Grossman's rasskaz 'Mama'

[Robert Chandler]

Der all,

One of Grossman¹s most remarkable stories (1960) is about a little girl who
was adopted in 1935 or 1936 by the Yezhovs.  Throughout most of the story he
keeps very close to factual truth.  One of his odder changes is to the name
of the little girl¹s nyanya.  In reality she was called Marfa Grigoryevna.
In his story she is called Marfa Dement¹evna.   The fact that one of
Yezhov¹s homosexual partners was called Ivan Dementy¹ev makes Grossman¹s
choice of name still odder.  In the story, and probably in reality, the
nyanya is kind, calm and and sensible.

To an English ear this name is, of course, very disconcerting.  Is it any
less disconcerting to a Russian ear??

Best wishes,

Robert

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