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小谢芯胁芯 芯 锌芯谢泻褍 袉谐芯褉械胁褨屑
小谢邪胁械褌薪邪 锌邪屑'褟褌泻邪 泻褉邪褋薪芯谐芯 锌懈褋褜屑械薪褋褌胁邪 袣懈褩胁褋褜泻芯褩 袪褍褋褨 鈥� 谐械褉芯褩褔薪邪 锌芯械屑邪 芦小谢芯胁芯 芯 锌芯谢泻褍 袉谐芯褉械胁褨屑禄 鈥� 褦 芯写薪懈屑 褨蟹 褕械写械胁褉褨胁 褋胁褨褌芯胁芯褩 泻褍谢褜褌褍褉懈. 袪褍泻芯锌懈褋 斜褍谢芯 蟹薪邪泄写械薪芯 1792 褉芯泻褍, 芯锌褍斜谢褨泻芯胁邪薪芯 1800 褉芯泻褍 胁 袦芯褋泻胁褨. 袨褉懈谐褨薪邪谢 褌胁芯褉褍 蟹谐芯褉褨胁 锌褨写 褔邪褋 胁褨泄薪懈 蟹 褎褉邪薪褑褍蟹邪屑懈 1812 褉.
些芯写芯 褌芯谐芯, 褏褌芯 斜褍胁 邪胁褌芯褉芯屑 褑褜芯谐芯 斜械蟹褋屑械褉褌薪芯谐芯 褌胁芯褉褍, 芯写薪芯褋褌邪泄薪芯褩 写褍屑泻懈 薪械屑邪褦. 袗 芯褌 锌芯褏芯写卸械薪薪褟, 屑褨褋褑械 褋褌胁芯褉械薪薪褟 芦小谢芯胁邪禄 褍 胁褔械薪懈褏 薪械 胁懈泻谢懈泻邪褦, 褋褍屑薪褨胁褍. 袦. 袛褉邪谐芯屑邪薪芯胁 锌懈褋邪胁: 芦些芯 褋褌芯褋褍褦褌褜褋褟 芦袥褨褌芯锌懈褋褍 袧械褋褌芯褉邪禄, 芦小谢芯胁邪 锌褉芯 锌芯褏褨写 袉谐芯褉褟禄 褨 褌. 褨薪., 褌芯 褑褨 褌胁芯褉懈 斜褍谢懈 斜械蟹锌芯褋械褉械写薪褨屑懈 锌谢芯写邪屑懈 屑褨褋褑械胁芯谐芯 卸懈褌褌褟 屑褨褋褌 褋褌邪褉芯写邪胁薪褜芯褩 校泻褉邪褩薪懈. 笑褨 褌胁芯褉懈 蟹邪锌芯褔邪褌泻芯胁褍褞褌褜, 褌邪泻懈屑 褔懈薪芯屑, 褍泻褉邪褩薪褋褜泻褍 谢褨褌械褉邪褌褍褉褍...禄.
校 泻薪懈卸褑褨 屑褨褋褌褟褌褜褋褟 褌械泻褋褌 锌械褉褕芯写褉褍泻褍 褌邪 邪写邪锌褌芯胁邪薪懈泄 褌械泻褋褌, 覒褉褍薪褌芯胁薪邪 锌械褉械写屑芯胁邪 褌邪 锌褉懈屑褨褌泻懈 胁懈写邪褌薪懈褏 写芯褋谢褨写薪懈泻褨胁 芦小谢芯胁邪禄 袥. 袦邪褏薪芯胁褑褟 褌邪 袨. 袦懈褕邪薪懈褔邪, 邪 褌邪泻芯卸鈥� 锌械褉械泻谢邪写懈 锌邪屑'褟褌泻懈 褋褍褔邪褋薪芯褞 褍泻褉邪褩薪褋褜泻芯褞 屑芯胁芯褞 袥. 袦邪褏薪芯胁褑褟 褌邪 袙. 小胁褨写蟹懈薪褋褜泻芯谐芯.
些芯写芯 褌芯谐芯, 褏褌芯 斜褍胁 邪胁褌芯褉芯屑 褑褜芯谐芯 斜械蟹褋屑械褉褌薪芯谐芯 褌胁芯褉褍, 芯写薪芯褋褌邪泄薪芯褩 写褍屑泻懈 薪械屑邪褦. 袗 芯褌 锌芯褏芯写卸械薪薪褟, 屑褨褋褑械 褋褌胁芯褉械薪薪褟 芦小谢芯胁邪禄 褍 胁褔械薪懈褏 薪械 胁懈泻谢懈泻邪褦, 褋褍屑薪褨胁褍. 袦. 袛褉邪谐芯屑邪薪芯胁 锌懈褋邪胁: 芦些芯 褋褌芯褋褍褦褌褜褋褟 芦袥褨褌芯锌懈褋褍 袧械褋褌芯褉邪禄, 芦小谢芯胁邪 锌褉芯 锌芯褏褨写 袉谐芯褉褟禄 褨 褌. 褨薪., 褌芯 褑褨 褌胁芯褉懈 斜褍谢懈 斜械蟹锌芯褋械褉械写薪褨屑懈 锌谢芯写邪屑懈 屑褨褋褑械胁芯谐芯 卸懈褌褌褟 屑褨褋褌 褋褌邪褉芯写邪胁薪褜芯褩 校泻褉邪褩薪懈. 笑褨 褌胁芯褉懈 蟹邪锌芯褔邪褌泻芯胁褍褞褌褜, 褌邪泻懈屑 褔懈薪芯屑, 褍泻褉邪褩薪褋褜泻褍 谢褨褌械褉邪褌褍褉褍...禄.
校 泻薪懈卸褑褨 屑褨褋褌褟褌褜褋褟 褌械泻褋褌 锌械褉褕芯写褉褍泻褍 褌邪 邪写邪锌褌芯胁邪薪懈泄 褌械泻褋褌, 覒褉褍薪褌芯胁薪邪 锌械褉械写屑芯胁邪 褌邪 锌褉懈屑褨褌泻懈 胁懈写邪褌薪懈褏 写芯褋谢褨写薪懈泻褨胁 芦小谢芯胁邪禄 袥. 袦邪褏薪芯胁褑褟 褌邪 袨. 袦懈褕邪薪懈褔邪, 邪 褌邪泻芯卸鈥� 锌械褉械泻谢邪写懈 锌邪屑'褟褌泻懈 褋褍褔邪褋薪芯褞 褍泻褉邪褩薪褋褜泻芯褞 屑芯胁芯褞 袥. 袦邪褏薪芯胁褑褟 褌邪 袙. 小胁褨写蟹懈薪褋褜泻芯谐芯.
134 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1185
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
April 6, 2020
Fine XII secolo, il principe dei Rus (i Russi) Igor, con pensieri di gloria, decide di attaccare i Polovcy (i Turchi). Cos矛 parte, con tutta la sua druzina (il corpo armato al servizio dei capi Rus), alla ricerca di questa tanto amata ed inafferrabile gloria, contro i pagani! Arrivati...
