Jonathan Stone is assistant professor of Russian and Russian studies at Franklin and Marshall College, where he also teaches in the comparative literature program.
Russian literature has an illustrious history. This Historical
Dictionary of Russian Literature strives to give the reader a grasp
of that history. This valuable reference work opens with a
year-by-year chronology starting with a sacred text introducing the
written alphabet in ca.860 and ending in 2010 with Putin's proposal
to compile a canon of 100 books that every Russian school child
must read and be tested on. This chronology is followed by an
extensive narrative essay that discusses Russian literature's
evolution during various literary time periods, including the
romantic era, modernist poetry, and nineteenth-century novels.
The heavily cross-referenced historical dictionary deals with
poetry, novels, historical narratives, philosophical writings, and
dramas....There is an extensive bibliography organized around the
historical eras found in the introductory narrative essay....A
superb, well-written, interesting book. The scholar as well as the
casual reader will certainly learn a great deal about one of the
foundations of Russian literature.
*American Reference Books Annual*
Stone (Russian studies, Franklin & Marshall Coll., Lancaster, PA)
brings an overview of Russian literature to the “Historical
Dictionaries of Literature and the Arts” series. The entries
include authors (Dostoyevsky, Turgenev, Gogol), titles (Anna
Karenina, Dead Souls, Brothers Karamazov), and periods
(Romanticism, Realism, Modernism). Genres (The Novel, Poetry) are
explored along with groups/concepts (Formalism, Symbolism). Terms
that appear in bold have their own entries. Stone mentions in the
preface that “this is intended to complement” other more detailed
works on the subject (e.g., Victor Terras’s Handbook of Russian
Literature). The information here is in brief articles and a
helpful chronology establishes the historical time line. Through
extensive bold items and cross referencing, the reader is led
through a sampling of Russian literary topics, creating an
atmosphere that will engage students to learn more. Some
interesting facts include Doctor Zhivago actually being published
in Italy and that the poet Esenin was once married to Isadora
Duncan and met a tragic end. Other intriguing entries are acmeism,
samizdat, and sections devoted to women (Women in Russian
Literature, Women’s Writing). Censorship, Stalinism, and
Solzhenitsyn are also covered. The appendix offers “Russian Names
and Titles” in both English and Russian. Some alternate spellings
are shown, for example, “Tolstoi, Lev Nikolaevich (Alt. Tolstoy).”
The sizable bibliography is divided into subject and author
categories, which is useful. This would be a good companion to an
Introduction to Russian Literature course. VERDICT Great for
students, of interest to those who enjoy Russian literature, and a
handy reference tool.
*Library Journal*
With more than 100 extensively cross-referenced entries ranging
from Acmeism (a facet of Russian
modernism) to the depiction of women in Russian literature, this
book is intended as an introduction to the subject for the casual
student. An introductory essay acquaints readers with the major
periods of Russian literature and is followed by a chronology
(beginning in the twelfth century) of the movements, genres, works,
characters, and authors considered pivotal to its study. There is
an appendix of Russian names and titles as well as several
bibliographies grouped chronologically, thematically, and
aesthetically. This is an excellent starting point for beginning
research of Russian literature and is recommended for most
libraries.
*Booklist*
Many entries in this historical dictionary by Stone (Franklin &
Marshall College) are biographical, but a fair number explore
literary styles and trends, and schools of criticism. Entries date
back to the early 1700s, and press forward into contemporary times.
However, most entries talk about Russia's Golden Age of Literature,
from the mid to late 19th century. Entries are dense, complex, and
intricate; they are appropriate for students and scholars of
Russian literature who are emphasizing literary criticism and
theory. The entries live up to the author's declared intention to
have them function independently, but they also serve as a web of
interconnected themes and ideas. One major theme emergent in this
dictionary is the old but still true idea that some of the best
Russian literature negotiates encounters with Western ideas and
aesthetics, while seeking always to help mold and comprehend its
own unique cultural identity. The dictionary comes with a strong
introduction, which divides Russian literature into different
epochs and attempts to flesh out the singular character of each.
Summing Up: Recommended. Graduate students and
researchers/faculty.
*CHOICE*
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