Literary Translation in Russia

Maurice Friedberg explores the profound impact of translation on the Russian literary landscape in Literary Translation in Russia, Volume 1. This historical study examines how the influx of translated Western works introduced complex cultural, aesthetic, and political values into nineteenth-century Russia. Starting with the influence of Pushkin, the text traces the evolution of translation through the lives of major figures such as Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, and Pasternak. Friedberg highlights how translators like Zhukovsky and Vvedensky shaped the nation's literary identity by introducing foreign poetry and prose.

As a scholarly work of literary criticism and history, this volume analyzes the tension between literalism and free translation. It investigates the influence of the Stalinist government and the role of translated fiction, poetry, and drama in maintaining links to Western civilization during periods of isolation. This book provides a detailed look at how translation helped erode the Soviet Union's boundaries, making it a significant resource for those studying language arts and Russian history.