³the incomplete grandiosity of R ussia ²

[Valentino, Russell]

It seems to me that this is "unrealized grandiosity" rather than "incomplete" or "compensatory," because it responds to an implicit desire for and claim of Russian greatness (on the part of Russians), by association with the Greek kind -- epic, Homeric, public, magnanimous, great-souled (velikodushnyi), non-calculating, and therefore non-commercial. These are the portraits that oversee Chichikov and Sobakevich's haggling in DS over the price of a person.

Russell Valentino 

-----Original Message-----
From: SEELANGS: Slavic & East European Languages and Literatures list [mailto:SEELANGS at bama.ua.edu] On Behalf Of Daniel Rancour-Laferriere
Sent: Saturday, February 27, 2010 1:45 PM
To: SEELANGS at bama.ua.edu
Subject: Re: [SEELANGS] ³the incomplete grandiosity of R ussia²

Right - I like that better than "incomplete grandeur."  In any case,  
subsequent symptoms of compensatory grandiosity could be expected in  
those concerned (e.g., Russian nationalists).

DRL


On Feb 27, 2010, at 12:44 AM, Olga Meerson wrote:

nesostoiavsheesia velichie should probably be translated as something  
like "failed grandeur", or even "aborted greatness".

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

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