Platonov: kuzov

[Margarita Orlova]

Evidently, that was not a car, but a truck with "kuzov".

Margarita


On Feb 19, 2008, at 6:35 AM, Robert Chandler wrote:

> Dear all,
>
> Here is a paragraph from the second half of KOTLOVAN.  I’ll give  
> the whole
> thing in Cyrillic, and I’ll also transliterate the phrase that  
> concerns me:
>
> Около кузницы стоял автомобиль и жег бензин на одном месте. С него  
> только
> что сошел прибывший вместе с супругой Пашкин, чтобы с активной  
> жадностью
> обнаружить здесь остаточно го батрака и, снабдив его лучшей долей  
> жизни,
> распустить затем райком союза за халатность обслуживания членской  
> массы. Но
> еще Чиклин и Елисей не дошли до кузни, как товарищ Пашкин уже вышел из
> помещения и отбыл на машине обратно, опустив только голову в кузов,  
> будто не
> зная – как ему теперь быть. Супруга товарища Пашкина из машины не  
> выходила
> вовсе: она лишь берегла своего любимого человека от встречных женщин,
> обожающих власть ее мужа и принимавших твердость его руководства за  
> силу
> любви, которую он может им дать.
>
> No eshche Chiklin I Elisey ne dshli do kuzni, kak tovarishch  
> Pashkin uzhe
> vyshel is pomeshcheniya i otbyl na mashine obratno, opustiv tol’ko  
> golovu v
> kuzov, budto ne znaya – kak emu byt’.
>
> Here is the last half in English:
>  But Chiklin and Yelisey were still on their way towards the smithy  
> when
> comrade Pashkin left the premises and departed back in his car, (?? 
> only)
> hanging his head forward into the cabin (??) as if he did no know  
> what to do
> with himself.  Comrade Pashkin’s spouse had altogether remained in  
> the car;
> she was merely protecting her beloved man from oncoming women, who  
> adored
> her husband’s power and mistook the firmness of his administrative
> leadership for the potency of the love he could offer them.
>
> But as you can see, I really don’t know what to do with ‘golovu v  
> kuzov’; I
> don’t even know how to translate ‘kuzov’ on its own.
>
> We don’t know this for sure, but it seems likely that Pashkin has a
> chauffeur.  He is an important buraucrat, and the engine is clearly  
> still
> running while he visits the forge.  So it is likely, but not  
> certain, that
> he and his spouse are sitting in the back together.  We are about  
> to learn
> the reason for his sudden departure from the forge: he found a bear  
> there,
> working as the blacksmith’s assistant.
>
> I am wondering as I write if this saying is of any relevance:
>  назвался груздём, полезай в кузов (in for a penny, in for a  
> pound).  It
> seems possible: Pashkin has, after all, failed to honour his original
> intention of doing what he can to help the district’s last, unknown
> proletarian (i.e. the bear!).
>
> Best Wishes,
>
> Robert
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 
> ---
>  Use your web browser to search the archives, control your  
> subscription
>   options, and more.  Visit and bookmark the SEELANGS Web Interface  
> at:
>                     http://seelangs.home.comcast.net/
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 
> ---

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