Svetolyubivy

[Robert Chandler]

Dear all,

The following is from Grossman’s VSE TECHET.  It is 1917.  Russia has cast
off the chains of Tsarism and she is seen as a young nevesta.  Hundreds of
suitors are parading before her:

  Широким  кругом стояли  они - умеренные, фанатики, трудовики, народники,
рабочелюбцы,  крестьянские  заступники, просвещенные заводчики, светолюбивые
церковники, бешеные анархисты.

The adjective ‘светолюбивoе’ is usually used of plants, with the meaning
‘light-loving’.  Am I right in thinking that Grossman’s use of the word here
is a bit jokey?  Presumably these churchmen are worldly, not light-loving
but society-loving?

Perhaps: ‘There they stood in a great circle – moderates, fanatics,
labourists, populists, friends of the workers, champions of the peasantry,
enlightened factory owners, churchmen in love with the world, furious
anarchists.

Vsego dobrogo,

R.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 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/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------