Even though Ivan Goncharov wrote several books that were widely read and discussed during his lifetime today he is remembered for one novel
Oblomov published in 1859 an indisputable classic of Russian literature the artistic stature and cultural significance of which may be compared only to other such masterpieces as Nikolai Gogolās
Dead Souls Leo Tolstoyās
Anna Karenina and Fyodor Dostoevskyās
Brothers Karamazov.
Stephen Pearlās new translation the first major English-language publication of Oblomov in more than fifty years succeeds exquisitely in introducing this astonishing and endearing novel to a new generation of readers. Rich in situational comedy psychological complexity social satire and incisive depictions of class ethnicity and sexuality Oblomov is clearly a novel that was written for all time.
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Ivan Alexandrovich Goncharov was born in 1812 in Simbirsk Russia the son of a wealthy grain merchant. He graduated from Moscow University in 1834 and spent thirty years in government service starting out as a low-level bureaucrat and eventually becoming the chief government censor. Goncharovās first novel A Common Story which was published in 1847 explored the conflicts in Russian society between the landed gentry and the rising middle class. A travelogue The Frigate Pallada published in 1858 covered his adventures in England Africa and Japan during the 1850s. Oblomov his best-known work published in 1859 brought him wide acclaim including praise from Fyodor Dostoevsky.
He wrote The Precipice published in 1869 after his retirement from government service and he died in St. Petersburg in 1891. Goncharov also wrote criticism essays and short stories which were left unpublished until 1919.
āThis is an excellent translation . . . I have no hesitation recommending it. . . .Pearlās rendering is fluid elegant and witty and it is a great relief to have a replacement for the 1954 translation by David Margarshack which is dated. āāBarbara Henry University of Washington
āA fine new translation.ā ā Michael Dirda Washington Post Book World
"Though it would be absurd to expect that Pearl has unveiled a new Oblomovāone that significantly alters the readerās view of Goncharovās masterpieceāthis translation clearly surpasses its predecessors. Eschewing the dangerous 'be-literal-at-all-costs' principle observed by some translators Pearl offers a consistently smooth supple and idiomatic rendition of the novelāa version that preserves the 'spirit' of the original Russian text. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readers all levels.āā R. Gregg emeritus Vassar College Choice Magazine
"Stephen Pearlās translation is by far the best Iāve read . . . it boasts a livelier more contemporary idiom while it faithfully reproduces Goncharovās 19th-century Russian.ā āJohn Givens University of Rochester
"A deep warm bath of a book something you can slip down into silently and fall gently through its pages until you are drowsy with pleasure. . . . Itās a longish book but itās not heavy-going thanks to a new translation by Stephen Pearl.ā āMichael Enright Canadian Broadcastingās Sunday Edition
"Marvelously translated by Stephen Pearl without sounding overwhelmingly British or American.ā āKeith Garebian The Globe & Mail
"Beautiful new edition and translation . . .ā āCarlin Romano Philadelphia Inquirer