help choosing a selection from Russian literature

[Christopher Tessone]

Dear Alan,

I would suggest possibly "Omon Ra" by Pelevin for the recent work, as
long as it wouldn't be too lengthy.  It's a novel, but relatively short.
I'm certain it's available in translation.

As for the short story, how about "Khanskij Ogon'" ("The Khan Fire") by
Bulgakov?  It's not as black-and-white as you requested, but then, when
is life ever black-and-white?  :-)

Cheers,
Chris

Alan Ball wrote:

> I teach Russian history at Marquette University and am currently
> assembling a set of readings for students in a course to be offered next
> fall.  For one of our discussions I would like to have the students
> compare two works of fiction: (1) something written after 1991 in which
> the author features a character who initially believes in (or at least
> accepts without question) the Soviet system but then becomes disillusioned
> with it; and (2) a relatively short story (as opposed to a novel) written
> in the early Soviet period that describes a character who at first accepts
> the tsarist system but then grows disenchanted shortly before or after
> 1917.
>
> I'm in good shape for the first part of this reading load (novels/stories
> written after 1991), but I'd be most grateful if anyone could suggest a
> few stories written in the early Soviet period (before World War II, or,
> for that matter, in the last ten or fifteen years before 1917).  Best of
> all might be something involving eventual disillusionment with the father
> tsar and his government, though other variations include a character who
> moves from respect to contempt for such institutions as the church or the
> hierarchical structure of society.
>
> I need to keep the total reading load manageable for the week, so for the
> early-Soviet portion of the assignment I would be most interested in
> stories of roughly 100 pages or less.  This is the heart of my problem,
> for if I were free to select novels, the task would be simpler.  The
> stories, by the way, should be in English translation but do not need to
> be in print (in fact, I'm assuming that they won't be).  I'll just xerox
> whatever looks most suitable and put it on reserve.
>
> Thank you very much for any suggestions that you may be able to offer.
>
> Alan Ball
>
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