Envy by Yuri Olesha (NYRB Classics, translated by Marian Schwartz) This book follows one of my favorite literary traditions—A Book of Ravings. A satire on the futility of rejecting the conformity of 1920s Soviet Russia. There are no heroes in this book. The victors are arrogant showman, while the losers are deluded dreamers without the dedication to do more than turn to the bottle and wallow in memories of the wasted years. This is a grim book even when its very funny. It in equal measure mocks mindless nationalism and the weakness of nihilism.
I just got Lolly Willowes from the library. It's been recommended to me so many times. I didn't even realize there's a Backlisted - I better read it first!
Envy by Yuri Olesha & Lolly Willowes by Sylvia Townsend Warner
I just got Lolly Willowes from the library. It's been recommended to me so many times. I didn't even realize there's a Backlisted - I better read it first!