History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

Average customer rating:

Stench puke pages with Oprah's insignia
My all time favorite book!
a beautiful story, sometimes polluted by minutiae
The Hobo Philosopher
Great Russian Novel

Anna Karenina (Oprah's Book Club)
Leo Tolstoy
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Classics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Literary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Russian | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Russian | Classics | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Russian | Foreign Language Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

All Russian Books | Russian | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0143035002
Release Date: 2004-05-31

Amazon.com

Some people say Anna Karenina is the single greatest novel ever written, which makes about as much sense to me as trying to determine the world's greatest color. But there is no doubt that Anna Karenina, generally considered Tolstoy's best book, is definitely one ripping great read. Anna, miserable in her loveless marriage, does the barely thinkable and succumbs to her desires for the dashing Vronsky. I don't want to give away the ending, but I will say that 19th-century Russia doesn't take well to that sort of thing.

Book Description

Anna Karenina tells of the doomed love affair between the sensuous and rebellious Anna and the dashing officer, Count Vronsky. Tragedy unfolds as Anna rejects her passionless marriage and must endure the hypocrisies of society. Set against a vast and richly textured canvas of nineteenth-century Russia, the novel's seven major characters create a dynamic imbalance, playing out the contrasts of city and country life and all the variations on love and family happiness. While previous versions have softened the robust, and sometimes shocking, quality of Tolstoy's writing, Pevear and Volokhonsky have produced a translation true to his powerful voice. This award-winning team's authoritative edition also includes an illuminating introduction and explanatory notes. Beautiful, vigorous, and eminently readable, this Anna Karenina will be the definitive text for generations to come.

Customer Reviews:

Stench puke pages with Oprah's insignia.......2007-09-30

Don't assume for a moment that Anna Karenina hasn't been dazzled with a more complete set of stars because I am another audacious reader who thinks that Anna is a glorified soap opera, far from the truth. Anna Karenina is lovelier than English itself (which is precisely why it was written in Russian), and this translation does an excellent job reminding me that I am reading a translation, and a very bad one at that. This translation takes away all of the texture of the text with small schoolboy words the Count would have taken offense to, rotten rubbish. I recall someone else making mention of the superiority of the Constance Garnett translation to this, a translation I own and have read, and I would agree that even the seven dollar Barnes and Noble edition translated by Constance Garnett has a far better translation then this.

The best translations you can get into filthy English are ones based on the Louise and Aylmer Maude translation, which preserves the texture of the text. The Norton critical edition is my favorite, all of the annotations, notes, and other fidget-friendly details, but the current Oxford world classics edition is just as good. George Gibian does the revised Norton translation, and I don't remember the name of the editor of the Oxford classics, but both translations are based on the Maude translation. Avoid this blasphemous rendering.

My all time favorite book!.......2007-09-29

Although I first read this book many years ago, I have gone back and read it 2 more times since then. I love this book because it has so many different facets to it. I enjoyed learning about Russian society in that time period and found Levin's commentaries about farming to be another way of examining Russian life. I thought it was suspenseful and had no trouble at all following the plot line or the characters. I especially enjoyed the dialogue between Vronsky and Anna that was written with first letters only. It was so clever of Tolstoy to write the scene that way and I found that I could understand all of their conversation. I still find this book fascinating!

a beautiful story, sometimes polluted by minutiae.......2007-09-23

I debated whether to give this book 3 or 4 stars, but finally decided on the latter. Here's why: While it true that this book is long -- an understatement, really -- it does have some passages that are just breathtakingly beautiful. There were many times during the book that I found myself rather bored, especially when long sections dealt with hunting, farming, or political mumbo-jumbo. At the time this novel was written, it may have been meaningful. For me, however, it was tedious. I found myself really disengaging from the story at these moments, but was quickly drawn back in by the romance and fascinating characters. I really do not know why Tolstoy called this "Anna Karenina," when in reality she is only one of several "main" characters. I found each to be real, sympathetic, and intriguing. Tolstoy really captured the complexities of human relationships so well. I definitely would recommend this novel to others, but not the typical Oprah Book Clubbers or any casual readers. This is serious literature for those who can handle it! Lit majors, proceed...

The Hobo Philosopher.......2007-09-17

Well, it was a long, long time ago and I wanted to get a great Russian Novel under my belt. War and Peace was too darn long, so I thought I'd try this one.
It took me about a month to get Count Veronski separate from Prince Rodonkski. And then there was Colonel Radzinokovek and Captain Chaknoskonovick. Hey who can spell Checkoslovakia?
By the time I got all the names straight I forgot what the story was all about. Basically it is about this rich broad who cheats on her husband, becomes a big disgrace at the Palace and then gets run over by a horse and carriage.
I finished it. I know I should read War and Peace. It is a classic you know. But I think that I would rather read the Encyclopedia Bertanica. Right now I'm reading Crime and Punishment. I think that I have been reading this one for three years now. I am on page 73. Raskolnikov is in this book also. This book has 564 pages. Don't wait for my review. It will probably be a while. But I am determined. After all I finished Anna Karenina didn't I!

Great Russian Novel.......2007-09-13

Anna Karenina is a mighty undertaking, but well worth it.

I was especially pleased by how intricately the main characters were created and molded into deep thoughtful beings. I thought Levin was the most interesting character.

How he and Anna both reason their paths shapes the novel.

Like many reviewers, I too found Anna Karenina to be a pompous princess, bent on selfish happiness, with a husband deliriously lost and looking to grasp onto anything he could to steady himself to; each needy and extreme in their own way. The strange morphing of each of these characters showed how thoughts, feelings and actions can be swayed when poor decisions are made. While I disagreed with Anna, I enjoyed understanding why she thought what she did was justified. It helped me to understand human nature.

This time period also marked a transition into faith for many in Russia and I think readers will like (or may not like) how Levin tackled and came to understand his beliefs.

