Valentin Kataev (1897–1986)

Farcical Gogolian adventures of two employees who stumble almost accidentally into an embezzlement-funded, drink-fuelled wild spree around Russia, being taken for a ride by all and sundry. Fascinating both for the fascinating glimpses into the Soviet Union during the short-lived NEP period and for being written with a vitality and uninhibited style that would within a few years become untenable as the requirements of official doctrine took hold. V Kataev was the elder brother of Evgeny show more Petrov of Ilf & Petrov, and is said to have given them the idea for their 'The Twelve Chairs'. show less

A very elegant, poetic novel about robbing your colleagues blind and going on a drunken, whore-mongering spree. The writing is handled as if the author is stumbling drunk and scintillatingly lucid simultaneously. The two office thieves become deeply, movingly introspective about their dirty deed as well, (especially during hangovers, as you may imagine). The book was written in 1926. It has that first novel energy to it. I recommend the Zarine translation, which got the book while it was show more still fresh in 1928. show less

Винтажное издание 1973 года, в очень хорошем состоянии

"Разбитая жизнь, или Волшебный рог Оберона" - пронзительные и светлые воспоминания Валентина Катаева о детских годах, любимом городе Одессе "с её… милыми, глухими улицами, обсаженными белыми акациями", о маме и младшем show more брате Женьке - одном из будущих авторов "12 стульев" Евгении Петрове, трагически погибшем в годы Великой Отечественной войны.
Отдельные фрагменты, из которых состоит роман, связаны единым художественным замыслом и внутренней динамикой, пронизаны духом времени.
Игрушечные лошадки-качалки и золочёные орехи на рождественской ёлке; всемирный чемпионат по французской борьбе и появление беспроволочного телеграфа; первый полёт на аэроплане знаменитого борца Ивана Заикина и его друга - выдающегося писателя Александра Ивановича Куприна; победа на "циклодроме" прославленного авиатора и гонщика Сергея Уточкина; опасное приключение брата Жени на старой рыбацкой шаланде и тайное путешествие с приятелем Юркой к турецкой крепости Аккерман - всё это, словно кусочки пазла, складывается в целостную картину, яркую и многоцветную, как сама жизнь.
Для старшего школьного возраста. show less

Chief accountant Philip Prohoroff and his cashier (sort of a junior accountant/treasurer) Young Ivan are in the midst of getting cash payroll for their workers when Prohoroff gets persuaded to play the 'big shot' at a local saloon. Unfortunately, Ivan and his senior are at a unique time in the transition to Communism where there is some lack of control over State funds, and a rash of officials have absconded with payroll cash. Ivan's admiration for his boss and his lack of bravery, combined show more with Philip's fanciful self-image, cowardice, and fear of his wife and of looking bad to Ivan lead to mutual destruction as they end up being bullied and sucked into a lark that eats up what might be close to $200,000 USD in today's currency.

The book is, unfortunately, pitch perfect, and we see a cast of enablers, gold diggers, scam artists, bullying wives, and regular folk all combine to make Ivan and Philip begin to notice their lack of criminal mind, intelligence, plan and potential. A lyrical and all-too-sad embodiment of 'a fool and his gold...' show less