As a world-renowned giant of Soviet literature, Andrei Platonov has been called "the greatest Russian essayist and stylist of the 20th century". Nobel laureate Brodsky once commented: "Platonov is the most outstanding writer of the 20th century, along with Proust, Kafka, Faulkner, and Beckett." In March 2024, Xu Zhenya, a senior translator of Russian literature and a professor at East China Normal University, after years of repeated research and polishing, launched three new books of painstaking translations, "Chewengul", "Foundation Pit" and "Primordial Sea". KEY - Can be culturally published. Among them, the complete translation of the novel "Chevengul" and the novella "Primordial Sea" was published for the first time in China. The Zhejiang Literature and Art Publishing House gathered to publish the "Platonov Works Series", which is undoubtedly a surprise for the long-awaited lovers of Soviet and Russian literature and Platonov's book lovers. As Professor Xu Zhenya said, "Platonov is the pride of Russian literature, and his literary legacy is the spiritual wealth of the Russian people and all mankind." ”
Platonov: A genius of Russian literature of the 20th century who amazed the world
Andrei Platonov (1899-1951), a famous writer, dramatist and poet, is known as "the only Soviet writer of the 20th century who inherited the glorious tradition of Russian literature of the 19th century". In the early 20th century, he began to publish literary works, such as "The Return", the poetry collection "Blue Depths", the children's literature story collection "Thunderstorm in July", etc., as well as many drama works.
For the majority of Chinese readers, Platonov's name may be slightly unfamiliar because his works have not been systematically published in China. And in his home country, the study of this literary giant has long been a hot academic phenomenon. Since the 90s of the 20th century, the Institute of Russian Literature of the Russian Academy of Sciences has held an annual Platonov Symposium, which is attended by experts and scholars from all over the world, and in 2019, the 120th anniversary of Platonov's birth, the Institute of Russian Literature in Petersburg, the Institute of World Literature in Moscow, and the Voronezh University in the writer's hometown held unprecedented commemorative events. As the Russian writer Mamedov put it, in Russia, "everyone has their own Platonov in their hearts." Every time you encounter his work, it will make your soul rise several levels, so he is rightfully called a 'vertically elevated' classic writer."
Today, Platonov's artistic achievements are world-renowned. His major works have been translated into English, French, German, Japanese, Spanish and other languages, and his position as a classic in Russian and world literature of the 20th century has become unassailable. His innovative and thoughtful works have not only added a strange brilliance to Russian literature, but also left a rich intellectual legacy for mankind. The art world he constructed is unique and has been called the "Platonov Mystery" and "Platonov Miracle".
Chevengul: The complete translation was published in China for the first time
The Italian poet and director Pierre Paolo Pasolini once said of "Chevengur": "The first 80 pages of 'Chevengur' are one of the most beautiful things in Russian literature. ”
"Chevengur" tells the story of a group of lonely revolutionary visionaries who try to find and create a new world in the remote county town of Chevengur. They exterminated the bourgeoisie, destroyed the forests, demolished the houses, ceased all productive activities, slept in the wilderness, fed their hunger on grass, and lived on the power of the sun. They actively explore and build a new life with their imagination and enthusiasm for the world, but they end up paying a heavy price because they have no theoretical support and practical experience. The author is extremely sarcastic and full of warmth for the "weirdos" in his pen. The novel embodies the author's sober examination and painful reflection on the social trends of the time, as well as his deep understanding and anxiety about reality. Spectator Magazine commented: "Chevencourt offers a world of complete imagination for contemporary readers, often surprising, sometimes terrifying, sometimes delightful." ”
"Foundation Pit": a comprehensive collection of Platonov's representative works of short and medium stories from the early to the late period
The collection of short stories "The Foundation Pit" includes eight masterpieces by Platonov from different periods of his creation. Among them, the novel of the same name, The Foundation Pit, is Platonov's most thoughtful and artistically innovative landmark novella. This work is not only well-known all over the world, but also inspires the work of artists in many different fields. In fact, it was this novel that attracted Professor Xu Zhenya to Platonov's literary world. In the afterword, Professor Xu admitted: "Thirty-six years have passed, but I still remember the strong shock that this work had on me at the beginning, and the excitement and ecstasy it caused in my heart. ”
Another work included in this book, The Third Son, is a unique jewel in Platonov's short stories. This novel tells the story of an elderly woman who dies and her six sons who receive a telegram and return home one after another. The full text is only a few thousand words, but it shows the subtle estrangement and strong love within a family in detail. Hemingway once praised this novel and said that he wanted to learn from the author.
In this book, the four early masterpieces represented by "Foundation Pit" are sharp and humorous. Through in-depth observation and reflection on real life, the writer paints allegorical pictures and explores philosophical issues such as ideal and reality, material and spiritual, individual and collective. The four later masterpieces represented by "The Third Son" explore the subtleties of family and society and deeply analyze social changes in a more natural and tender tone. Reading these works gives a comprehensive understanding of Platonov's creative style.
"Primordial Sea": a collection of mature works from the peak of Platonov's creative career
"The Primordial Sea" is a collection of Platonov's novellas, which includes "The Primordial Sea", "The Portutan River", "The Unpredictable Man", and "Yepifan Sluice", four mature works of the writer's creative peak.
Among them, the novella of the same name, "The Primordial Sea", was also a work that Platonov failed to come out during his lifetime. The novel tells the story of the protagonist, Nikolai Vermo, a powerful power engineer, who goes deep into the steppes of southeastern Russia and works in a state-owned livestock farm, hoping to use arc technology to drill the primeval sea underground, and use groundwater to turn the arid steppe into a rich land suitable for animal husbandry. The protagonist and his companions intend to use technology to change the laws of nature and transform the universe in order to achieve the happiness of all mankind.
In these novels, the reader can intuitively feel Platonov's mastery of writing skills and consistent sincerity after years of polishing. Through vivid dialogues and smart descriptions, delicate emotions flow quietly between the pages.