Average customer rating:

Innovative and refreshing
enraptured
Liked it!
Fantastic and Different
Very Good Book

Night Watch
Sergei Lukyanenko
Manufacturer: Miramax
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Russian | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Short Stories | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Science Fiction & Fantasy Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1401359795

Book Description

The Night Watch series has caused a sensation never before seen in Russia -- its popularity is frenzied and unprecedented, and driven by a truly great, epic story. In 2005 Fox Searchlight announced it had acquired the Russian film adaptation for an American release. Interest in the books here is now set to reach a fever pitch.

Set in modern day Moscow, Night Watch is a world as elaborate and imaginative as Tolkien or the best Asimov. Living among us are the "Others," an ancient race of humans with supernatural powers who swear allegiance to either the Dark or the Light. A thousand-year treaty has maintained the balance of power, and the two sides coexist in an uneasy truce. But an ancient prophecy decrees that one supreme "Other" will rise up and tip the balance, plunging the world into a catastrophic war between the Dark and the Light. When a young boy with extraordinary powers emerges, fulfilling the first half of the prophecy, will the forces of the Light be able to keep the Dark from corrupting the boy and destroying the world?

An extraordinary translation from the Russian by noted translator Andrew Bromfield, this first English language edition of Night Watch is a chilling, engrossing read certain to reward those waiting in anticipation of its arrival.

Customer Reviews:

Innovative and refreshing.......2007-10-03

First, a review for those that want to take the book after watching the movie(s): do it. If you liked the movies, you'll probably like the book even more - the narration is much more coherent, the events are much less chaotic and the character motivations seem better sketched.

Now, a general review: this book is generally put in the fantasy genre. That means many readers might reach for this book expecting some sort of "Harry Potter in Moscow", as I've read in one of the reviews here. This is NOT it. The fantasy setting here is more of a narrative device than a real dedicated setting. For those of you that have read Bulgakov's "Master and Margerita", you'll come to recognize the device quite clearly - it's virtually the same feel, but in recent-day Moscow instead of the early communist-times one.

Lukyanenko has done something quite impressive - he's written a book about a typical Russian person, who seems special to the reader because of his involvement in the epic struggle between Light and Dark. But this is just a ruse - the struggle is nothing but epic, it is more alegorical then literal. One of the reviews here was very critical on the book, saying that the action didn't progress anywhere, that all of our hero's deeds turned out to have changed nothing in the greater view of things. This is not a mistake by the author, it's the intended effect. That's exactly what the book is supposed to present.

Don't be fooled - this is not yet another fantasy novel, not an epic fantasy one, nor a typical urban fantasy one. This is not a fantasy novel at all. This is a book about normal people, everyday choices, everyday lives. It just seems much more interesting when presented in an imaginative fantasy setting. And it is this combination of excellent worldbuilding and great narration that gets this book five stars.

enraptured.......2007-09-21

i picked up this book and couldnt put it down again! a most amazing author and story. he manages to write an unsaid plot and leave a silent ending that is like and explosion of possibity threads in a certain direction. a true inspiration.

Liked it!.......2007-09-15

Entertaining, engaging vampire novel from Russia, first of three. Definitely more comprehensible than the film! I liked this book- Anton, the narrator, is sympathetic and likable and I enjoyed following his adventures in the intrigue-filled world of vampire-Moscow. As someone who does not read a lot of scifi or vampire novels I appreciated that it wasn't very violent

Fantastic and Different.......2007-09-13

The two things that worked the best for me when reading this novel were:

1) Rather than a cliche' Battle between good and evil, this is about a precarious truce between the two and how both sides fight to maintain that truce while still trying to get ahead.

2) The setting of modern Moscow as the backdrop to this epic. The author skillfully paints the setting and makes Moscow almost a character on its own. For someone who has never read a foreign book, this made the already great storyline fantastic and made me feel familiar with a city that's 1000s of miles away simply because the author writes about it like its his own backyard, not as if he's a tourist. That works wonders for the credibility of the story.

I do not like that it is called a horror. While werewolves and vampires might be classic pieces of the horror genre, this is most definitely a modern fantasy epic. Think Mage the Ascension more than Bram Stroker and you've got the idea.

I recommend this book for fantasy readers like myself who don't read much anymore and really want to try something that's familiar yet new. I look forward to reading the entire series!

Very Good Book.......2007-09-13

A very interesting and creative book. It's not a typical vampire , werewolves, and witches type book. It has more of a story with a actual premise and it's a quick read.

Average customer rating:

Did you know that Tolstoy is funny?
Just starting
Missing the Flavor
History is bunk (told over the course of 1,358 pages)
An excellent translation of a modern classic!

War and Peace
Leo Tolstoy
Manufacturer: Viking Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Classics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Russian | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Russian | Classics | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 067003469X

Book Description

Widely considered the greatest novel ever written in any language, War and Peace has as its backdrop Napoleon's invasion of Russia and at its heart three of the most memorable characters in literature: Pierre Bezukhov, a quixotic young man in search of spiritual joy; Prince Andrey Bolkonsky, a cynical intellectual transformed by the suffering of war; and the bewitching and impulsive Natasha Rostov, daughter of a count. As they seek fulfillment, fall in love, make mistakes, and become scarred by battle in different ways, these characters and their stories interweave with those of a huge cast, from aristocrats to peasants, from soldiers to Napoleon himself.

In this first English translation in more than forty years, Anthony Briggs faithfully reveals Tolstoy's art in stirring prose, clearing up ambiguities that have plagued many modern translations. This volume also includes an afterword by eminent historian Orlando Figes, a list of characters, descriptions of the three main battles, chapter summaries, and notes. Both epic and intimate, a compassionate portrait of humanity and an engrossing read, this is the War and Peace of choice for a whole new generation.

Customer Reviews:

Did you know that Tolstoy is funny?.......2007-08-29

The extended scenes in Russian society are scathingly funny about the aristocracy and the military leaders. I don't remember that coming across in previous translations.
This is an extremely readable translation that does justice to some of the most vividly realized and moving characters in all literature. It really is a page-turner.
The only serious misstep is the crude "working-class" dialog attributed to the common soldiers, which is as inept as the dated attempts at characterization of the lower classes in authors such as Agatha Christie. I haven't read the original Russian, but Tolstoy was too fine a writer to make this kind of mistake.

