Tag Archives: Russia

Soviet Short Stories

Posted on September 7, 2020 by Joel D. Hirst

There are few like the great Russian masters. Perhaps its the harsh winters that encourage contemplation; maybe its the beauty of the Russian language itself, with its depth of tenses and tremendous descriptive power that encourages people to put ideas, … Continue reading →

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“And Quiet Flows the Don” – Book Review

Posted on July 14, 2020 by Joel D. Hirst

There is something majestic, timeless and grand about Russian literature. Whether its Tolstoy (Leo, sure but I prefer Alexei), Goncharov, Turgenev – the stories resonate with purpose and the full nature of the human experience. This is perhaps especially true … Continue reading →

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Ordeal

Posted on February 23, 2020 by Joel D. Hirst

Revolutions don’t just happen. They are in fact product of profound societal stress; the status quo is too much of a powerful force even in the most unjust of countries to be eschewed lightly in favor of a great leap … Continue reading →

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Ivan Turgenev and His Gentry

Posted on February 1, 2020 by Joel D. Hirst

At the beginning of the golden age of Russian literature, when Russia was emerging from poetry – as all developed literary societies must – and turning to glorious prose, there was Ivan Turgenev. Born into lower nobility, impoverished but still … Continue reading →

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“Ordeal: The Sisters” – Book One

Posted on November 24, 2019 by Joel D. Hirst

“I stood here in the crowd a short time ago, and listened,” said Roshchin through his teeth. “Fire and brimstone descends from this balcony and the crowd mops it up. I don’t know any longer who are the strangers in … Continue reading →

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“The Same Old Story” is Anything But

Posted on June 30, 2018 by Joel D. Hirst

The stories of pre-revolutionary Russia are quite remarkable. Saint Petersburg must have been quite a place, indeed, during the days of Russian nobility. “The Same Old Story” is, but is also nothing but. It is, because it’s a story like … Continue reading →

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