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Russian literature

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  • 14-10-2006 3:40pm
    #1
    theboytaylor
    Closed Accounts Posts: 129 ✭✭


    This might not be the right place for this but...

    Lately I've been reading books by Russian authors (and loving it!) notably One Day in the Life of Ivban Denisovich. Anyway the question is why do some of the characters in these novels seem to have several names?
    (e.g. Ivan Denisovich is referred to as Shukov etc.)


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    #2
    Valmont
    Registered Users Posts: 5,856 ✭✭✭Valmont


    I noticed that too!! Raskolnikov in Crime and Punishment was also referred to as Rodion Romanych (I think). This whole naming system can get very very confusing. I understand the system a little bit but I honestly had to stop reading 'Devils' a quarter of the way through because I honestly didn't know who was who.

    Read 'A Hero of our Time' by Mikhail Lermontov. It's my favourite Russion novel. The name thing doesn't get in the way too much anyway;)


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    #3
    sonic juice
    Closed Accounts Posts: 377 ✭✭sonic juice


    I don't know the answer to your question,but read Chekhov's short stories!


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    #4
    jinc
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3 ✭jinc


    Wikipedia knows all. Dostoyevsky is the only Russian I've ever read, and I know what you mean about the names. Half way through Crime and Punishment I'd forgotten who'd commited the crime. I'm thinking of reading some of Tolstoy, does anyone know a good place to start?


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    #5
    Valmont
    Registered Users Posts: 5,856 ✭✭✭Valmont


    jinc wrote:
    Half way through Crime and Punishment I'd forgotten who'd commited the crime

    LOL excellent,
    :D:D

    I wouldn't start with any of the bigger novels. I found 'The Death of Ivan Ilyich' really good, its quite short as well.

    Don't forget to check out 'A Hero of Our Time' by Mikhail Lermontov.


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