Description
By (author) Grossman Vasily; Translated by Chandler, Elizabeth; Translated by Chandler, Robert and Elizabeth
Short /annotation:
The collected shorter works by the author of Life and Fate and Everything Flows, published in English for the first time.
:
By the author of Life and Fate, now a major Radio 4 drama starring Kenneth Branagh.
Vasily Grossman is widely recognized as one of the outstanding literary figures of the twentieth century. The short fiction collected here – satire, comedy, tragedy and pure narrative – illustrate the remarkable breadth of his work, and demonstrate all the bold intelligence, delicate irony and extraordinary vividness for which he has become known.
In addition to the eleven stories, this volume includes the complete text of ”The Hell of Treblinka”, one of the first s of a Nazi extermination camp; a powerful and harrowing piece of journalism written only weeks after the camp was dissolved.
Beautifully illuminated by Robert Chandler”s introductions and endnotes, with photographs from the family archive, and an Afterword by Grossman”s stepson, Fyodor Guber.
Table of contents:
Part One – The 1930s: Introduction; In the Town of Berdichev; A Small Life; A Young Woman and an Old Woman.Part Two – The War, The Shoah: Introduction; The Old Man; The Old Teacher; The Hell of Treblinka; The Sistine Madonna.Part Three – Late Stories: Introduction; The Elk; Mama; Living Space; The Road; The Dog; In Kislovodsk.Part Four – Three Letters: Introduction; Letter 1950; Letter 1961.Part Five – Eternal Rest: Introduction; Eternal Rest.Appendices: Grossman and Treblinka; Natalya Khayutina and the Yezhovs; Afterword by Fyodor Guber; Chronology; Notes; Further Reading; Translator”s acknowledgements; About the author; About the translators.
Review quote:
”Grossman deserves a special, if not revered, place as a recorder of some of the worst excesses of the 20th century – indeed, of any century. A casual reader may be lured into thinking this to be a collection of fictional short stories depicting the hardships and privations of Soviet life. But on page 126 comes an abrupt and horrifying awakening … ”The Hell of Treblinka” … nothing prepares us for the force of Grossman”s ; his detailed, harrowing reconstruction of what happened” Scotsman.
Review quote:
a richness and clarity to a fascinating period and define Grossman as one of the great literary figures of the last century” Good Book Guide.
Review quote:
””Grossman”s trajectory is clear in his short fiction and essays: early essays explore the ardent patriotism that fired Russia; later ones such as the title story, ”The Road”, an allegory of a beaten mule pulling a munitions train that offers a bitter reflection on life, hint at dangerous disillusionment … The Road is an excellent introduction to Grossman”s hauntingly powerful fiction and reportage” James Urquhart, Financial Times.
Review quote:
…his vivid dispatches, some newly translated for this superb collection, retain a freshness that only the finest journalism can. The 11 short stories also collected here show a writer of infinite variety, and the bulk of them will enhance his reputation … his is a powerful voice of conscience” Sunday Times.
Review quote:
””This superbly edited compendium of his writing, containing short stories, journalism and letters to his dead mother, allows us to access the nature and success of his enterprise. Through its lucid notes and essays it also serves as a first-class companion to the terrible history of mid-20th-century central Europe.” Jewish Chronicle.
Review quote:
… it has become accepted that Vasily Grossman was one of the giants of 20th Century literature. This anthology of his stories and journalism, brill
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.