Lessons 16-21 deal with Tolstoy, with much on Anna Karenina.

Wow! I'm new here, and I'm so excited about this project. It was that book of Nabokov's that inspired me to re-read AK a couple of years ago, and now I'm planning to re-re-read it so I can participate in this group and get more insights into this wonderful novel. Just checked my local library's website, and they have that Teaching Company course, too, so will check that out after we finish this book. Thank you!

M wrote: "Wow! I'm new here, and I'm so excited about this project. It was that book of Nabokov's that inspired me to re-read AK a couple of years ago, and now I'm planning to re-re-read it so I can particip..."

Good going, M. I have the Nabokov book too, but I haven't read the Anna part yet.

A link to information on the game of bezique played at Oblonsky's.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A646724

Susanna wrote: "Thank you, Laurele. While reading, I was thinking that a paper knife was a bookmark."

I'm old enough to have bought second hand books with uncut pages. There is something really special about cutting pages which nobody has touched before you, sort of like opening Christmas presents from a real Santa!

Susan wrote: "A link to information on the game of bezique played at Oblonsky's.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A646724"

Thanks, Susan!

Susanna wrote: "Thank you, Laurele. While reading, I was thinking that a paper knife was a bookmark."

Sometimes it got used for that, too.

Laurele wrote: "Susanna wrote: "Thank you, Laurele. While reading, I was thinking that a paper knife was a bookmark."

Sometimes it got used for that, too."

In War and Peace, there is a scene of General Kutuzov reading a Madame de Genlis book with a paper knife ready. Apparently not much have changed in book manufacturing processes between the early 19th century and the the 1860's.

Everyman shows his age: I'm old enough to have bought second hand books with uncut pages. There is something really special about cutting pages which nobody has touched before you, sort of like opening Christmas presents from a real Santa!

Charles Lamb, a couple of centuries older than Eman begs to differ:

A book reads the better which is our own, and has been so long known to us, that we know the topography of its blots, and dog's ears, and can trace the dirt in it to having read it at tea with buttered muffins.

Personally, I appreciate Everyman's sentiment and can get some of that pleasure from opening a crisp, unread paperback. But I love and agree with Lamb's one reason I spend so much money on books instead of getting them from the library.

Zeke wrote: "Everyman shows his age: I'm old enough to have bought second hand books with uncut pages. There is something really special about cutting pages which nobody has touched before you, sort of like ope..."

I agree with both approaches, Zeke. It's like friends. A new friend is exciting, an adventure waiting to be enjoyed. An old friend is comfortable, you know the joke he is going to tell almost before he starts it, but you enjoy the joke anyhow. Both are wonderful, each in their own way.

Same thing with books. The new, virgin book is an adventure waiting to be experienced. The old, well-worn, well-blotted book is the comfort of familiarity, the wife you've been married to for thirty happy years, who just fits with you in every way.

Great links! I had guessed the paper knife to be some form of letter opener, but couldn't fathom what was meant by 'unopened pages'. A fellow fan of the well-worn bookstore treasures, I rather envy Everyman at having had the experience of hand-cutting pages!

A modest, but interesting interview with an author who has a forthcoming book about the Russian canon and the people who are deeply engaged in reading-studying it.

Warning: contains some spoilers about AK though nothing that most people won't already know even if they haven't read the whole book.

http://tinyurl.com/yc6yt45

Zeke wrote: "A modest, but interesting interview with an author who has a forthcoming book about the Russian canon and the people who are deeply engaged in reading-studying it.

Warning: contains some spoilers ..."

?? Zeke, your link only leads me back to this thread.

Thanks M. Try this:

http://tinyurl.com/yc6yt45

Ah! That works. Many thanks!

Zeke wrote: "Thanks M. Try this:

http://tinyurl.com/yc6yt45"

That worked for me. Nice article.

Interesting article. Thanks for the link, Zeke.

You can find unopened books in some libraries, too. I read a lot of Dickens while living in Germany a few years ago and came across an entire collection of unopened volumes.

And then there's De Quincey's anecdote about Wordsworth's habit of opening books at the breakfast table. According De Quincey, WW would cut the pages with a butter knife, thus getting the paper all greasy. I love that Wordsworth was too eager to stop reading long enough to switch knives. Or too lazy, I guess ;)

Darcy wrote: "You can find unopened books in some libraries, too. I read a lot of Dickens while living in Germany a few years ago and came across an entire collection of unopened volumes.

And then there's De Q..."
I'm intrigued. If you check out an unopened book are you allowed to cut its pages or are they intended as examples and not intended to be circulated?

Eliza wrote: "I'm intrigued. If you check out an unopened book are you allowed to cut its pages or are they intended as examples and not intended to be circulated? "

If they let a book circulate, I assume they want it read and therefore it's fine to cut the pages. That's what I would do. If they want it kept pristine they will restrict its availability. At least so I would assume.

Though if it happened to me, I would probably ask before cutting.

Yeah, I agree with Everyman. Unopened pages don't necessarily mean the book is worth more and so there generally isn't any harm in opening them. It is probably best to ask, though. And if you cut them open at the breakfast table with the butter knife, at least you'll be in good company!