Just starting.......2007-08-20

I'm a new reader to War and Peace and when I went to the bookstore to buy it I read several different translations. I found this one to be easy to understand and very readable. I recommend this translation to a newbie like myself.

Missing the Flavor.......2007-07-05

Although a new translation, Briggs has used British English and has Russian Soldiers using words like "mate" and "bloke." Almost as bad as Constance Garrett having Russians say "bloody this" and "bloody that" and "By Jove!" in some of her translations. Maybe the best in English so far, however, unfortunately; the soldiers and characters speak like Brits and not like Russians--a major flaw in my opinion. Misses the flavor of 19th Century Russia. If possible I would recommend waiting for the Pevear and Volokhonsky translation...(hopefully they make one)

History is bunk (told over the course of 1,358 pages).......2007-07-01

I can't decide if I read "War and Peace" because, by many accounts, it's "perhaps the greatest novel ever written" or because I wanted to brag to people that I actually finished reading the darn thing. Let's face it: "Anna Karenina" is now part of Oprah's Book Club. I can't go there, folks. I just can't.

"War and Peace" is a most confounding "novel." Of course, its author famously denied it was a novel in the first place. First of all, it doesn't need to be this long. Trust me, I finished Proust -- I also have no life -- and I didn't feel nearly as burdened with "À la Recherche du Temps Perdu" ("In Search of Lost Time") as I did with "War and Peace."

For those seeking a plot summary, there really is no plot to speak of -- which I don't have a problem with, actually. It's a snapshot of Russian aristocratic life during and after the Napoleonic Wars, climaxing with the 1812 French invasion of Russia, the destruction of Moscow and the disastrous retreat of Napoléon's Grande Armée.

Tolstoy's thoughts on history are interesting (and probably correct), although I'd cut out the excruciating second part of the epilogue. Fans of Napoléon will be disappointed, as Tolstoy is a rabid Russian nationalist and never misses an opportunity to heap scorn on Le Empereur.

This translation is not bad, actually. Granted, I haven't read any others -- and probably never will. The prose here is crystal clear and I didn't have a problem with the Russian names -- perhaps, once again, because I read Proust with all his myriad French characters. It should be noted that Anthony Briggs often portrays Russian serfs as speaking with cockney English accents. A bit odd.

An excellent translation of a modern classic!.......2007-05-27

I had always heard about War and Peace and its immensity, but never had a chance, or perhaps I was a bit intimidated to read it, but when my father gave me the Anthony Briggs translation, I started to read it and I could not stop! I have read many novels translated into English, so I am very wary of awkward translations or arcane language. You will find none of that there. Briggs does a masterful job of lending a contemporary feel to Tolstoy's classic without overdoing it. He remains faithful to the original novel and I simply cannot think of any need to read any other version of War and Peace.

From the moment that Tolstoy introduces the reader to Pierre Bezhukov, Andrey Bolkonsky and Natasha Rostov, it is impossible not to be enthralled by these characters and their travails, joy and experience with life set at the time that Napoleon began his march toward Moscow. Briggs's descriptions of each character will make the reader feel like they know them personally and will share their joys with them and commiserate with them during their low points.

There is so much that I like about this classic that it is hard not to go off and write in different directions. To people who are considering reading this book, I have this piece of advice: concentrate on Pierre (one of my favorite characters in all of literature--up there with Don Quixote), Natasha and Bolkonsky. Essentially, War and Peace revolves around them although Tolstoy deftly introduces many different characters. Despite the many different characters, Tolstoy returns to each of these three people at different stages of their lives and if you have been following closely, you can see how they have change. It really is easy to root for Pierre, but to know why; you will have to read for yourself?

At various points in the book, Tolstoy philosophizes on war, history, free will, the law of necessity and consciousness. At times, this did get heavy, but if you are patient, you will see what Tolstoy is trying to say.

War and Peace is not a book that you can begin to read and abandon for several weeks or more. It is very much like climbing a mountain--it requires effort, patience and dedication, but the reward is worth it. This is not a book you read at the beach or at the swimming pool, where there are too many distractions. Tolstoy will engage you in a sort of conversation as you read this book. The best way to appreciate what he is saying is to read this book, alone and in a quiet area.

Most reviewers will summarize the book that they read, but I will only say to potential readers of this classic that this is a book worth reading. Many of Tolstoy's criticisms of war are applicable today and I enjoyed his criticism of the Russian elite adopting French aristocratic lifestyles.

But if you are going to read this book, enjoy it at a leisurely pace, in a quiet room--for there is simply no other way to really read this classic.

Average customer rating:

Delightful
Enjoyable But...
Duel language books provide a gift of reading for Russian friends
The perfect language learning tool.
First Rate

Russian Stories: A Dual-Language Book

Manufacturer: Dover Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Classics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Anthologies | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

British | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Eastern European | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Russian | Classics | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Foreign Languages | Reference | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Nonfiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Reference Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0486262448

Book Description

Twelve superb tales by Chekhov, Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Pushkin, Bunin, other masters. Excellent word-for-word English translations on facing pages. Also teaching and practice aids, Russian-English vocabulary, biographical/critical introductions to each selection, study questions, more. Especially helpful are the stress accents in the Russian text, usually found only in primers.

Customer Reviews:

Delightful.......2007-08-08

A book of short stories from famous Russian Authors, Half in Russian and Half in english. The book loks intimidating, but the stories are selected to appeal.
The stories were capitvating and all were easy to follow except the cave. I did attempt to read the russian and the layout makes this easy.
I have now been introduced to different Russian authors that I will follow up.

Enjoyable But..........2007-01-24

I bought this book as part of my ongoing acquisition of the Russian language. The layout is excellent and typical of these types of book; the stories are well selected and entertaining, with a wide range of vocabulary and grammatical usage.

But...