Poema epico di forte impatto emotivo. La scrittura 猫 quanto di pi霉 evocativa avessi mai letto, con uno sguardo alla Natura ed a ci貌 che li anima, l'autore (sconosciuto, forse uno alla corte del principe Igor?) ci racconta del viaggio del dolore, di morte e devastazione con grande poetica. Gli animali sono protagonisti preponderanti nello Slovo (il nome russo dell'opera) ed anche le piante, i corsi d'acqua, i fiumi, insomma la Natura tutta.
A rendere la lettura stupenda 猫, anche, l'apparato saggistico e storiografico correlato. L'introduzione, le varie versioni, la storia che sta dietro all'opera, il mistero dell'autore, le note, le illustrazioni... insomma tutto mi ha affascinato, coinvolto e non poco!
Da recuperare!
Poema epico di forte impatto emotivo. La scrittura 猫 quanto di pi霉 evocativa avessi mai letto, con uno sguardo alla Natura ed a ci貌 che li anima, l'autore (sconosciuto, forse uno alla corte del principe Igor?) ci racconta del viaggio del dolore, di morte e devastazione con grande poetica. Gli animali sono protagonisti preponderanti nello Slovo (il nome russo dell'opera) ed anche le piante, i corsi d'acqua, i fiumi, insomma la Natura tutta.
A rendere la lettura stupenda 猫, anche, l'apparato saggistico e storiografico correlato. L'introduzione, le varie versioni, la storia che sta dietro all'opera, il mistero dell'autore, le note, le illustrazioni... insomma tutto mi ha affascinato, coinvolto e non poco!
Da recuperare!
December 3, 2015
The Song Igor's Campaign can be read in less than 90 minutes and is well worth the effort for anyone who has already familiarized themselves with the conventions of medieval oral epics. If you have read Beowulf you will be prepared for Igor's campaign. If you have read the Song of Roland, you will actually enjoy it.
I read an earnest but flat version in French that I found on WikiSource. I later found the Nabakov version online. I needed to read only a few stanzas to realize that it had dramatically superior literary qualities. I strongly advise GoodReads members to read the Nabakov version.
I read an earnest but flat version in French that I found on WikiSource. I later found the Nabakov version online. I needed to read only a few stanzas to realize that it had dramatically superior literary qualities. I strongly advise GoodReads members to read the Nabakov version.
December 6, 2020
袛褍屑邪褞, 褋邪屑邪褟 懈蟹胁械褋褌薪邪褟 褔邪褋褌褜 "小谢芯胁邪..." - 袩谢邪褔 携褉芯褋谢邪胁薪褘, 薪芯 胁褋褢 锌褉芯懈蟹胁械写械薪懈械 薪邪锌懈褋邪薪芯 泻邪泻 褝锌芯褋 懈 褔懈褌邪械褌褋褟 褋芯芯褌胁械褌褋褌胁械薪薪芯. 袗 褋 XII 胁械泻邪 屑邪谢芯 褔褌芯 懈蟹屑械薪懈谢芯褋褜:
袠薪褌械褉械褋薪芯, 褔褌芯 薪械泻芯褌芯褉褘械 懈褋褌芯褉懈泻懈 懈 谢懈褌械褉邪褌芯褉褘 褋褔懈褌邪褞褌 "小谢芯胁芯..." 锌芯写写械谢泻芯泄, 薪邪锌懈褋邪薪薪芯泄 胁 XVIII 胁械泻械 (锌褉邪胁写邪, 褋褍写褟 锌芯 芯褌蟹褘胁邪屑, 袗. 袗. 袟邪谢懈蟹薪褟泻 懈褏 薪械锌谢芯褏芯 锌褉懈褋褌褉褍薪懈谢 胁 褋胁芯械泄 屑芯薪芯谐褉邪褎懈懈 ). 小褌芯懈褌 锌褉芯褔械褋褌褜.
袠 薪邪褔褟褕邪 泻薪褟蟹懈 锌褉芯 屑邪谢芯械 芦褋械 胁械谢懈泻芯械禄 屑谢褗胁懈褌懈, 懈 褋邪屑懈 薪邪 褋械斜眩 泻褉邪屑芯谢褍 泻芯胁邪褌懈, 邪 锌芯谐邪薪褨懈 褋褗 胁褋眩褏褗 褋褌褉邪薪褗 锌褉懈褏芯卸写邪褏褍 褋褗 锌芯斜眩写邪屑懈 薪邪 蟹械屑谢褞 袪褍褋泻褍褞.
袗 泻薪褟蟹褜褟 写褉褍卸懈薪 薪械 褋芯斜懈褉邪褞褌,
袧械 懈写褍褌 胁芯泄薪芯泄 薪邪 褋褍锌芯褋褌邪褌邪,
袦邪谢芯械 胁械谢懈泻懈屑 薪邪蟹褘胁邪褞褌
袠 泻褍褞褌 泻褉邪屑芯谢褍 斜褉邪褌 薪邪 斜褉邪褌邪.
袗 胁褉邪谐懈 薪邪 袪褍褋褜 薪械褋褍褌褋褟 褌褍褔械泄,
袠 锌芯胁褋褞写褍 斜械写褋褌胁懈械 懈 谐芯褉械.
袠薪褌械褉械褋薪芯, 褔褌芯 薪械泻芯褌芯褉褘械 懈褋褌芯褉懈泻懈 懈 谢懈褌械褉邪褌芯褉褘 褋褔懈褌邪褞褌 "小谢芯胁芯..." 锌芯写写械谢泻芯泄, 薪邪锌懈褋邪薪薪芯泄 胁 XVIII 胁械泻械 (锌褉邪胁写邪, 褋褍写褟 锌芯 芯褌蟹褘胁邪屑, 袗. 袗. 袟邪谢懈蟹薪褟泻 懈褏 薪械锌谢芯褏芯 锌褉懈褋褌褉褍薪懈谢 胁 褋胁芯械泄 屑芯薪芯谐褉邪褎懈懈 ). 小褌芯懈褌 锌褉芯褔械褋褌褜.
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August 3, 2016Vladimir Nabokov's translation of Igor's defeat:
From early morn to eve,
and from eve to dawn,
tempered arrows fly,
sabers resound against helmets,
steel lances crack.
In the field unknown, midst the Kuman land,
the black sod under hooves
was sown with bones
and irrigated with gore.
As grief they came up
throughout the Russian land.
What dins unto me,
what rings unto me?
Early today, before the effulgences,
Igor turns back his troops:
he is anxious about his dear brother Vsevolod.
They fought one day;
they fought another,
on the third, toward noon,
Igor's banners fell.
Here the brothers parted
on the bank of the swift Kayala.
Here was a want of blood-wine;
here the brave sons of Rus
finished the feast -
got their in-laws drunk,
and themselves lay down
in defense of the Russian land.
The grass droops with condolements
and the tree with sorrow
bends to the ground.
For now, brothers, a cheerless tide has set in;
now the wild has covered the strong;
Wrong has risen among the forces
of Dazhbog's grandson;
in the guise of a maiden
[Wrong] has stepped into Troyan's land;
she clapped her swan wings
on the blue sea by the Don,
and clapping, decreased rich times.
From early morn to eve,
and from eve to dawn,
tempered arrows fly,
sabers resound against helmets,
steel lances crack.
In the field unknown, midst the Kuman land,
the black sod under hooves
was sown with bones
and irrigated with gore.
As grief they came up
throughout the Russian land.
