Calling all experts on Bulgakov and Cheka fashion

[Rafael Shusterovich]

Hello John,

I suppose "bronze" is used here in metaphorical sense, and means something
like
"large and resonant as in bronze sculpture".

Regards,
Rafael

2011/1/27 John Dunn <John.Dunn at glasgow.ac.uk>

> In answer to (a):
> One person who might wear parts of a sailor's uniform is an ex-sailor,
> perhaps someone who served in the Navy during World War I or afterwards and
> who in those days before the advent of the demob suit kept his uniform as a
> means of providing warm and robust clothing (especially when such clothing
> might otherwise be expensive or hard to come by).
>
> In answer to (b):
> I think бравый is positive with a tinge of irony and would suggest
> considering something like 'stout fellow'.  I haven't come across 'bravo' as
> a noun (but then I do live a very sheltered life); Chambers Dictionary
> suggests it means 'daring villain' or 'hired assassin', which doesn't seem
> quite right here.
>
> In answer to (c) (the question you forgot to ask):
> I am puzzled by бронзовая: how does the narrator know that the man's chest
> is bronze-coloured (perhaps better 'bronzed' or 'sun-tanned') if it is
> beneath a фуфайка?  Is there anything else it could conceivably mean?
>
> John Dunn.
>
> Honorary Research Fellow
> SMLC (Slavonic Studies)
> University of Glasgow
>
> Via Carolina Coronedi Berti, 6
> 40137 Bologna
> Italy
> John.Dunn at glasgow.ac.uk
> johnanthony.dunn at fastwebnet.it
>
> ________________________________________
> From: SEELANGS: Slavic & East European Languages and Literatures list [
> SEELANGS at bama.ua.edu] On Behalf Of Muireann Maguire [mm504 at CAM.AC.UK]
> Sent: 26 January 2011 23:46
> To: SEELANGS at bama.ua.edu
> Subject: Re: [SEELANGS] Calling all experts on Bulgakov and Cheka fashion
>
> Thank you to everyone who responded to my question about Cheka fashion.
> Several people have pointed out that the trousers take up a bell-like shape
> from the knee down (rather than the knee up, as my translation mistakenly
> suggested), and I was also helpfully sent a link to this page:
>
> http://www.authenticandrareposters.com/?page_id=7&category=12
>
> which shows Constructivist sailors wearing similar "bell-bottoms".
> Bulgakov's "bravyi" isn't a sailor, though, and I would still welcome
>
> (a) any suggestions about the kind of person (apart from sailors) who might
> wear bell-bottom pants in Russia in the 1920s
>
> and (b)any alternatives to 'gallant' as a translation for 'bravyi'.
> Interestingly, Dal' (!!!) suggests positive connotations for 'bravyi' along
> the lines of 'molodets', while the English 'bravo' is fairly negative (when
> used as a noun).
>
>
> Best wishes, and thanks in advance,
>
> Muireann
>
> --
> Dr Muireann Maguire                 Tel.: 079 62 89 4118
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
>  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/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------