help choosing a selection from Russian literature

[Lila W. Zaharkov]

At 06:37 PM 06/27/2002 -0400, you 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
>
>-------------------------------------------------------------------------
>  Use your web browser to search the archives, control your subscription
>   options, and more.  Visit and bookmark the SEELANGS Web Interface at:
>                   http://home.attbi.com/~lists/seelangs/
>-------------------------------------------------------------------------
The classic may be Gorky's Mother and you could show the silent film.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Use your web browser to search the archives, control your subscription
  options, and more.  Visit and bookmark the SEELANGS Web Interface at:
                  http://home.attbi.com/~lists/seelangs/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------