Anonymous places

[Paul B. Gallagher]

Alina Israeli wrote:

> Robert,
> 
> I believe there are two reasons for that: a) not to put a spot light
> on any particular town, although in Chekhov and Turgenev we find
> easily identifiable towns S. and O. and b) to make it more universal,
> as we say it here "Any town USA", so similarly "Anytown" in Russia.
> 
> The device is used not just for cities, but also for people's names,
> particularly when nobility was involved, although of course there
> are other ways of obscuring the situation. One of my all time
> favorites comes from a French film "Les grandes maneuvres" where
> Gérard Philipe had a number 33 on his lapel. At the time portrayed in
> the movie there were 31 regiments (I am not strong in military
> terminology) in France.

Also, it gives the author free rein to create a fictional town/person 
that combines characteristics of several real-life exemplars as his 
purpose required. Using the real name would constrain him to stick to 
the truth, and especially make it difficult for him to portray the 
subject in a bad light -- just imagine how limited he would be if he 
chose a character named "Robert Chandler"... ;-)

-- 
War doesn't determine who's right, just who's left.
--
Paul B. Gallagher
pbg translations, inc.
"Russian Translations That Read Like Originals"
http://pbg-translations.com

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