What dins unto me,
what rings unto me?
Early today, before the effulgences,
Igor turns back his troops:
he is anxious about his dear brother Vsevolod.
They fought one day;
they fought another,
on the third, toward noon,
Igor's banners fell.
Here the brothers parted
on the bank of the swift Kayala.
Here was a want of blood-wine;
here the brave sons of Rus
finished the feast -
got their in-laws drunk,
and themselves lay down
in defense of the Russian land.
The grass droops with condolements
and the tree with sorrow
bends to the ground.
For now, brothers, a cheerless tide has set in;
now the wild has covered the strong;
Wrong has risen among the forces
of Dazhbog's grandson;
in the guise of a maiden
[Wrong] has stepped into Troyan's land;
she clapped her swan wings
on the blue sea by the Don,
and clapping, decreased rich times.
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October 20, 2022An interesting view of early Rus history and myth, late twelfth century. One of the cultural anchors for Russia's claims to Ukraine, I suppose. Clearly Kiev was the center of the affiliated princes. The names and relationships are so repetitive (Igors, Svyatislavs, Vseslavs,Yaroslavs, Vladimirs,...) that it's hard to keep 300 years of history in the introduction straight.
There is lots of infighting among them; so much that it jeopardizes the Rus defenses against the Polovetsians (nomad raiders) to the south. Igor and his brother and their men ride south to rile things up out of pure cussedness, just after the Rus Grand Prince has finally made peace with the Polovetsians. There is a bad omen, which Igor's men ignore. It doesn't turn out well for them or the Rus. But this happens to be the poem that has survived, so Igor gets the fame. Maybe Putin should have studied this disastrous incursion into Polovetsian territory before he designed the Ukraine strategy.
There is some nice poetry.
And some that conveys the warrior ethos:
Yes, come sacrifice you and your men for a stupid young man's selfish mistakes.
There is lots of infighting among them; so much that it jeopardizes the Rus defenses against the Polovetsians (nomad raiders) to the south. Igor and his brother and their men ride south to rile things up out of pure cussedness, just after the Rus Grand Prince has finally made peace with the Polovetsians. There is a bad omen, which Igor's men ignore. It doesn't turn out well for them or the Rus. But this happens to be the poem that has survived, so Igor gets the fame. Maybe Putin should have studied this disastrous incursion into Polovetsian territory before he designed the Ukraine strategy.
There is some nice poetry.
The grass bows in pity
and the trees, in sorrow,
Bend to the ground.
For now, O brothers, A time of sorrrow has come,
And desolaation covers our troops.
And some that conveys the warrior ethos:
You, wild Ryurik and David!
Is it not your golden helmets
That are floating in blood?
Is it not your brave warriors
Who, wounded by tempered sabres,
Scream like wild oxen on an unknown plain!
Step then, lords, into your golden stirrups,
For the wrong of our times,
For the Russian Land,
For the wounds of Igor,
the wild son of Svyatoslav!
Yes, come sacrifice you and your men for a stupid young man's selfish mistakes.
September 25, 2017
This is one of the more fascinating medieval national epics, if only for the story of its discovery, its destruction in the Moscow fire of 1812 (and survival in flawed copy form), and the debate of its very authenticity. Nabokov translates the prose poem into a lyric that preserves -- and even enhances --
the rhythm of the text (which is present in other prose translations, but much less so than in Nabokov鈥檚 version) and doesn鈥檛 interfere with the sweeping narrative. The result is the kind of narrative poem that reminds one of Pushkin and Lermontov -- probably because the Igor epic was an inspiration for their own work. We can see in this English translation how the epic encapsulates both Russian Romantic poetics and the national cultural themes of invasion, bravery in battle, unity (often through militarism), exile, escape, and redemption.
the rhythm of the text (which is present in other prose translations, but much less so than in Nabokov鈥檚 version) and doesn鈥檛 interfere with the sweeping narrative. The result is the kind of narrative poem that reminds one of Pushkin and Lermontov -- probably because the Igor epic was an inspiration for their own work. We can see in this English translation how the epic encapsulates both Russian Romantic poetics and the national cultural themes of invasion, bravery in battle, unity (often through militarism), exile, escape, and redemption.
January 8, 2017
*Read for class.
January 13, 2024
Reread it for the 3 time for uni, but it鈥檚 still very good
UPDATE:
4th time for my exam which will be on the 19th. Pray for me
UPDATE:
4th time for my exam which will be on the 19th. Pray for me
September 26, 2021
袩褉芯褔褌械薪懈械 褝褌芯谐芯 褝锌芯褋邪 - 屑芯泄 锌褍褌褜 斜谢懈蟹泻芯谐芯 蟹薪邪泻芯屑褋褌胁邪 褋 褉褍褋褋泻芯泄 谢懈褌械褉邪褌褍褉芯泄: 写邪胁薪芯 褏芯褌械谢邪, 写邪胁薪芯 锌芯褉邪. 袙 褕泻芯谢械 褝褌芯 锌褉芯褏芯写懈褌褋褟 芯褔械薪褜 胁褋泻芯谢褜蟹褜 懈 薪械 芯褔械薪褜 写芯褋褌褍锌薪芯 写谢褟 褋芯胁褉械屑械薪薪褘褏 褕泻芯谢褜薪懈泻芯胁.
Short plot recap: 袠谐芯褉褜 懈写褢褌 薪邪 锌芯谢芯胁褑械胁 褋 斜褉邪褌芯屑 懈 褋褘薪芯屑 (褔褌芯斜褘 锌褉懈胁械褋褌懈 写芯屑芯泄 蟹芯谢芯褌邪 懈 斜邪斜), 褋薪邪褔邪谢邪 谢褢谐泻邪褟 锌芯斜械写邪 薪械蟹薪邪褔懈褌械谢褜薪芯谐芯 泻芯谢懈褔械褋褌胁邪 褝褌懈褏 褋邪屑褘褏 锌芯谢芯胁褑械胁, 薪芯 胁褋泻芯褉械 懈 褋械褉褜褢蟹薪芯械 锌芯褉邪卸械薪懈械 ( 褋褘薪 懈 (胁芯蟹屑芯卸薪芯) 斜褉邪褌 袠谐芯褉褟 褍斜懈褌褘, 袠谐芯褉褜 卸械 褋邪屑 胁蟹褟褌 胁 锌谢械薪. 袝谐芯 芯褌械褑, 小胁褟褌芯褋谢邪胁, 锌褉芯蟹薪邪胁 芯斜 褝褌芯屑, 谐薪械胁邪械褌褋褟 懈 褋芯芯斜褖邪械褌 锌邪褋褋懈懈 袠谐芯褉褟 芯斜 褝褌芯屑, 携褉芯褋谢邪胁薪邪 锌谢邪褔械褌 锌芯 袠谐芯褉褞 懈 , 褋芯斜褋褌胁械薪薪芯, 写芯 薪械谐芯 写芯褏芯写懈褌 械褢 锌谢邪褔. 袙 "蟹邪褌芯褔械薪懈懈" 褋 袠谐芯褉械屑 芯斜褏芯写懈谢懈褋褜 芯褔械薪褜 写芯褋褌芯泄薪芯: 锌芯谢芯胁褑褘 褏芯褌械谢懈 袠谐芯褉褟 卸械薪懈褌褜 薪邪 褋胁芯械泄, 薪芯 芯薪 胁褋褢 芯褌泻邪蟹褘胁邪谢褋褟, 邪 , 锌褉芯褋谢褘褕邪胁 锌褉芯 锌谢邪褔 褋胁芯械泄 谢褞斜懈屑芯泄, 懈 胁芯胁褋械 褋屑芯谐 褍斜械卸邪褌褜 褋 锌芯屑芯褖褜褞 褋芯芯斜褖薪懈泻邪. 袙 泻芯薪褑械 写邪褢褌褋褟 胁械谢懈褔械褋褌胁械薪薪芯械 胁芯褋褏胁邪谢械薪懈械 袠谐芯褉褟 懈 械谐芯 胁芯懈薪芯胁)
孝邪泻 胁芯褌, 褌褍褌 屑薪芯谐芯 屑械褌邪褎芯褉, 褝锌懈褌械褌芯胁, 芯谢懈褑械褌胁芯褉械薪懈泄 懈 懈薪芯褋泻邪蟹邪薪懈泄, 褔褌芯 芯褔械薪褜 谢褞斜芯锌褘褌薪芯 写谢褟 (屑械卸写褍 锌褉芯褔懈屑) 1185 谐芯写邪, 褋泻芯褉械泄 胁褋械谐芯 褝锌芯褋 斜褘谢 薪邪锌懈褋邪薪 袣懈械胁褋泻懈屑 屑芯薪邪褏芯屑, 泻芯褌芯褉褘泄 褏芯褌械谢 薪械屑薪芯谐芯 锌褉懈褍泻褉邪褋懈褌褜 懈 褉邪蟹薪芯芯斜褉邪蟹懈褌褜 褝褌芯褌 褋褞卸械褌!