Zeke wrote: "A modest, but interesting interview with an author who has a forthcoming book about the Russian canon and the people who are deeply engaged in reading-studying it ..."

Really interesting article about Russian classic and contemporary literature and preview about Batuman's new book.

Laurele wrote: "

unopened pages--Why Anna needed a paper knife

http://www.m..."


I used to request journals from the university library's periodical department, some of which were handed over unopened and uncut, then slice through the deckle or rough trimmed page edges.

I found this book on line on Anna K.
http://www.ohiostatepress.org/Books/C...

I have only skimmed the first few pages so far, and not sure how much time I'll have to read in it, but if somebody has the time [yeah, right!:] there might be some interesting stuff in it.

I've cut pages in journals and books, and I'm only 38. I think it is a production fault in some of the newer materials. Uncut pages in a book on library shelves (restricted books are kept out of the public area generally) are probably accidents ... the librarian cataloguing it will not turn every page in the book and so uncut pages would remain undiscovered. If it is out on loan to you, I would advise you contact the library before cutting as they may prefer an experienced technician to do it. PS Can you tell that I'm a librarian? :)

Everyman wrote: "I found this book on line on Anna K.
http://www.ohiostatepress.org/Books/C...

I have only skimmed the first few pages so far, and not sure ..."

Good! I knew about this book but not that it was on line. Most of it is probably best left till after reading Anna Karenina for the first time.

Has anyone mentioned the new book of Sofia Tolstoy's diaries?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/...

"What Happened to Anna K" (2008) by Irina Reyn is Tolstoy's 21st-century novel set in the New York City boroughs.

http://www.irinareyn.com/

A stumbled across a blog post from Levi Stahl, I've Been Reading Lately that is mostly about War and Peace, but makes some comments that may be of interest to people in our reading of AK. I think it may be especially helpful to first time readers or anyone who may be finding themselves perplexed.

Everyman will find a neat companion to his comment about the relative paucity of metaphor and simile. This writer notes the frequent use of the perfectly chosen, telling detail. To me, this fulfills to a degree the role that metaphor does for other authors.

http://tinyurl.com/y9eutvc

Zeke wrote: This writer notes the frequent use of the perfectly chosen, telling detail. To me, this fulfills to a degree the role that metaphor does for other authors.

Neat thought, Zeke! Tolstoy doesn't compare something to a hive of bees, he shows us the hive and tells us all about it and why it is relevant to the people in the story and to us. And he is so concrete about all that he says that we don't need metaphor for understanding it.

Zeke wrote: "Everyman will find a neat companion to his comment about the relative paucity of metaphor and simile. This writer notes the frequent use of the perfectly chosen, telling detail. To me, this fulfills to a degree the role that metaphor does for other authors."

This is a point that Nabokov also makes.

Since I have not read Nabokov, does this mean I attain his stature? Or do I still have a ways to go?

Laurele wrote: "Tolstoy doesn't compare something to a hive of bees, he shows us the hive and tells us all about it and why it is relevant to the people in the story and to us. And he is so concrete about all that he says that we don't need metaphor for understanding it. ..."

Tolstoy brings together here many perspectives to examine an event or a problem; Dostoevsky also uses this technique in "The Village of Stepanchikovo".

Figurative comparisons with similes and metaphors tend toward brevity and rhetoric.

Asmah wrote: Tolstoy brings together here many perspectives to examine an event or a problem; Dostoevsky also uses this technique in "The Village of Stepanchikovo".

"Many perspectives." How true! His books are long for a purpose.

For me, this lack of metaphor/simile also relates to the way in which Tolstoy's narrators move so quickly between overview and intimate perspective. The introduction of a metaphor suddenly creates a more overt narrator--that is, a narrator who feels the need to mediate the text in specific ways. Instead, Tolstoy's narrators remain very covert. They hardly ever address the reader ("Reader, I married him"), use the word "I," or have noticeable rhetorical tics by which they can be identified. This strategy is particularly apparent in War and Peace, I think, where the narrator positions himself as a historian of the Napoleonic wars, as well as a historian of the five families. Such a narrative style, though, becomes more interesting in AK, for me at least, since it suggests that the narrator remains nonjudgmental of all the characters, including Anna.

A very good article by Mary Ann Melfi called "Keeping Secrets in Anna Karenina" is from the Journal of Evolutionary Psychology, Vol. 25, 2004. It is available through Questia. I think you can read one article as a visitor if you don't have a subscription to Questia. It's one that you will want to not read until you have finished your first reading of the novel.

http://www.questia.com/read/5002087123

Zeke wrote: "Since I have not read Nabokov, does this mean I attain his stature? Or do I still have a ways to go?"

You are a 300 watt halogen bulb to his 25 watt CFL.

Laurele wrote: "A very good article by Mary Ann Melfi called "Keeping Secrets in Anna Karenina" is from the Journal of Evolutionary Psychology, Vol. 25, 2004. It is available through Questia. I think you can read ..."

Thanks so much, Laurele, i'll finish AK soon, and then i'll definitely check out the article on Questia....