Russian Literature and Its Demons Contributor(s): Davidson, Pamela (Editor) |
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ISBN: 1571817581 ISBN-13: 9781571817587 Publisher: Berghahn Books OUR PRICE: $170.05 Product Type: Hardcover - Other Formats Published: November 2000 |
Additional Information |
BISAC Categories: - Literary Criticism | Russian & Former Soviet Union |
Dewey: 891.709 |
LCCN: 99045400 |
Series: Studies in Slavic Literature, Culture, and Society |
Physical Information: 1.19" H x 6.14" W x 9.21" (2.07 lbs) 548 pages |
Themes: - Cultural Region - Russia |
Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
Publisher Description: Merezhkovsky's bold claim that all Russian literature is, to a certain degree, a struggle with the temptation of demonism is undoubtedly justified. And yet, despite its evident centrality to Russian culture, the unique and fascinating phenomenon of Russian literary demonism has so far received little critical attention. This substantial collection fills the gap. A comprehensive analytical introduction by the editor is follwed by a series of fourteen essays, written by eminent scholars in their fields. The first part explores the main shaping contexts of literary demonism: the Russian Orthodox and folk tradition, the demonization of historical figures, and views of art as intrinsically demonic. The second part traces the development of a literary tradition of demonism in the works of authors ranging from Pushkin and Lermontov, Gogol and Dostoevsky, through to the poets and prose writers of modernism (including Blok, Akhmatova, Bely, Sologub, Rozanov, Zamiatin), and through to the end of the 20th century. |
Contributor Bio(s): Davidson, Pamela: - Pamela Davidson is Professor of Russian Literature at the School of Slavonic and East European Studies at University College, London. |