袧械锌谢芯褏芯, 袛褉械胁薪褟褟 袪褍褋褜, 芯褔械薪褜 写邪卸械 薪械锌谢芯褏芯)
效械屑褍 屑芯卸薪芯 薪邪褍褔懈褌褜褋褟: 1) 锌芯褋谢械 胁褋械褏 械谐芯 锌褉懈泻谢褞褔械薪懈泄, 袠谐芯褉褜 锌械褉械褋褌邪褢褌 斜褘褌褜 褟蟹褘褔薪懈泻芯屑 懈 褋褌邪薪芯胁懈褌褋褟 锌褉邪胁芯褋谢邪胁薪褘屑.2) 袝褋谢懈 褋芯斜褉邪谢褋褟 懈写褌懈 胁 锌芯褏芯写 锌褉芯褌懈胁 泻芯谐芯-谢懈斜芯, 褋薪邪褔邪谢邪 褋锌褉芯褋懈 褋芯胁械褌邪 (懈 褉邪蟹褉械褕械薪懈褟) 褍 斜谢懈卸薪械谐芯 褋胁芯械谐芯. 3) 褝褌芯 薪邪褕 芯褌胁械褌 "袘械芯褎褍谢褜褎褍".
Short plot recap: 袠谐芯褉褜 懈写褢褌 薪邪 锌芯谢芯胁褑械胁 褋 斜褉邪褌芯屑 懈 褋褘薪芯屑 (褔褌芯斜褘 锌褉懈胁械褋褌懈 写芯屑芯泄 蟹芯谢芯褌邪 懈 斜邪斜), 褋薪邪褔邪谢邪 谢褢谐泻邪褟 锌芯斜械写邪 薪械蟹薪邪褔懈褌械谢褜薪芯谐芯 泻芯谢懈褔械褋褌胁邪 褝褌懈褏 褋邪屑褘褏 锌芯谢芯胁褑械胁, 薪芯 胁褋泻芯褉械 懈 褋械褉褜褢蟹薪芯械 锌芯褉邪卸械薪懈械 ( 褋褘薪 懈 (胁芯蟹屑芯卸薪芯) 斜褉邪褌 袠谐芯褉褟 褍斜懈褌褘, 袠谐芯褉褜 卸械 褋邪屑 胁蟹褟褌 胁 锌谢械薪. 袝谐芯 芯褌械褑, 小胁褟褌芯褋谢邪胁, 锌褉芯蟹薪邪胁 芯斜 褝褌芯屑, 谐薪械胁邪械褌褋褟 懈 褋芯芯斜褖邪械褌 锌邪褋褋懈懈 袠谐芯褉褟 芯斜 褝褌芯屑, 携褉芯褋谢邪胁薪邪 锌谢邪褔械褌 锌芯 袠谐芯褉褞 懈 , 褋芯斜褋褌胁械薪薪芯, 写芯 薪械谐芯 写芯褏芯写懈褌 械褢 锌谢邪褔. 袙 "蟹邪褌芯褔械薪懈懈" 褋 袠谐芯褉械屑 芯斜褏芯写懈谢懈褋褜 芯褔械薪褜 写芯褋褌芯泄薪芯: 锌芯谢芯胁褑褘 褏芯褌械谢懈 袠谐芯褉褟 卸械薪懈褌褜 薪邪 褋胁芯械泄, 薪芯 芯薪 胁褋褢 芯褌泻邪蟹褘胁邪谢褋褟, 邪 , 锌褉芯褋谢褘褕邪胁 锌褉芯 锌谢邪褔 褋胁芯械泄 谢褞斜懈屑芯泄, 懈 胁芯胁褋械 褋屑芯谐 褍斜械卸邪褌褜 褋 锌芯屑芯褖褜褞 褋芯芯斜褖薪懈泻邪. 袙 泻芯薪褑械 写邪褢褌褋褟 胁械谢懈褔械褋褌胁械薪薪芯械 胁芯褋褏胁邪谢械薪懈械 袠谐芯褉褟 懈 械谐芯 胁芯懈薪芯胁)
孝邪泻 胁芯褌, 褌褍褌 屑薪芯谐芯 屑械褌邪褎芯褉, 褝锌懈褌械褌芯胁, 芯谢懈褑械褌胁芯褉械薪懈泄 懈 懈薪芯褋泻邪蟹邪薪懈泄, 褔褌芯 芯褔械薪褜 谢褞斜芯锌褘褌薪芯 写谢褟 (屑械卸写褍 锌褉芯褔懈屑) 1185 谐芯写邪, 褋泻芯褉械泄 胁褋械谐芯 褝锌芯褋 斜褘谢 薪邪锌懈褋邪薪 袣懈械胁褋泻懈屑 屑芯薪邪褏芯屑, 泻芯褌芯褉褘泄 褏芯褌械谢 薪械屑薪芯谐芯 锌褉懈褍泻褉邪褋懈褌褜 懈 褉邪蟹薪芯芯斜褉邪蟹懈褌褜 褝褌芯褌 褋褞卸械褌!
