Teffi - 'Sobaka' - 'Vot tak Garri!'

[Valentino, Russell]

It does sound ironic. The telegraphic quality seems important for that, too: That was Harry for you! Capable of heroism. Even more than that--he was in search of it. Or present tense.

Russell


-----Original Message-----
From: SEELANGS: Slavic & East European Languages and Literatures list [mailto:SEELANGS at bama.ua.edu] On Behalf Of Hugh McLean
Sent: Monday, July 26, 2010 12:13 PM
To: SEELANGS at bama.ua.edu
Subject: Re: [SEELANGS] Teffi - 'Sobaka' - 'Vot tak Garri!'

Dear Robert,

I think you are right about the irony, but the phrase "going out of his 
way to display heroism" strikes me as bookish and artificial. . How 
about "always looking for a chance to play the hero"? Hugh
> Dear all,
>
> The narrator in this story is talking about a long-ago incident in her life,
> around 1919, when she was infatuated with a vile man called Harry.  It will
> eventually emerge that he has been working for the Cheka.
>
> But in these lines she is talking about a time before she learned this.
>
> Я была тронута Гарриной добротой.
> - Гарри, разве вам не было бы страшно прятать у себя белого офицера? Он
> чуть-чуть покраснел.
> - Пустяки! - пробормотал он. - Если встретите его снова, непременно -
> слышите? - непременно позовите к себе.
> Вот так Гарри! Способен на подвиг. Даже больше того - ищет подвига.
>
> Am I correct in hearing the whole of the last line as ironical in tone, i.e.
> imbued with an irony that springs from what she eventually learned about
> him?  Something like:
>
> Harry was a fine fellow.  Capable of heroism.  Even going out of his way to
> display heroism.
>
> Vsego dobrogo,
>
> Robert
>
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