Teffi - Sobaka -Erunda

[Edythe Haber]

Dear Robert,
 
I don't know if you're aware of my old translation of "Sobaka," published in Russian Literature Triquarterly, No. 9 (Spring, 1974): 117-36.  It might be helpful for you to refer to it.
 
As for your questions:  I have no doubt that Teffi was being ironic in the first instance.  As for the second, I assumed when I did my translation that the "erunda" was referring to the 30,000 rubles, and translated it as "A piddling amount."  But now that I look at it again it does seem to make more sense that Harry (whom I call Garri) is talking about his own deception.
 
I'm looking forward to your new translation.  I think it's an excellent story that deserves to be better known..
 
Best wishes,
Edythe Haber

________________________________

From: SEELANGS: Slavic & East European Languages and Literatures list on behalf of Robert Chandler
Sent: Sun 7/25/2010 5:56 PM
To: SEELANGS at bama.ua.edu
Subject: [SEELANGS] Teffi - Sobaka -Erunda



And a second question.

The narrator has just grasped that Harry has been cheating her in regard to
money.

 ? ????? ? ??????: ??? ?? ??????? ? ????? ? ???????????? ??? ??? ???, ?
?????? ???? ?????? ??? ??? ??????!
- ??????? ??? ???? ???? - ???????? ???????? ?.
- ????? ????? ????????. ??????! ? ?? ?????, ????? ?? ?????????? ?? ??
???????, ? ?????? ?? ? ??? ????????????? ????.

Does Harry's 'Erunda!' mean 'Nothing much!' (i.e. That 30,000 roubles is
only a small sum of money)?  Or could it mean that his having deceived her
is nothing serious, since he was doing it for a supposedldy sensible reason?

R.

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