Viv Groskop

This is a great little book about the Russian classics. It is not only a fantastic introduction for anyone not familiar with the great Russian writers, but a nice recap for those already familiar with Russian literature and who have read many of the novels and plays referenced in the book.

This is NOT a stuffy, scholarly work. It is a funny (at times), witty, and scratching at the surface introduction to these literature pieces. The book is written in conversational style and it reads as if the author was having a conversation with you the reader. You will definitely come away with more information about these novels and a greater appreciation for them. The author’s own journey to Russian literature was interesting as well. Each chapter also has a subtitle with a witty comment about the book which was appreciated.

For those interested, the following works are discussed in the book:
• Anna Karenina by Lev Tolstoy
• Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak
• Requiem by Anna Akhmatova
• A Month in the Country by Ivan Turgenev
• Eugene Onegin by Alexander Pushkin
• Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
• Three Sisters by Anton Chekhov
• One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexander Solzhenitsyn
• The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov
• Dead Souls by Nikolai Gogol
• War and Peace by Lev Tolstoy

At the conclusion of the book, the author has written a Recommended Reading guide to the editions of the above books she used when writing this book as well as some additional resources to explore.

I really enjoyed this book, not just because I already am a fan of Russian literature and own many of these books, but also because it was easy to read and digest her take on these books. You do not need to be a fan of Russian literature to enjoy this book, just a little curious to take a peek under the hood. Highly recommended.… (more)