Query: Chukovskaia's SOFIA PETROVNA

[Sibelan Forrester]

Dorogie Seelanzhane,

I received this query and hope that list members may be able to offer her a
few suggestions, preferably in English, besides Beth Holmgren's book
(WOMEN'S WORDS IN STALIN'S TIME), which I already suggested.  Please reply
privately to Ruth Anne Stevens <stevensr at gusun.acc.georgetown.edu>, since
she is not a member of this list.

Vsego dobrogo,

Sibelan Forrester
Modern L & L
Swarthmore College

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
        I am currently researching a project based on Mme. Chukovskaya's
"Sofia Petrovna" and Solzhenitsyn's "One Day in the Life of Ivan
Denisovitch".  I am a junior in the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown
University, and am currently working on the certificate program offered by
our Russian Area Studies Program.
        While I have found a decent body of information about the
Solzhenitsyn work, I have found little on Sofia Petrovna.  I wonder if you
might have any information about it.  I have read the account of its
publication, as written by Mme. Chukovskaya and published in certain recent
editions of the book.  I have found book reviews as published in "Le Monde"
and "The New York Times Book Review" for it.  What I am now seeking is
information about how the book was received by the American (and also
French) press.  Who read the book?  How well-known was it?  I am currently
hoping to hear back from "Noviy Zhurnal", the journal which first published
the story in the US, but have not yet heard back from them.
        I would be extremely grateful if you could find the time to respond
to this message, or if you have any information (or sources of information)
relating to this issue.

        Thank you very much.
        Sincerely,

        Ruth Anne Stevens
        <stevensr at gusun.acc.georgetown.edu>