Eugene Onegin: A Novel in Verse

by Alexander Pushkin, Alexander Poesjkin, Alexander Puschkin

Book Overview

Eugene Onegin is the master work of the poet whom Russians regard as the fountainhead of their literature. Set in 1820s Russia, Pushkin's verse novel follows the fates of three men and three women. Engaging, full of suspense, and varied in tone, it also portrays a large cast of other characters and offers the reader many literary, philosophical, and autobiographical digressions, often in a highly satirical vein. Eugene Onegin was Pushkin's own favourite...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0192838997
• ISBN13: 9780192838995
• Release Date: October 1998
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.54 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 7.6" x 5.0"

Customer Reviews

Great Book

Love this book. I love poetry and Puskin is one of my favorite authors. The story depics Russian society in the 1800. It is a well written novel in the form of a poem. The hero of the novel Eugene Onigin is described as a sinical character while Tatyana, the heroine is the fulfilment of moral and social duty. It is a wonderful book to read. It is a love story.

Amazing Verse Classic from Russia's Foremost Poet

Eugene Onegin, capably translated by Charles Johnston is a simply amazing piece of literature. Possibly Pushkin's most well known work, it maintains enormous influence in Russia today, with Pushkin often considered to be the 'Russian Shakespeare'. Any fan of Russian literature should take the time to read this or any of Pushkin's other works, as so many of the great Russian writers that are so well known were inspired and influenced by this great poet's work. The novel is written in verse format, in a style that has come to be known as the "Onegin Stanza". This 14 line format allows for a range of emotions and reading experience over the course of the novel. Sometimes light and playful, other times deadly serious, the verse format of the novel adds a lyrical readability to the novel, while at the same time making the many shifts in subject potentially disconcerting. These shifts in focus (to literary conventions and precedents, women's feet, and various other confessions and tidbits) along with the novel's scope of focus and time make it many times complicated to understand. However, this is one of the novel's great achievements as it provides insight and exploration in a wide range of topics, while maintaining a literary self-awareness. The guiding plot is thoughtful, surprising and enjoyable as it (again) explores a vast range of life experiences, hinging on a couple of vicissitudes. The Penguin edition with its introduction and further reading recommendations is helpful in understanding the role that this novel has had in Russian culture as well as critical studies. The notes are helpful throughout the novel - the fact that they are not denoted in the text and are instead attributed to each stanza makes it easy to read the notes either concurrent with the novel or as a nice addition after having completed the novel. Eugene Onegin is truly deserving of all the praise and attention that it has received over the years - I highly recommend it as a literary experience that will not be soon forgotten.

My own clever lines

MY OWN CLEver words for enjoyment Of this Onegin, let me share. For Douglas 'twas more than employment This short tale, so simple, so bare. Doug took time for this rendition He used well his famed erudition; He polished his verse, the rhymes all matched, Though some lines were long to be hatched. Above all, Pushkin's quick clever Wit shines through from his age to ours. Such fun reading it was, I never Felt I had wasted those hours. All in all I think this book fine And as Doug ends his lines, I mine.

The next best thing to Russian

James Falen has offered his version of the Russian classic, and has captured both the meaning and the verse. The stanzas flow effortlessly in Falen's hands, it may very well be the best translation yet. Of course, Nabokov is not around to cast his judgement on it. He panned every other translation that had been printed and penned his own in prose, so as not to stray too far from original meaning. But, even he said it was no more than a crib, as what Puskin had achieved in Eugene Onegin was a restructuring of the Russian language, giving it a beauty few had thought it possessed.Orlando Figes similarly noted that Onegin was the first truly Russian lyrical novel. Pushkin had forsaken the standard French and sought to find the words expressive enough to convey the contradictory nature of the Russian soul. The novel in verse ebbs and flows as Pushkin takes you from St. Petersburg to Moscow to the Russian countryside, weaving a charming tale with many fascinating asides. The texture is so rich and the characters so enduring that this lyrical novel has attained mythological status in Russian literature. No understanding of the subject is complete without having read Eugene Onegin.But, if language is essential to understanding Onegin then any translation will ultimately come up short. However, Falen has shown great respect for the novel and its language, unlike Douglass Hofstadter's juvenile attempt to translate it. Falen offers copious endnotes and a fascinating introduction. He tips his hat to Nabokov and the others who have translated this novel in the past. The language Falen uses is modern, giving Onegin a freshness lacking in other translations.

Perhaps the best novel ever written

This novel is so intense that once you start reading it, you have to finish it. It is so intense, it just grabs you by the throat. The translation from Russian is extremely skillfully done. I recommend this book to everyone. Alexander Pushkin is truly a genius.