Marxism

History of the Soviet Union under Lenin and Stalin

Masashi Jinno's "World History Theater: The Russian Revolutionary Upheaval" - A recommended introduction to the Russian Revolution and what it is all about!

As usual, Jono's books are really easy to understand and, above all, interesting. It is really easy to understand the flow of history, or rather, the sense of connecting the dots.

Learning about the Russian Revolution will be very important for understanding later socialist states and the world during the Cold War.

The author, Mr. Jono, is quite harsh on socialism, and the book makes it very easy to understand why he says so.

This book is a great introduction to the Russian Revolution. The complex history of the revolution is explained very clearly.
History of the Soviet Union under Lenin and Stalin

Synopsis and Impressions of Gorky's Masterpiece "Dondoko" - The Soul Cries of People Living at the Bottom of the Hill

This is a dramatic work. Moreover, as mentioned in this commentary, like Chekhov, there is no easy-to-understand plot. Therefore, it is difficult to grasp the flow of the play even if you read it as a book. I also could not understand it after reading it once, so I had to reread it many times.

Like Chekhov, I am sure that this work will have a tremendous impact when seen on stage as a play.

This piece is quite powerful. Chekhov's plays have a quiet atmosphere, but Gorky expresses the cries of the souls of those who are at rock bottom. The power of the words is tremendous. If you only read it in a book, it must be amazing to hear it on the stage.
History of the Soviet Union under Lenin and Stalin

Criticism of Dostoevsky by leading Soviet writer Gorky

前回の記事「『スターリン伝』から見たゴーリキー～ソ連のプロパガンダ作家としてのゴーリキー」でお話ししましたように、ゴーリキーはソ連を代表する作家であり、スターリン政権下ではソ連のプロパガンダの宣伝にも大きな役割を果たしました。

What would this Gorky say about Dostoevsky?

This, in other words, is how the Soviet Union views Dostoevsky.

というわけで、佐藤清郎氏の『ゴーリキーの生涯』の中にゴーリキーがドストエフスキーに言及している箇所がありましたのでこの記事ではそちらを見ていきたいと思います。
History of the Soviet Union under Lenin and Stalin

Gorky from "Biography of Stalin" - Gorky as a Soviet Propaganda Writer

The image of Gorky that I read in "Biography of Stalin" was quite different from that in Seiro Sato's "Life of Gorky.

Nevertheless, it is also true that Gorky struggled from an early age and pursued his own ideals even after becoming a writer. And after the Russian Revolution, he opposed Lenin's dictatorship and left the country as well. Therefore, I believe that the image of Gorky written by Mr. Seiro Sato is not wrong in this respect.

However, I think we can say that Stalin was too cunning. He took Gorky into his own hands and used him. He had Gorky at his beck and call and used him to make him believe that Stalin's Soviet Union was wonderful, without letting him realize his own intentions. I think that Stalin's method is a terrible one.
History of the Soviet Union under Lenin and Stalin

Seiro Sato, "The Life of Gorky" - Biography recommended to learn about the tumultuous life of one of the Soviet Union's leading writers.

The book describes Gorky's life in considerable detail from his childhood, but much of the information about the young Gorky, for whom public records are scarce, is based on autobiographical novels written by Gorky himself. For those who wish to know more about Gorky, we recommend reading his autobiographical novels, such as "Among the People.

This biography reveals how tremendously Gorky lived his life from an early age.

彼の代表作『どん底』はまさしく彼自身が社会のどん底で生き抜いた経験があったからこそでした。そこから作家として大成するというのは驚くべきことです。この伝記を読んで本当に驚きました。並の人物ではありません。
History of the Soviet Union under Lenin and Stalin

Gorky and Dostoevsky, leading writers of the late imperial and Soviet periods

ドストエフスキーは『悪霊』や『カラマーゾフの兄弟』で社会主義思想によって人々の自由が失われる時代が来ることを予言しました。

And indeed, Russia has done just that. It did, despite the fact that Dostoevsky was so concerned about it and spoke to his readers about it. And Dostoevsky is no longer read very much by the public...

I suddenly wondered if this was a defeat for literature and thought. No matter how much literature or thought we express, if we are threatened by power or force, we are powerless...that is what I felt.

そのためこうした時代を学ぶために、まずはソ連を代表する作家ゴーリキーを読んでみようと私は思ったのでした。
Berger FFDostoevskyism

Berdyaev, "Dostoevsky's Worldview" - A classic in the study of Dostoevsky's thought by an exiled Russian philosopher.

In the suffering of life, there is light, there is salvation. Taking on suffering as suffering, that is where the salvation of Dostoevsky's works lies, according to Berdyaev.

Dostoevsky is a writer with a strong image of having written only heavy and dark works, but he clearly states that this is not the true Dostoevsky. Herein lies the distinctive feature of his view of Dostoevsky.

It is even more interesting to read the book in contrast with Kudryavtsev's "Revolution or God: Dostoevsky's Worldview," which highlights the differences in their respective ideas.
Kudryavtsev.Dostoevskyism

Kudryavtsev, "Revolution or God - Dostoevsky's Worldview -" This is the book to know the Soviet image of Dostoevsky

This book, along with the previously mentioned "The Watcher and the Seeker: Turgenev and Dostoevsky" by Seiro Sato, was a terrific book. I highly recommend reading the two books as a set. I highly recommend you to read the two books as a set, which will deepen the meaning of this book.

It is very easy to understand how Dostoevsky became Sovietized during the Soviet era. And you can also learn how the theory that Dostoevsky was a non-believer came about. This was very interesting to me as I wanted to learn about Dostoevsky and Christianity. It was so interesting that it made me fall asleep much later at night. I couldn't possibly cut off the book in the middle of reading it. That's how great this book is.
The Brothers KaramazovDostoevsky's works

The Brothers Karamazov Synopsis and Comments - Dostoevsky's greatest work! What is God? What is life? What is freedom?

It has been 120 years since "The Brothers Karamazov" was first published. There is a good reason why it continues to be loved by many people even after such a long time has passed.

I think it is because of the charm of this story, something that appeals to readers, that it continues to be read in this way.

The Brothers Karamazov is one of my favorite Dostoevsky works and one to which I have a strong emotional attachment.

Although it is difficult to pick up this work because it is a full-length novel, I heartily recommend it.
evil spiritDostoevsky's works

Dostoevsky's "Evil Spirits" Synopsis and Impressions - Dostoevsky's masterpiece exposes the gruesome reality of revolutionaries.

The magical power of this work is immeasurable.

Strong-willed characters clash and assert themselves on a single stage.

As if possessed by an "evil spirit," the villains cleverly and cruelly plunge society into chaos. The process is so realistic that it made my stomach churn with emotion.

The story soon progresses to an ultimate showdown between life and death, and one cannot take one's eyes off what will happen next, or what is going on in their hearts.

This is a terrific piece of work.