Russian literature

History of the Soviet Union under Lenin and Stalin

(7) The Amazing Roughness of Stalin's Hometown of Gori and the Birth of Stalin the Reader

Stalin was born in the Georgian (Georgia) city of Gori.

The city of Gori is just so intense. The intensity of the city will be discussed in more detail in this article, but it was a den of unbelievably rough and tumble people.

Although Stalin grew up in such a rough-and-tumble den, he was an astonishingly well-read man. The reading he did at this time had a profound impact on Stalin's life. In this article, we will discuss Stalin's reading.
Turgenev, the great Russian writer

Why Lenin Liked Turgenev - Turgenev in Lenin's Biography

How Lenin viewed literature is a very interesting question. A leader's preferences affect the culture of his country. This is because his policies dictated "what is good," and new literature would be created or past cultures would be interpreted accordingly.

Knowing how Dostoevsky and his great literary contemporaries were received in the Soviet era gives us a glimpse into the context in which the image of Dostoevsky written in the Soviet era was created. This is a very interesting part of learning about Dostoevsky.
History of the Soviet Union under Lenin and Stalin

(12) Relocation of the capital from St. Petersburg to Moscow in 1918 and the food crisis

In March 1918, World War I was still raging and the Germans were closing in on the capital, St. Petersburg (Petrograd).

Lenin therefore decides to move the capital to Moscow.

The food situation in Russia was already dangerous, as World War I and the Revolution had devastated the countryside and disrupted the transportation system. A bad harvest was also threatening the situation. Lenin, who came to power, was already at a critical juncture.

So Lenin took the method of forced food requisitioning.

This article will discuss the policies taken by Lenin in such a predicament.
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。
History of the Soviet Union under Lenin and Stalin

The Soviet Union and Dostoevsky - Why I Study the Soviet Union - Future Blog Updates

Dostoevsky predicted the coming totalitarian misery in "Evil Spirits" and "The Brothers Karamazov."

Is literature powerless in the face of overwhelming power? Is thought meaningless in front of a gun?

I still have to learn the history of the Soviet Union as well. I felt that I could not pass this place by. That is why I also tried to learn about the world after Dostoevsky's death.