Anyone wanting to use this book as a booster to their contemporary Russian language skills should bear in mind that a Russian person learning English would not be best served by heading for the library and taking down Dickens, Tennyson, and Gaskill. Languages shift, change, and evolve and today's spoken Russian is as different from that of Gogol as English in San Francisco is different from that of Thackerey. Arguably the English spoken in San Francisco is fairly nasty ("He was like, that was so totally awsome, and I was like, cool...") because it is imprecise and unfocused and in fact fails to convey much meaning; nevertheless a solid grounding in Henry James wouldn't prepare someone for a close encounter with the local natives of the Sunset District. Likewise, the stories here won't really help you much with contemporary Russian as spoken by a teenage girl in Peter or a xenophobic hoodie near Red Square.

But as a pleasure in itself, this book is a gem and a worthwhile addition to the library of anyone who is just establishing a beach-head in the language.

Duel language books provide a gift of reading for Russian friends.......2005-09-25

This book is a wonderful rare find. I am a friend/neighbor of highly educated recent Russian immigrants with limited expertise in English. Although they are taking English classes, it is almost impossible for them to find interesting books to read in English beyond those of a childrens book reading level. Having to use a Russian/English dictionary while reading eliminates a lot of the simple pleasures that reading provides. This book's dual language format is absolutely perfect. They can finally enjoy a book written in English that reflects their reading interests due to the fact that the exact Russian version resides on the opposing page. This dual language format is also an absolutely perfect tool for English students learning the Russian language. It gave me so much pleasure to provide them with this opportunity to both practice and better enjoy reading books in English. I only wish that there were a lot more books available in this style for my friends to enjoy....

The perfect language learning tool........2005-08-03

That's what this is, the perfect language learning tool for a student of the russian language, with one or two years of college level russian who wants to continue their study of the language. I would be surprised if universities did not use this text for intermediate level students. The only thing more that I could wish for would be an audio version of this book, which would help me to consolidate, and strengthen the knowledge it gave me, by allowing me to listen to the stories it contains in Russian, as well as being able to read them.

First Rate.......2002-07-17

With stories by Tolstoy, Pushkin, Gogol and Chekov this is a great book to help you improve your Russian skills and read the masterworks in the original. It's a great way to check your Russian against the English tranlsation on the opposite page.

Book Description

“Pelagia’s family likeness to Father Brown and Miss Marple is marked, and reading about her supplies a similarly decorous pleasure.”
–The Literary Review

In a remote Russian province in the late nineteenth century, Bishop Mitrofanii must deal with a family crisis. After learning that one of his great aunt’s beloved and rare white bulldogs has been poisoned, the Orthodox bishop knows there is only one detective clever enough to investigate the murder: Sister Pelagia.

The bespectacled, freckled Pelagia is lively, curious, extraordinarily clumsy, and persistent. At the estate in question, she finds a whole host of suspects, any one of whom might have benefited if the old lady (who changes her will at whim) had expired of grief at the pooch’s demise. There’s Pyotr, the matron’s grandson, a nihilist with a grudge who has fallen for the maid; Stepan, the penniless caretaker, who has sacrificed his youth to the care of the estate; Miss Wrigley, a mysterious Englishwoman who has recently been named sole heiress to the fortune; Poggio, an opportunistic and freeloading “artistic” photographer; and, most intriguingly, Naina, the old lady’s granddaughter, a girl so beautiful she could drive any man to do almost anything.

As Pelagia bumbles and intuits her way to the heart of a mystery among people with faith only in greed and desire, she must bear in mind the words of Saint Paul: “Beware of dogs–and beware of evil-doers.”

“Critics on both sides of the Atlantic have praised [Akunin’s] clever plots, vivid characters and wit.”
–Baltimore Sun

“Akunin’s wonderful novels are always intricately webbed and plotted.”
–The Providence Journal

Customer Reviews:

Stick with Fandorin.......2007-06-06

Not one of his best. No character grabs one's interest, and trying to keep track of the many players with their multiple, many-syllabled, sound-alike names takes one right out of the plot. Much better to wait for the next Erast Fandorin novel. Take a pass 'til then.

A sleuth in nun's habit.......2007-05-30

Boris Akunin is a well-regarded Russian author of suspense fiction, heretofore known for his Fandorin series, which concerns a part-James Bond, part-Hercules Poirot creation who nonetheless is strikingly original. SISTER PELAGIA AND THE WHITE BULLDOG marks the beginning of a new direction for Akunin and fittingly introduces Mortalis, a new imprint of literary mystery and suspense fiction for Random House.

We quickly learn from the unnamed, omnipresent narrator that Sister Pelagia is a sleuth in nun's habit, wishing to devote her life to God yet feeling stifled by the requirements of the order and by the role of women in early 20th century Russia. In addition, she is quite adept at solving mysteries, a skill that she hides from all except her supervisory bishop, who keeps her abilities a secret not only to preserve the good sister's customary role but also to keep her in reserve as a secret weapon in the political skirmishes that were the hallmark of the time.

The bishop generally has his hands full, what with an inspector from the Holy Synod coming to meddle in local affairs, the gruesome discovery of two decapitated bodies, and the bishop's aunt being in a terrible state as a result of the baffling death of one of her white bulldogs, a special breed that she and her late husband had nurtured through generations. The perpetrator of the canine murder is quickly determined, even if the motive isn't, and the unforeseen nexus that connects this and other events is slowly but surely sorted out in a climactic courtroom scene in which the good sister has a starring role.

It should be noted that Russian literature tends to be the antithesis of, say, a James Patterson work --- why use one word when pages will do? --- and occasionally, as even Akunin notes with a nod and a wink through his anonymous narrator, things seem to wander off track. All is revealed in good time, however, and along the way Akunin drops nuggets of dry, subtle humor amidst social and political commentary. Those who take their mysteries with great spoonfuls of explosions and karate may find this book wanting (though it does, particularly near the end, have its moments), and there is enough political intrigue and metaphor to provide a satisfactory feast.

Lovingly translated by Andrew Bromfield, SISTER PELAGIA AND THE WHITE BULLDOG is a welcome debut of a new series that hopefully will give Akunin the wider visibility in this country that his work deserves. And let's give some kudos to Random House as well for its brave launch of Mortalis. We'll happily look for more.

--- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub

Akunin at his best.......2007-03-30

The Sister Pelagia mystery series may not be as effortless a read to take in as Erast Fandorin, but it's well worth the effort. While the White Bulldog may be have a plot that is slightly less dynamic than the one Fandorin fans are used to, it is a refreshing change of pace. The language is beautiful, the characters are engaging and the sleuth and her posse (bishop Mitrofani and Berdichervsky) are at least as charismatic as Fandorin and Masa.
The series (there are only three novels in it) picks up the pace in The Black Monk and positively goes berserk in the Red Rooster, but the provincial charm of the White Bulldog is very enjoyable too.
Most Russian fans of Akunin consider the Pelagia trilogy to be a more workmanlike and even series than Fandorin, which has its peaks and valleys.

A female Fr. Brown.......2007-02-13

In the midst of writing mysteries about detective Erast Fandorin, the author has also begun a new series. This one concerns a nun named Sister Pelagia, who is sent out by her Bishop to help solve mysteries and murders in a backward province of Imperial Russia. The action is fast, the plot never wavers, and the characters are all well-srawn. One interesting quirk to this story is that, when it is required, Sister Pelagia assumes the identity of her "sister", a widow who dresses and acts exactly as would an upper class member of the Russian nobility. I found the premise of this book fascinating, and the characters of both the good sister and her boss the bishop very believeable, therefore I am awaiting anxiously the next book in this marvelous series.

nineteenth century historical thriller .......2007-02-10

In Zavolzhsk, far from the home of the Tsar, Bishop Mitrofannii rules over the vast scarcely populated remote region instead of Governor von Haggenau. The Bishop has earned a reputation for solving unsolved mysteries, which he takes pride in accomplishing though he also knows who actually uncovers the truth. Now his elderly late Aunt Marya Tatischeva sends him a letter asking for his help as someone poisoned Zagulyai and Zadidai with the former dying in agony and the latter barely surviving. He decides to send his secret sleuth literature and gymnastics teacher Sister Pelagia to learn what happened and why to the white bulldogs.

Sister Pelagia travels to the home of Marya to investigate the canine homicide. Sister Pelagia quickly concludes that the target is the elderly woman, who is known for treating her dogs like pampered babies, but what the nun believes is the motive leads to several avaricious souls. However, other dogs are killed and the case takes a twist when two males are recovered from the nearby river with their heads removed. The Bishop directs Sister Pelagia to investigate the murders regardless of where it takes her, as he expects everyone to live morally and piously correct though he has some doubts with her switching identities from clumsy reticent nun to vibrant nimble Polina Lisitsina.

In some ways this is more a nineteenth century historical thriller than a mystery. SISTER PELAGIA AND THE WHITE BULLDOG is a superior whodunit that uses the backdrop to paint a vivid picture of a remote part of Tsarist Russia. Readers will have to adapt to the names of the key characters, but will find it worth the time as the descriptions are terrific and the cast powerful especially the Sister and the Bishop, as irony and humor augment a fabulous story line.

Harriet Klausner

Average customer rating:

Spying on the self
Will the real Victor Maskell please stand up
I spy with my little eye
Banville-The Untouchable
Old people rock!

The Untouchable
John Banville
Manufacturer: Knopf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Irish | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Spy Stories & Tales of Intrigue | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Mystery & Thriller Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0679451080
Release Date: 1997-04-22

Amazon.com

A brilliant, engaging, and highly literate espionage-cum-existential novel, John Banville's The Untouchable concerns the suddenly-exposed double agent Victor Maskell, a character based on the real Cambridge intellectual elites who famously spied on the United Kingdom in the middle of the 20th century. But Maskell--scholar, adventurer, soldier, art curator, and more--respected and still living in England well past his retirement from espionage, looked like he was going to get away with it when suddenly, in his 70s and sick with cancer, he is unmasked. The question of why, and by whom is not as important for Maskell as the larger question of who finally he himself really is, why he spied in the first place, and whether his many-faceted existence adds up to an authentic life.

Book Description

wenty years after his "retirement, " ex-spy Victor Maskell attempts to come to terms with what has happened to his life by embarking on his memoirs. This is the plot which fuels Banville's stunning new novel--a story that goes beyond the mere facts of espionage to penetrate the intricate heart of the spy.

Customer Reviews:

Spying on the self.......2007-01-25

Getting long in the tooth now after a lifetime of spying on London for Russia, Victor Maskell is shocked to learn that someone has ratted him out. In trying to figure out what went wrong, he begins keeping a long journal in which he reviews his life, and which, basically, becomes this novel. There are lots of interesting and quirky turns of events, including his relationship with his family, his dealings with upper-crust Englishmen, and his realization that he is gay. Victor is a good analyzer, but a poor summationist, and as he explores his past life and dances around the central question of why he chose to live the life of a spy as he did, he never seems able to answer it. This can be frustrating for the reader. But John Banville is a superb writer and he relates the story of Victor Maskell (based on a true character) incisively and with power.

Will the real Victor Maskell please stand up.......2006-12-28

John Banville's The Untouchable is a remarkable book for myriad reasons. For the sheer artistry of his prose alone, I would recommend this book. The weight and care placed upon each word and sentence gives the novel a wonderfully balanced and effortless feel, and at the same time leaves the reader in no doubt that he/she is in the presence of a true master craftsman of the English language.
But it is not just Banville's prose that makes The Untouchable a book of the highest merit; it is the character of Victor Maskell, portrayed in all of his ambiguity and nuance, which moves this book. Based of the Cambridge spy Anthony Blount, Victor Maskell narrates his pseudo-memoir in the first person, but that doesn't clarify the man or make him easily understood. In short, Banville gives us a masterful insight into a man of many contradictions: Royalist, jaded Communist, spy, husband, father, homosexual, Irish yet working for the British at Bletchley. The sheer amount of contradictions gives the reader a sense of wariness when it comes to trusting Maskell's word, but that is the point for I doubt that Maskell himself truly knows who he is.
The setting and ancillary characters like Boy (based on Guy Burgess), Nick and Querell (Graham Greene?) are also deftly handled with meticulous care.
This is a profound, beautiful and at times darkly humorous work of art that deserves to be ranked among the great works of Western literature.