袧械锌谢芯褏芯, 袛褉械胁薪褟褟 袪褍褋褜, 芯褔械薪褜 写邪卸械 薪械锌谢芯褏芯)
效械屑褍 屑芯卸薪芯 薪邪褍褔懈褌褜褋褟: 1) 锌芯褋谢械 胁褋械褏 械谐芯 锌褉懈泻谢褞褔械薪懈泄, 袠谐芯褉褜 锌械褉械褋褌邪褢褌 斜褘褌褜 褟蟹褘褔薪懈泻芯屑 懈 褋褌邪薪芯胁懈褌褋褟 锌褉邪胁芯褋谢邪胁薪褘屑.2) 袝褋谢懈 褋芯斜褉邪谢褋褟 懈写褌懈 胁 锌芯褏芯写 锌褉芯褌懈胁 泻芯谐芯-谢懈斜芯, 褋薪邪褔邪谢邪 褋锌褉芯褋懈 褋芯胁械褌邪 (懈 褉邪蟹褉械褕械薪懈褟) 褍 斜谢懈卸薪械谐芯 褋胁芯械谐芯. 3) 褝褌芯 薪邪褕 芯褌胁械褌 "袘械芯褎褍谢褜褎褍".
January 18, 2024
袛械泄褋褌胁懈褟 - 2%, 斜芯谢褌芯胁薪懈 懈 锌邪褌褉懈芯褌懈蟹屑邪 - 98%!!!!!
-袩芯谢褍褔懈谢邪褋褜 芯褔械薪褜 褋褌褉邪薪薪邪褟 写邪卸械 锌芯 屑械褉泻邪屑 褝锌懈褔薪芯-褋褉械写薪械胁械泻芯胁芯泄 谢懈褌械褉邪褌褍褉褘 泻薪懈卸泻邪,-锌芯写褍屑邪谢 褟, 写芯 褌芯谐芯 泻邪泻 锌褉芯褔懈褌邪谢 锌褉懈谢芯卸械薪懈褟, 锌芯褟褋薪械薪懈褟 懈 锌褉芯褔懈械 锌褉懈屑械褔邪薪懈褟 (邪 懈褏 褌褍褌 芯谐芯-谐芯 褋泻芯谢褜泻芯!!!!!). 袠 胁褘褟褋薪懈谢芯褋褜, 褔褌芯 写褉械胁薪械褉褍褋褋泻邪褟 谢懈褌械褉邪褌褍褉邪 胁褋褟 芯褋薪芯胁邪薪邪 薪邪 锌褉懈薪褑懈锌械 懈褋褌芯褉懈蟹屑邪, 褌.械. 锌懈褋邪谢懈 孝袨袥鞋袣袨 芯 褉械邪谢褜薪褘褏 懈褋褌芯褉懈褔械褋泻懈褏 褋芯斜褘褌懈褟褏 懈, 褋芯芯褌胁械褌褋褌胁械薪薪芯, 褉械邪谢褜薪褘褏 谢褞写褟褏 褋 薪械泻芯褌芯褉褘屑懈 褏褍写芯卸械褋褌胁械薪薪褘屑懈 写芯斜邪胁谢械薪懈褟屑懈!!!! 小褌邪谢芯 褋褌褉邪褕薪芯 懈 芯褔械薪褜 锌械褔邪谢褜薪芯, 薪芯 锌褉懈 褝褌芯屑 锌芯薪褟褌薪芯 芯褌泻褍写邪 胁蟹褟谢褋褟 胁械褋褜 褝褌芯褌 芯谐芯谢褌械谢褘泄 泻胁邪褋薪芯泄 褉褍褋褋泻懈泄 锌邪褌褉懈芯褌懈蟹屑 (泻邪泻邪褟 懈褉芯薪懈褟 - 褋邪屑芯 褋谢芯胁芯 "锌邪褌褉懈芯褌懈蟹屑" 薪械褉褍褋褋泻芯械!!!).
-袩芯谢褍褔懈谢邪褋褜 芯褔械薪褜 褋褌褉邪薪薪邪褟 写邪卸械 锌芯 屑械褉泻邪屑 褝锌懈褔薪芯-褋褉械写薪械胁械泻芯胁芯泄 谢懈褌械褉邪褌褍褉褘 泻薪懈卸泻邪,-锌芯写褍屑邪谢 褟, 写芯 褌芯谐芯 泻邪泻 锌褉芯褔懈褌邪谢 锌褉懈谢芯卸械薪懈褟, 锌芯褟褋薪械薪懈褟 懈 锌褉芯褔懈械 锌褉懈屑械褔邪薪懈褟 (邪 懈褏 褌褍褌 芯谐芯-谐芯 褋泻芯谢褜泻芯!!!!!). 袠 胁褘褟褋薪懈谢芯褋褜, 褔褌芯 写褉械胁薪械褉褍褋褋泻邪褟 谢懈褌械褉邪褌褍褉邪 胁褋褟 芯褋薪芯胁邪薪邪 薪邪 锌褉懈薪褑懈锌械 懈褋褌芯褉懈蟹屑邪, 褌.械. 锌懈褋邪谢懈 孝袨袥鞋袣袨 芯 褉械邪谢褜薪褘褏 懈褋褌芯褉懈褔械褋泻懈褏 褋芯斜褘褌懈褟褏 懈, 褋芯芯褌胁械褌褋褌胁械薪薪芯, 褉械邪谢褜薪褘褏 谢褞写褟褏 褋 薪械泻芯褌芯褉褘屑懈 褏褍写芯卸械褋褌胁械薪薪褘屑懈 写芯斜邪胁谢械薪懈褟屑懈!!!! 小褌邪谢芯 褋褌褉邪褕薪芯 懈 芯褔械薪褜 锌械褔邪谢褜薪芯, 薪芯 锌褉懈 褝褌芯屑 锌芯薪褟褌薪芯 芯褌泻褍写邪 胁蟹褟谢褋褟 胁械褋褜 褝褌芯褌 芯谐芯谢褌械谢褘泄 泻胁邪褋薪芯泄 褉褍褋褋泻懈泄 锌邪褌褉懈芯褌懈蟹屑 (泻邪泻邪褟 懈褉芯薪懈褟 - 褋邪屑芯 褋谢芯胁芯 "锌邪褌褉懈芯褌懈蟹屑" 薪械褉褍褋褋泻芯械!!!).
July 9, 2022
小谢褍褕邪谢懈 褋 协屑懈谢懈械泄 胁 屑邪褕懈薪械. 袗褍写懈芯 泻薪懈谐邪, 懈蟹 褋械褉懈懈 "袞懈胁邪褟 泻谢邪褋懈泻邪".
袧械 写褍屑邪褞, 褔褌芯 褟 屑芯谐 斜褘 锌褉芯褔懈褌邪褌褜 褝褌芯褌 褌械泻褋褌 褋邪屑芯褋褌芯褟褌械谢褜薪芯.
袩芯薪褟褌薪芯, 褔褌芯 小谢芯胁芯 屑褘 懈蟹褍褔邪谢懈 泻芯谐写邪-褌芯 胁 褕泻芯谢械, 写谢褟 屑械薪褟 褝褌芯 锌芯褔褌懈 锌芯谢 胁械泻邪 薪邪蟹邪写.
袩芯薪褟褌薪芯, 褔褌芯 褔褌芯-褌芯 褟 锌芯屑薪懈谢, 芯褋芯斜械薪薪芯 褎褉邪蟹褍 "褉邪褋褌械泻邪褕懈褌褋褟 屑褘褋谢褜褞 锌芯 写褉械胁褍", 邪 胁芯褌 锌谢邪褔 携褉芯褋谢邪胁薪褘 屑褘 写邪卸械 蟹邪褍褔懈胁邪谢懈 ...
