Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by Victor Khomenko (M) on March 19, 2007 at 10:45:43

In Reply to: My local Russki friend claims that M&M is, if not the greatest novel ever written... posted by clarkjohnsen on March 19, 2007 at 10:09:19:

I would definitely not go that far. There are great books that have been written all over the world, but you know the Russians... they invented radio, airplane, steam engine, air, water and light. No wonder they also have the best novel ever written.

I don't know how to judge the novels, so I just say it is an extremely important 20th century classic, which I think is already enough.

Translation-wise, your friend is not correct. I specifically bought that particular translation and read it, and it is quite good. Like with every literary work that is rooted heavily in contemporary reality, some of that original charm and subtle things will be lost... but hey, I am sure some of the original flavor of Tess is also lost on me. Every translation is a struggle, and as far as struggle goes, that particular one is rather good.

I would certainly not refuse to read it simply because it is a translation. Try it, it is dirt cheap... America...

Irreducible? Well, the Russian version is long, several hours, and it does quite well at capturing the story. And the Italian one doesn't even attempt, it is basically the director's dream about the novel, but an interesting one.