I spy with my little eye.......2006-12-05

Better than his novella THE SEA for which he won the recent Man Booker Prize, THE UNTOUCHABLE is almost the perfect novel by which John Banville could display his unique talents, in that it provides a thinkly disguised fictional portrait of Sir Anthony Blunt, the so-called "Fourth Man" of the Cambridge spy ring. Blunt's background as the head of the Courtauld Institute and as a leading expert on Poussin (and Purveyor of the Queen's Pictures) makes him as suitable a subject for Banville as does his conflicted ethical choices and crimes. The novel reconstructs what it was like for Blunt (here called -- unfortunately -- Victor Maskell, and given an Anglo-Irish background closer to Banville's than to Blunt's) to have do0ne what he did, centering particularly on his experiences spying before and after the Second World War. Two-thirds of the book are very successful, but the last third, wherein Maskell's adventures in spying wind down and he goes fuklly against the grain of his character by coming out of the closet and becoming a superstud, doesn't hold together. Otherwise it is a fine and gripping study of identity and betrayal, and one of Banville's best novels.

Banville-The Untouchable.......2006-09-28

It is rather commonplace, I suppose, that it is difficult to write an "objective" review of a book one so deeply enjoys. Nevertheless, I'll give it a whirl. Banville truly does seem incapable of writing about anything that does not become a work of art under his pen. And, while John Le Carre is frequently praised as writing spy novels that are literature, they aren't. They're merely a cut above the usual 007 sort of thing. For something to be labelled art, correctly, it must soar above not only any genre it supposedly represents (herein, the "spy novel"), but must also must stake a unique claim in the reader's mind as something rich and strange, the like of which she/he has never yet come across. Banville accomplishes this feat with such apparently effortless ease here that this reader, in any event, is left, after reading it, in a swoon of delight which I'm still savouring.

It's a pity to dissect what makes this so, but, really, it's not much of a dissection, only one cut into two parts: 1) Banville's lyrical, lulling yet erudite prose which comes here through the medium of our somewhat flawed protagonist, Maskell. It is literally transporting, in its Yeatsean reveries, not only to a different time and place but to the inside of Maskell's mind and heart, or perhaps some would prefer the term soul. 2) The Proustian depths of Banville/Maskell's insights into the kaleidoscopic, shape-shifting nature of life, love and identity.

I suppose I'm obliged to say something about the "spy" aspect of the book and the to-do about the Cambridge set. I shall. It's of no importance.........Well, let me qualify, it's of no importance save as the setting in which Banville writes. It's just a sort of prop, as is Maskell's homosexuality. For, after reading this book, one realises that whether one is homo or hetero, spy or patriot (Maskell is, at times, all four.), we are all a bit out of our depths in this world in defining who we are and why we do things. To quote from the book, "Yes, how deceptively light they are, the truly decisive steps in life we take."

When is a certain Swedish committee going to take note of this fellow?

Old people rock!.......2005-12-02

I've only read the first 20 pages of this book but I feel I am now an expert on Banville's work. I checked this book out at the library as a substitute for buying "The Sea" because I just can't buy hardcovers, but still want to be hip and up to date on the latest books. With all the critics ripping into a man booker winner I had to see what the fuss was all about. Banville's style is like a nice mild drunk by the fire on a cold winter's day after a few days off from work. It's clear and reflective. Warm but not to sentimental. He's painting an internal life and does it with a fluid brilliance that I haven't had the pleasure of experiencing in a long while. It's an intimate style that is comfortable and yet cool and detached at the same time, the signature of all great works of art.

As Far as My Feet Will Carry Me: The Extraordinary True Story of One Man's Escape from a Siberian Labour Camp and His 3-Year Trek to Freedom

Average customer rating:

Don't even think of buying this junk
a wild ride
Amazing
As Far as my Feet will Carry me
This book was excellent, I couldn't put it down.

As Far as My Feet Will Carry Me: The Extraordinary True Story of One Man's Escape from a Siberian Labour Camp and His 3-Year Trek to Freedom
Josef M. Bauer
Manufacturer: Carroll & Graf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Authors | Arts & Literature | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Historical | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Military & Spies | Professionals & Academics | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Memoirs | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Military Science | History | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Biographies | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside History Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0786712074

Book Description

Originally published in 1955, As Far as My Feet Will Carry Me has seen international success ever since. It has been translated into fifteen languages, sold more than 12 million copies, and is the basis for an award-winning German entry at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival. Recounting an incredible real-life adventure, it tracks the destiny of German soldier Clemens Forrell who, in the aftermath of WWII, was sentenced to twenty-five years of forced labor in a lead mine in the barren eastern reaches of Siberia. Subjected to the brutality of the camp and the climate, Forrell dreamed continuously of escape—and then daringly effected it. From East Cape across the vast trackless wastes of Siberia, for thousands of miles and three years, with fear as his most intimate companion, Forrell fled treachery and endured some of the most inhospitable conditions on earth. In a long series of taped interviews with esteemed German author Josef M. Bauer, Forrell unfolded his remarkable story of survival. Bauer not only reconstructs Forrell’s arduous journey to the Iranian frontier and freedom; he also poignantly evokes the emotional content of Forrell’s brave quest—emerging as an affecting portrait of a man who strove and triumphed against all odds.

Customer Reviews:

Don't even think of buying this junk.......2007-09-22

I was very, very dissapointed with this book. After having read the amazing story of Theodor Kröger (a German who survived not only the Tsarist prisons but also the communist gulags) I wanted more of this and so I ordered this book. But what I got was a kind of telegram-style book with so much ommisions in the story, that you wonder why did somebody write it at all. If you can't get the story right, then don't tell it. Also, this is supposed to be a non-fiction story, but the dialogues between the lead character and his captors and/or fellow-prisoners are put on paper like they were held yesterday. If you're looking for a Papillon story, you better look somewhere else. I didn't even finish the book, it was a waste of my time.

a wild ride.......2007-07-26

I found this book to be inspiring and motivational. It is the amazing tale of a daring escape and a treacherous journey across the frozen Siberian north. They only thing that disappointed me was that the ending was anti-climactic in my opinion. Just a simply amazing book, there is a reason why it has been translated in to 15 languages and sold more then 12 millon copies.