小邪屑芯 锌褉芯懈蟹胁械写械薪懈械 锌褉芯锌懈褌邪薪薪芯 薪邪褑懈芯薪邪谢懈蟹屑芯屑 懈 屑懈谢懈褌邪褉懈蟹屑芯屑, 锌芯薪褟褌薪芯, 褔褌芯 褝褌芯 写褍褏 褌芯谐芯 胁褉械屑械薪懈, 懈 薪懈泻芯谐芯 薪械 懈薪褌械褉械褋芯胁邪谢芯 褌芯 泻芯谢懈褔械褋褌胁芯 褋谢芯卸械薪薪褘褏 谐芯谢芯胁, 泻芯褌芯褉芯械 锌褉懈胁械谢芯 泻薪褟蟹褟 袠谐芯褉褟 泻 锌芯斜械写械, 褌邪 泻褉芯胁褜, 锌褉芯谢懈褌邪褟 褉褍褋褋泻懈屑懈 屑芯谢芯写褘屑懈 谢褞写褜屑懈, 泻芯褌芯褉芯泄 蟹邪谢懈谢懈 锌芯谢械 斜芯褟.
袧械 写褍屑邪褞, 褔褌芯 褟 屑芯谐 斜褘 锌褉芯褔懈褌邪褌褜 褝褌芯褌 褌械泻褋褌 褋邪屑芯褋褌芯褟褌械谢褜薪芯.
袩芯薪褟褌薪芯, 褔褌芯 小谢芯胁芯 屑褘 懈蟹褍褔邪谢懈 泻芯谐写邪-褌芯 胁 褕泻芯谢械, 写谢褟 屑械薪褟 褝褌芯 锌芯褔褌懈 锌芯谢 胁械泻邪 薪邪蟹邪写.
袩芯薪褟褌薪芯, 褔褌芯 褔褌芯-褌芯 褟 锌芯屑薪懈谢, 芯褋芯斜械薪薪芯 褎褉邪蟹褍 "褉邪褋褌械泻邪褕懈褌褋褟 屑褘褋谢褜褞 锌芯 写褉械胁褍", 邪 胁芯褌 锌谢邪褔 携褉芯褋谢邪胁薪褘 屑褘 写邪卸械 蟹邪褍褔懈胁邪谢懈 ...
小邪屑芯 锌褉芯懈蟹胁械写械薪懈械 锌褉芯锌懈褌邪薪薪芯 薪邪褑懈芯薪邪谢懈蟹屑芯屑 懈 屑懈谢懈褌邪褉懈蟹屑芯屑, 锌芯薪褟褌薪芯, 褔褌芯 褝褌芯 写褍褏 褌芯谐芯 胁褉械屑械薪懈, 懈 薪懈泻芯谐芯 薪械 懈薪褌械褉械褋芯胁邪谢芯 褌芯 泻芯谢懈褔械褋褌胁芯 褋谢芯卸械薪薪褘褏 谐芯谢芯胁, 泻芯褌芯褉芯械 锌褉懈胁械谢芯 泻薪褟蟹褟 袠谐芯褉褟 泻 锌芯斜械写械, 褌邪 泻褉芯胁褜, 锌褉芯谢懈褌邪褟 褉褍褋褋泻懈屑懈 屑芯谢芯写褘屑懈 谢褞写褜屑懈, 泻芯褌芯褉芯泄 蟹邪谢懈谢懈 锌芯谢械 斜芯褟.
August 28, 2010
Nabokov is typically self-deprecating regarding his talents as a translator and a poet, but this "unreadable" poem is actually quite readble indeed. I don't agree with him that it is among the best medieval poems, but it is an interesting historical document and Nabokov's historical and poetical notes make interesting reading.
June 2, 2023
An epic in which the battle is lost. A national identity tied to cycles of invasion and reclamation.
March 9, 2021
Fortunately, we Armenians have an epic poem (Daredevils of Sassoun) as well. The value of an epic poem is not only in literature. It is about the traditions, history and ethnic origin of the nation. However, while locals can easily follow each line of their epic poem, foreigners may find it a little odd and difficult to understand.
The same is with 'The Song of Igor's Campaign'.
Undoubtedly, the role of this poem in Russia is very high, especially among the younger generation. It reveals the beauty of the old Slavic language, illustrates the national spirit and contributes to Russian literature.
The same is with 'The Song of Igor's Campaign'.
Undoubtedly, the role of this poem in Russia is very high, especially among the younger generation. It reveals the beauty of the old Slavic language, illustrates the national spirit and contributes to Russian literature.
August 23, 2021
O 茅pico da R煤ssia medieval. Muito interessante e complementado por uma extensa e did谩tica introdu莽茫o.
October 11, 2023
携泻邪褋褜 褎褨谐薪褟
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October 11, 2023WHEN I CATCH YOU FLLS RUS膫 A LITERATUR膫 葮I CULTUR膫
April 14, 2025
I really enjoyed this. As far as medieval poetry goes, it鈥檚 hard to find anything from closer to Eastern Europe. This was a delight to find, and it was quite refreshing to read after reading Medieval English poets (screaming).
I really enjoyed his translation!!!
I really enjoyed his translation!!!
November 26, 2022
携泻褖芯 褏芯褔械褌械 褉芯蟹褨斜褉邪褌懈褋褟 胁 褔懈褋谢械薪薪懈褏 袉谐芯褉褟褏, 袨谢械谐邪褏 褨 小胁褟褌芯褋谢邪胁邪褏 - 锌芯褋谢褍褏邪泄褌械 锌芯写泻邪褋褌 袩械褉械肖邪褉斜芯胁邪薪懈泄 谢懈褋 锌褉芯 褑械泄 褌胁褨褉
December 12, 2022
袣芯谐写邪 锌械褉褘泄 斜谢懈薪 - 泻芯屑芯屑.
December 1, 2022
效褌芯 锌褉芯褔懈褌邪谢邪...锌芯泄写褍 褏芯褌褜 胁械斜懈薪邪褉 锌芯褋屑芯褌褉褞
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袩褉芯褔懈褌邪谢邪 胁褌芯褉芯泄 褉邪蟹 懈, 泻芯薪械褔薪芯, 锌芯薪褉邪胁懈谢芯褋褜 泻褍写邪 斜芯谢褜褕械. 袦芯卸械褌, 褉褍泻懈 写芯泄写褍褌 芯褌蟹褘胁 薪邪锌懈褋邪褌褜 泻芯谐写邪 薪懈斜褍写褜 鉁笍鉁笍
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袩褉芯褔懈褌邪谢邪 胁褌芯褉芯泄 褉邪蟹 懈, 泻芯薪械褔薪芯, 锌芯薪褉邪胁懈谢芯褋褜 泻褍写邪 斜芯谢褜褕械. 袦芯卸械褌, 褉褍泻懈 写芯泄写褍褌 芯褌蟹褘胁 薪邪锌懈褋邪褌褜 泻芯谐写邪 薪懈斜褍写褜 鉁笍鉁笍
February 22, 2022
I don't like many epics, but this one I especially did not like. The only interesting thing I can say about it is that the frequent references to Kyiv in the epic help me understand why Putin wants to invade Ukraine.
