Product Description

Alexander Pushkin (1799-1837) is, for Russians, their greatest writer; Eugene Onegin is his greatest work. Yet it remains little known outside Russia. Attempts to render Pushkin's Russian stanzas into verse have tried in vain to imitate the most inimitable features of the original, while masking many of its other glories. This prose version, for the first time, gives us a Eugene Onegin that is easy and enjoyable to read. Where previous versions lost the novel in the verse, Roger Clarke has discarded the verse to bring us the novel. And more than the novel: what shines through here are not only Puskin's touching story and subtle characterisation, but his incisive pictures of contemporary Russian life and landscapes, his social and literary comment, his humour, and indeed the essential poetry of the work. The addition of four captivating verse-tales from Pushkin's early maturity makes this book a must for anybody interested in Russian or European literature.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #136867 in Books
• Published on: 2005-01-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 352 pages

Customer Reviews

Eugene Onegin; a prose translation
Roger Clarke has produced a most readable prose translation of this well known work by Puskin.
The helpful introduction attempts an answer to the controversial question 'Why translate into prose'? Instead of stumbling over a translation into poetry try this volume which I found got me much closer to the essence of Pushkin's masterpiece.
In addition there some very useful notes and a short biography of Pushkin plus a couple of maps. Four of Pushkin's prose works complete the volume which is very good value and can be highly recommended.

Russia's Shakespeare
Sadly I have no knowledge of the Russian language so am not able to comment on the translation into English per se. However, I thought the text flowed in a beautifully rhythmic pattern. The descriptive passages evoked scenes I had encountered in other books and films appertaining to Russia. In essence it is a story of unrequited love. This book was included in our study material for our literature class last year. We were very fortunate in that Roger Clarke spent one of the classes sharing his passion for this author and his efforts in bringing Pushkin to the English public at large. I enjoyed this book more than I ever thought I would.

Onegin in translation
Nobody who does not read Russian can hope to understand fully the sheer breathtaking beauty of Pushkin BUT Wordsworth have dome their best to get as close as possible. There are moments in this translation of Eugene Onegin which catch the sheer wonder of the originaltext. I would strongly recommend it.