Amazing .......2007-05-07

All the superlatives belong to this tale: remarkable, daring, unbelievable, amazing, incredible, beyond belief, extraordinary. That a person could 1. escape from a Soviet labor camp, 2. in the dead of winter, 3. from the farthest eastern point of Siberia, 4. after suffering from hunger and brutal treatment for three years, and still 5. make it home to Germany safely after another three years is a story for all lovers of survival dramas. The author expertly and faithfully chronicles Josef Bauer's account without glossing over the details of what it took to survive. I didn't come to like Mr. Bauer from this telling, however, I did feel a deep respect for his perseverance and stamina. Two other books of escape and survival that I recommend even more highly are: The Long Walk: The True Story of a Trek to Freedom by Slavomir Rawicz and We Die Alone: A WWII Epic of Escape and Endurance by David Howarth.

As Far as my Feet will Carry me.......2007-01-29

Incredible story of survival and the will to live.

This book was excellent, I couldn't put it down........2006-04-28

As for the other half negative reviews, like it being for a young reader, don't pay any attention to that. Obviously those reviews are written by people that can't look or think beyond their own egos nor actually try to imagine what it must have been like, what the permanent affects were after such an altering event, and obvious emotional scars that must have continued on and on... After I finished the book, I re-read the preface and understood why there seemed to be pieces "I" wanted answers to, but understood why they weren't there.

I recommend this book to anyone of all ages. It's absolutely an amazing account of someone accomplishing a journey home with EVERYTHING against him and the beckoning door of death at every turn. How he survived? It's beyond me....

Now, I will hunt for the DVD....if anyone knows where I can find the DVD, please find a way of letting me know. Thanks!

The Long Walk: The True Story of a Trek to Freedom

Average customer rating:

Thrilling adventure, lousy history
A Maze Ing
Escape from the Soviet Union
Book is a fictional account
What a Story

The Long Walk: The True Story of a Trek to Freedom
Slavomir Rawicz
Manufacturer: The Lyons Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Political | Leaders & Notable People | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 1558216340

Amazon.com

Cavalry officer Slavomir Rawicz was captured by the Red Army in 1939 during the German-Soviet partition of Poland and was sent to the Siberian Gulag along with other captive Poles, Finns, Ukranians, Czechs, Greeks, and even a few English, French, and American unfortunates who had been caught up in the fighting. A year later, he and six comrades from various countries escaped from a labor camp in Yakutsk and made their way, on foot, thousands of miles south to British India, where Rawicz reenlisted in the Polish army and fought against the Germans. The Long Walk recounts that adventure, which is surely one of the most curious treks in history.

Book Description

The harrowing true tale of escaped Soviet prisoners¿ desperate march out of Siberia, through China, the Gobi Desert, Tibet, and over the Himalayas to British India.

Customer Reviews:

Thrilling adventure, lousy history.......2007-09-26

I would have admired this book without reservation if it were represented as a work of fiction, but since its supposed to be a true story, I can't be as positive. Even without the information about the author uncovered by the BBC, which pretty much ends the debate regarding the veracity of this account, I would have questioned the authenticity of this story anyway.

I can believe most of the horrible things described about the author's arrest, interrogation, transport, and incarceration in a work camp (though the forced march seems less plausible, but we should never underestimate the cruelty of the gulag camp system). If anything, the way he describes the work camps sounds too tame in light of what we know about the gulag. He describes a work camp without criminals (most gulag inmates were classed as criminals, not politicals) and with very relaxed boundaries between the commandant and the inmates. This sounds more like Hogan's Stalag 13 than a real gulag. (read Anne Applebaum's remarkable book on the gulag.)

What seems most implausible to me is the novelistic quality of the book. First, there are the supporting characters - in true hollywood fashion, each of whom has a characteristic that distinguishes him or her from the others - toothless guy, the gentle giant, the wisecracker, and most implausibly, a beautiful young escapee who miraculously crosses their path amid the vast wastes of Siberia. Next, there's the dialogue (always recalled by the author verbatim), which reads more like a hollywood script than actual conversation between people (e.g., each of the wisecracker's quips is recalled verbatim). Finally, there's level of detail that no memory could recall, such as who found what kind of snake on which day.

Read this book side by side with real stories of survival, accounts of undisputed veracity (omit those written by journalists or authors who kept a notebook during their travels). Next to a book like Herzog's Annapurna or Worsley's book on the Endurance, the Long Walk reads like a very good novel, but not a true account of survival.

Frankly, I'm surprised that so many people have accepted its authenticity over the last several decades. Credit should go to the journalist who wrote the book with the help of the "author." The true story I would like to read is how a journalist and a Polish camp survivor cooked up this tale and sold it to the public. The author's tells us that he donated his time to good causes. I have to wonder if he was trying to ease his sense of guilt or rationalize his long involvement in this hoax.

A Maze Ing.......2007-09-11

What an amazing life. I was expecting another "One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich" or "Gulag Archipelago." But this story is different -- there is very little bitterness, very little savoring-of-the-details. Instead, it is cleanly told and incredibly true. It is a simple book, not much complexity, just human nature laid bare. Amazing.