September 17, 2017
This epic poem, written anonymously in the twelfth century, is a classic of Russian literature and recounts the battles between Prince Igor and the Polovetsians. It is in some ways a tragedy. Because of my lack of understanding of this time period in Russian history, I become confused at a number of points. That said, there are some ringing lines:
鈥淎nd the Polovetsians by untrod paths
Flee to the Great Don;
Their cars screech at midnight
Like, say, a flock of startles swans.
Igor leads his troops towards the Don;
Like a mother bird he keeps them from harm;
Like wolves they court danger in the ravines,
Like eagles screaming over the bones of dead animals;
The foxes make their way behind red shields.鈥� (32)
鈥淣ow shame has replaced glory
And thundering violence has stunned freedom;
Div has plunged to earth.
And, lo, the beautiful Gothic madens
Are singing on the shore of the Blue Sea:
Jingling their ornaments of Russian gold,鈥� (40)
If you find yourself drawn to medieval or epic poems, or are a student of Russian history, I鈥檓 sure you will find this poem fascinating.
See my other reviews here!
鈥淎nd the Polovetsians by untrod paths
Flee to the Great Don;
Their cars screech at midnight
Like, say, a flock of startles swans.
Igor leads his troops towards the Don;
Like a mother bird he keeps them from harm;
Like wolves they court danger in the ravines,
Like eagles screaming over the bones of dead animals;
The foxes make their way behind red shields.鈥� (32)
鈥淣ow shame has replaced glory
And thundering violence has stunned freedom;
Div has plunged to earth.
And, lo, the beautiful Gothic madens
Are singing on the shore of the Blue Sea:
Jingling their ornaments of Russian gold,鈥� (40)
If you find yourself drawn to medieval or epic poems, or are a student of Russian history, I鈥檓 sure you will find this poem fascinating.
See my other reviews here!
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April 15, 2023斜褘谢芯 懈薪褌械褉械褋薪芯 锌芯蟹薪邪泻芯屑懈褌褜褋褟 褋芯 小谢芯胁芯屑 泻邪泻 褋 邪褉褌械褎邪泻褌芯屑 懈褋褌芯褉懈懈, 薪芯 褍卸 芯褔械薪褜 斜芯谢褜薪芯 褋械泄褔邪褋 械谐芯 褔懈褌邪褌褜 胁 泻芯薪褌械泻褋褌械 胁芯械薪薪芯谐芯 胁褉械屑械薪懈, 泻芯谐写邪 褌邪屑, 锌褍褋褌褜 懈 胁 芯褌写邪谢械薪薪芯屑 芯褌 薪邪褋 胁褉械屑械薪懈 懈 泻芯薪褌械泻褋褌械, 褉邪褋锌械胁邪械褌褋褟 泻褍谢褜褌 锌褉邪胁懈褌械谢褟 懈 泻褍谢褜褌 胁芯泄薪褘
小谢芯胁芯 小懈写邪 胁 邪薪谐谢懈泄褋泻芯泄 谢懈褌械褉邪褌褍褉械 芯斜谢邪卸邪械褌 锌芯褏芯卸懈屑 胁械褋芯屑; 薪械 蟹薪邪褞 泻邪泻 械谐芯 锌褉械锌芯写邪褞褌 薪邪 孝褍屑邪薪薪芯屑 袗谢褜斜懈芯薪械 褋械泄褔邪褋, 薪芯 胁芯褌 褟 斜褘 芯褔 褏芯褌械谢, 褔褌芯斜褘 薪邪褕懈 锌芯褋谢械写褍褞褖懈械 锌芯泻芯谢械薪懈褟 薪械 锌褉芯锌懈褌褘胁邪谢懈褋褜 写褍褏芯屑 "袨薪懈 褋褉邪卸邪谢懈褋褜 蟹邪 褉芯写懈薪褍"
小谢芯胁芯 小懈写邪 胁 邪薪谐谢懈泄褋泻芯泄 谢懈褌械褉邪褌褍褉械 芯斜谢邪卸邪械褌 锌芯褏芯卸懈屑 胁械褋芯屑; 薪械 蟹薪邪褞 泻邪泻 械谐芯 锌褉械锌芯写邪褞褌 薪邪 孝褍屑邪薪薪芯屑 袗谢褜斜懈芯薪械 褋械泄褔邪褋, 薪芯 胁芯褌 褟 斜褘 芯褔 褏芯褌械谢, 褔褌芯斜褘 薪邪褕懈 锌芯褋谢械写褍褞褖懈械 锌芯泻芯谢械薪懈褟 薪械 锌褉芯锌懈褌褘胁邪谢懈褋褜 写褍褏芯屑 "袨薪懈 褋褉邪卸邪谢懈褋褜 蟹邪 褉芯写懈薪褍"
June 16, 2018
This is admittedly a bit dry, and there is a reason, I think, that poets very rarely in modern times write 100+ page epic poems. But I also think it's an important historical piece for poets to read to get a perspective of this style. It's also good source material to use for implementing storytelling and myth elements into modern poetry.
March 20, 2022
--1.5 stars rounded up--
This epic poem, written by an unknown author in the 1100's, is one of the oldest surviving works of Russian literature, and the Russian equivalent of Beowulf or The Song Of Roland. It describes a failed campaign led by Igor, a Kievan Rus' prince (Kievan Rus was a loose federation of peoples in the region now made up of Belarus, Ukraine and Western Russia), against nomadic, pagan tribes known as the Kumans. Like many poems of the era, it survived through oral tradition for many years before being lost and then, almost miraculously, found again in written form. This led many to doubt its authenticity in the years following the discovery, however, it's widely accepted to be the real deal nowadays. Luckily, a copy was made of this written version (for Catherine the Great) just a few years before the 1812 Fire of Moscow destroyed the original copy.
SPOILERS
As for the largely-factual plot, in short, the Kumans have been raiding Russian villages. In a quest for personal glory, Igor hastily charges into battle without really thinking things through, ignoring the various warnings from nature that he is biting off more than he can chew (the howling of wolves, the cawing of birds seen as bad omens, etc.). Things start off well but on the third day of fighting, Igor is captured. After a period of time (I think it was a year), he escapes and returns home, a bit of a hero.
One thing I like about the poem is that the author makes a point of drawing attention to the fact that Igor's decisions were a bit silly really, and got other people killed. The presence of nature throughout is notable, as is the author's plea that the various warring princes in the region unite and start working together against their common enemies, like the Kumans (or the Mongols, who soon went onto conquer the divided region). There was some nice imagery and it was interesting to read such an old text from this part of the world. Additionally, regarding the translation, while I haven't read any others, I can't imagine anyone has done it better than Nabokov.
As for the downsides, aside from the points mentioned in the previous paragraph, I just found it all a bit dull. Of course, with poetry there is always a certain amount lost in translation, and with any work as old as this, there is also a lot being lost in the cultural meanings of things. Still, I felt with this good translation, its extensive notes and a bit of patience, I was able to get a fairly good sense of the work overall - it just wasn't really for me. However, I don't regret reading it and am glad to know about it as a point of reference while reading more recent Russian literature in the future.
