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In Reply to: "Dr. Zhivago" posted by rico on April 1, 2005 at 08:16:41:
...when there are tons of great literature on that period written in Russia.Pasternak was one of the greatest poets of the 20th century, but his prose sucked. The only interesting thing about the book is its history.
The Revolution period is an incredibly interesting time, and it is shame better works are being neglected for this "celebrity" one.
Things like Bulgakov's White Guard and especially Heart of a Dog (I will not even mention the Master and Margarita) are incomparably more interesting and deep and poignant, yet they get no recognition in the West.
Follow Ups:
to make a good film from a poor story or novel, witness "The Bridges of Madison County". May I assume that you have not seen the
mini-series DVD?
I think it IS completely possible (although I would not consider the Bridges a great film), and I actually just ordered that DVD (I have not seen the series yet). My concern stems from the fact that the preoccupation with just one work rubs us of the ability to see a greater picture.
Did you like "Reds"?
No, I did not like Reds, but it has also been quite some time since I saw it... 25 years, perhaps. The book it is based on is rotten, and I thought so was the movie.But this is real shame. The Russian Revolution had a profound effect on world history, and, like its French mother, deservs serious studies. The original film, BTW, was not horrrible, but limited, and my hope was more films covering the events in serious way would follow... but none happened, and now, another version of the same lame book?
In an absoute sense, it is good that we at least have the movies like Reds and Dr. Zhivago, for without them the public knowledge of the events would have been even more limited.
So that was good start... but will there be a continuation?
*
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General Sherman sucks.
By one of those quirks of timing, both Nabakov and Pasternak had books at the top of the bestseller lists in 1957: Nabakov's "Lolita" and Pasternak's "Doctor Zhivago." Boyd's biography "Vladimir Nabakov: The American Years" discusses how it vexed Nabakov to no end that Pasternak's work had better reviews and higher sales. He would stand around and read passages aloud in both Russian and English to demonstrate that not only was Pasternak's original prose awful, but that the English translation only added to the sludge! Nabakov also felt that Pasternak's poetry was amazing, and thought it sad that the great writer was being so highly acclaimed for his what could very well be his worst work.Time of course has altered our perceptions: "Lolita" is taught in colleges and universities everywhere, it can be found in most any bookstore. I doubt we shall ever see a book titled "Reading Doctor Zhivago in Iran."
whose work has been turned into a far better movie (Lolita).
Nabokov's prose reads like highest poetry, he is a true master. But the notoriety of the Pasternak's work trascended its quality.Some people joked that they wished the KGB confiscated every comy of that dreaded work.
It does, however, contains some of the most beautiful poetry... those pages should be kept alive.
But I discussed this with my wife today - who would gladly give me in exchange for yet another Pasternak book - and she keeps cringing at the name "Lara". To a good Russian ear that name sounds so pathetically philistine (this is Nabokov's favorite word, BTW), it is impossible to understand how the master decided to use it.
I suspect given Nabokov's impeccable taste, it was things like that that really sent him ballistic.
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