Escape from the Soviet Union.......2007-09-05

There is some debate as to whether or not this story is true, but it is not at all improbable. Sentenced to 25 years in the Soviet gulag system, Polish cavalry-officer Rawicz was determined to escape from the remote Siberian labor-camp, somewhere north of Lake Baikal. The brutality Rawicz experienced at the hands of the communist government is typical of such accounts from this era. It reminds one of the memoirs of Alexander Solzhenitzyn.
Rawicz assembled a group of six other prisoners: two more Polish soldiers, a Latvian, a Lithuanian, a Yugoslavian, and ...an American! They made their break in early 1941, during a winter storm. Along the way, a teenage Polish girl also joined the party. The resulting narrative (if it is all true) is a harsh tale of survival as they trekked across some of the most rugged and dangerous terrain on Earth: frozen pine-forests, open plains, the Gobi Desert, and the mountains of Tibet.
Sadly, only half the party made it to the objective, which was India. Had they been less hasty in their trek once free of Soviet territory, the entire party could have survived. Had they planned more, traveled with caravans, and learned some basic survival skills, they could have brought everyone out.
The crossed Siberia, Mongolia, north China, and Tibet, cut off from all civilization and news of events abroad. They passed through lands where life was largely unchanged in a thousand years, and oblivious to the titanic events of World War II. Had Rawicz's party stopped in Lhasa, they surely would have met the famed mountaineers Heinrich Harrer and Peter Aufschneider (read "Seven Years In Tibet").
The most sceptical account, is a sighting of the "Yeti", while in the Himalayas. Did they really see some as yet unclassified primate? Who is to say?
Regardless, the story is profoundly fascinating...I hope its all true! The only improvement to the tale: what happened to the survivors after they left India? Unfortunately, thats where the story ends.

Book is a fictional account.......2007-08-22

I'm reading the book for the 3rd time and I question a number of items Rawicz mentions. For one, he says they walked during the heat of the day in the Gobi so as to follow a due south direction judging by the sun. Tempretures in the Gobi during the day run over 45C and coupled with walking, there is no way any human can survive without water for more than 3 days under those conditions. Rawicz claims they went as many as 6 and 7 days without water. Secondly, his party found Lake Baikal without any compass. Add to this the many references Rawicz makes about the geography of the area. He keeps mentioning Lhasa. Yet they enter the Gobi without any provisions for water. How is this possible when they had ample opportunity to prepare during their numerous encounters with the local tribesman as they headed into the Gobi? It's also interesting that the one person in his party who would easily be tracable is Mr. Smith - a fictitious name. Surely, after such an encounter and the bonding that takes place under such conditions, Rawicz would know the name of this man from the United States? Even later in life, Rawicz made no mention of this person's real identity. Sadly, I believe The Long Walk is a fictional account. I believe Rawicz suffered through difficult times, but he also fooled a generation of readers.
For those who would like to read a true account of one man's walk to freedom, then I highly suggest "Long Walk To Freedom" by Nelson Mandela. There's no doubt about the authenticity of this wonderful and inspiring book.

What a Story.......2007-07-16

What a great story of humanity's drive for pure survival and freedom. What this man and his friends encountered and went through to survive is nothing short of a miracle. It's one of those books that was hard to put down, and when its finished, you want to cry.

Average customer rating:

Masterpiece
strongly recommended to fans of Garnett's translations
good contents, but poor paper quality and printing

Tales of Chekhov
Anton Chekhov
Manufacturer: Ecco
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Classics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Russian | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Russian | Classics | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Writing | Reference | Subjects | Books

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Reference Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Science Fiction & Fantasy Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0061153869
Release Date: 2006-10-24

Book Description

In honour of its 35th anniversary, Ecco is proud to reissue Constance Garnett's 1929 13–volume Tales of Chekhov, heralded as one of the finest Chekhov translations ever.

Anton Chekhov's short fiction is admired and cherished by readers the world over. This stunning boxed set brings together the largest, most comprehensive selection of his stories, all full of humor, truth, and vast insight. Included are the familiar masterpieces–"The Kiss," "The Darling," and "The Lady with the Dog"––as well as several brilliant but lesser–known tales such as "A Blunder," "Hush!," and "Champagne." The entire collection is introduced by Richard Ford's perceptive essay "Why We Like Chekhov. while each individual volume includes a brief reminiscence on the meaning of Chekhov from a celebrated author, among them Nadine Gordimer, Susan Sontag, Harold Brodkey, Cynthia Ozick, and Russell Banks. Amidst a sea of Chekhov translations, Constance Garnett, who brought Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky, and Turgenev to the English–speaking world, has a style particularly suited to Chekhov's prose. Her benchmark translations enable readers to immerse themselves in his world, experiencing the breadth of his talent in one voice.

Customer Reviews:

Masterpiece.......2007-06-22

This author needs no introduction. He is the inventor of the modern short story. A forerunner of authors like Somerset Maugham, James Joyce, Virginia Woolf to name a few. Chekhov's strength lies in the manner in which he captures the subtlest of human feelings and his portrayal of reality however stark it may be. Chekhov's stories are unique in the sense that they are hardly ever judgemental. They are supposed to be objective and as real as it can be. But I doubt this claim because he makes you weep without him weeping even once in his stories. How does this happen ?
Well in all his stories , the central characters run a whole gamut of feelings that are highly judgemental. The author paints these characters and the readers identify themselves with them. You are swayed to make judgements , nurture prejudices and become biased , along with these central characters. To that extent , his stories are subjective and emotional. The simple reason being , he penned these characters and their feelings are his. But again it is nearly impossible to be absolutely objective and rational in story telling. Because we want to read stories and not police reports about a crime. The readers want the stories to be alive and kicking with emotions and feelings. Any attempt at telling stories otherwise, will only make for drab and lifeless reading.
One of few occasions where I regret not having known Russian. Oh how I would have loved it to hear his stories as it is ! But this is not to be taken as any criticism of Constance Garnett's translation. She has done a marvellous job. Iam not capable to judge the quality of her translation, as I dont know Russian. I thank her all the same as Iam able to read this master story teller's works because of her.
I have posted nearly the same review for another of this author's books by the same translator.

strongly recommended to fans of Garnett's translations.......2006-12-31

X. Zhang makes valuable points, but let me file what may be a minority report. Granted, the paper on which this edition is printed appears to be disappointingly pulpy--we'll have to see how it ages. But its 1920s typeface and layout are very generous and easy on these ageing eyes of mine. It's unfortunate that the publisher has not yet made any pages from the books available through Amazon's 'search inside this book' feature.... Readers considering the Modern Library volumes, which I us