Platonov: kuzov

[Robert Chandler]

Thanks - but even if 'avtomobil'' CAN mean 'truck', I am still no nearer
being able to visualize  just what is happening.

R.




> 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
>> 
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