This epic poem, written by an unknown author in the 1100's, is one of the oldest surviving works of Russian literature, and the Russian equivalent of Beowulf or The Song Of Roland. It describes a failed campaign led by Igor, a Kievan Rus' prince (Kievan Rus was a loose federation of peoples in the region now made up of Belarus, Ukraine and Western Russia), against nomadic, pagan tribes known as the Kumans. Like many poems of the era, it survived through oral tradition for many years before being lost and then, almost miraculously, found again in written form. This led many to doubt its authenticity in the years following the discovery, however, it's widely accepted to be the real deal nowadays. Luckily, a copy was made of this written version (for Catherine the Great) just a few years before the 1812 Fire of Moscow destroyed the original copy.
SPOILERS
As for the largely-factual plot, in short, the Kumans have been raiding Russian villages. In a quest for personal glory, Igor hastily charges into battle without really thinking things through, ignoring the various warnings from nature that he is biting off more than he can chew (the howling of wolves, the cawing of birds seen as bad omens, etc.). Things start off well but on the third day of fighting, Igor is captured. After a period of time (I think it was a year), he escapes and returns home, a bit of a hero.
One thing I like about the poem is that the author makes a point of drawing attention to the fact that Igor's decisions were a bit silly really, and got other people killed. The presence of nature throughout is notable, as is the author's plea that the various warring princes in the region unite and start working together against their common enemies, like the Kumans (or the Mongols, who soon went onto conquer the divided region). There was some nice imagery and it was interesting to read such an old text from this part of the world. Additionally, regarding the translation, while I haven't read any others, I can't imagine anyone has done it better than Nabokov.
As for the downsides, aside from the points mentioned in the previous paragraph, I just found it all a bit dull. Of course, with poetry there is always a certain amount lost in translation, and with any work as old as this, there is also a lot being lost in the cultural meanings of things. Still, I felt with this good translation, its extensive notes and a bit of patience, I was able to get a fairly good sense of the work overall - it just wasn't really for me. However, I don't regret reading it and am glad to know about it as a point of reference while reading more recent Russian literature in the future.
Read
November 13, 2022The edition I used was Nabokov's lovingly rendered 1960 translation. I found this both readable and at times very beautiful. As a text on its own, it is a simple tale of warmongering, failure, capture, and the return home. I found the singular focus on a historical figure who, as Nabokov himself notes, 'history remembers ... as an insignificant, shifty and pugnacious prince,' with whom the unknown original poet has 'greatly magnified [the events of the story]' to be fascinating: most long narrative poems focussed on conquest and valour are ready to sing praises of heroic, intelligent, if sometimes tragic figures. Even if heroes of epic poems do fail, or meet their deaths, they are oft portrayed with a sense of otherworldly strength or intelligence regardless: in particular I am thinking of Beowulf, who is I suppose our closest chronological compatriot to Igor (the poem having been written sometime in the late 1180s). So Igor is quite different, and I was quite taken aback by the idea that the poem hinged on the hero's failure in battle.
I am not well versed in twelfth century Slavic poetry. As such, the true prize of this book lies in the foreword and commentary provided by Nabokov himself, what with his usual wry, often hilarious asides, notes, and observations. He somehow manages to write with the augustness of a learned literary individual, but with the frankness and good nature of a friend who is sincerely sharing his obsession with you.
Like the commentary to Eugene Onegin, I found these observations to be a helpful preparatory guide to the poeticism and prosody. If anything, he is much more judicious here than with Onegin: I read the entirety of the foreword, almost 900 lines of poetry, and accompanying end notes in less than a day. It's certainly a short poem, but Nabokov's brevity here is unmistakably key: he swiftly lays the groundwork for you and accompanies you through the very journey, pointing out areas of interest along the way. His personality shines through here, as well. For example, with regards to one particular confusing stanza, he readily admits in the endnotes, 'The passage is very muddled in the text. This is the best I can do.'
I am not well versed in twelfth century Slavic poetry. As such, the true prize of this book lies in the foreword and commentary provided by Nabokov himself, what with his usual wry, often hilarious asides, notes, and observations. He somehow manages to write with the augustness of a learned literary individual, but with the frankness and good nature of a friend who is sincerely sharing his obsession with you.
Like the commentary to Eugene Onegin, I found these observations to be a helpful preparatory guide to the poeticism and prosody. If anything, he is much more judicious here than with Onegin: I read the entirety of the foreword, almost 900 lines of poetry, and accompanying end notes in less than a day. It's certainly a short poem, but Nabokov's brevity here is unmistakably key: he swiftly lays the groundwork for you and accompanies you through the very journey, pointing out areas of interest along the way. His personality shines through here, as well. For example, with regards to one particular confusing stanza, he readily admits in the endnotes, 'The passage is very muddled in the text. This is the best I can do.'
November 18, 2022
袙褉械屑褟 褔褌械薪懈褟: 30 屑懈薪褍褌
协褌芯 褋邪屑褘械 锌械褔邪谢褜薪褘械 懈 锌芯谢薪芯褋褌褜褞 蟹邪斜褘褌褘械 胁褉械屑械薪薪褘械 褉邪屑泻懈 褔褌械薪懈褟. 袛邪, 褟 薪械 锌芯屑薪褞 屑薪芯谐芯谐芯, 薪芯 褔褌芯-褌芯 褋械泄褔邪褋 锌芯锌褘褌邪褞褋褜 褉邪褋褋泻邪蟹邪褌褜.
""小谢芯胁芯 锌褉芯 锌芯褏褨写 袉谐芯褉褨胁" - 谐械褉芯褩褔薪邪 锌芯械屑邪, 褖芯 芯锌懈褋褍褦 锌芯写褨褩 1185 褉芯泻褍, 邪 褋邪屑械 薪械胁写邪谢懈泄 锌芯褏褨写 泻薪褟蟹褟 袉谐芯褉褟 锌褉芯褌懈 锌芯谢芯胁褑褨胁. 袛芯 褉械褔褨, 褔懈 蟹薪邪褦褌械 胁懈, 褖芯 屑芯胁邪 泄写械 锌褉芯 褔芯谢芯胁褨泻邪 携褉芯褋谢邪胁薪懈, 邪 薪械 泻薪褟谐懈薪褨 袨谢褜谐懈? 携褉芯褋谢邪胁薪邪 - 锌械褉褕懈泄 卸褨薪芯褔懈泄 芯斜褉邪蟹 胁 褍泻褉邪褩薪褋褜泻褨泄 谢褨褌械褉邪褌褍褉褨. 袧械 屑芯卸褍 褋泻邪蟹邪褌懈, 褖芯 褟 胁 蟹邪褏芯锌谢械薪薪褨 胁褨写 褌胁芯褉褍, 褌邪 蟹薪邪褞 薪邪锌械胁薪械 - 薪械 蟹薪邪褌懈 锌褉芯 褑械泄 褌胁褨褉 薪械 屑芯卸薪邪. 笑械 薪邪褕邪 褨褋褌芯褉褨褟. 效芯谐芯 胁邪褉褌褍褦 "蟹芯谢芯褌械 褋谢芯胁芯" 小胁褟褌芯褋谢邪胁邪, 蟹胁械褉薪械薪械 写芯 褋胁芯褩褏 褋懈薪褨胁. 袩邪屑'褟褌邪泄屑芯 锌褉芯 泻谢邪褋懈泻褍 - 褋邪屑械 褌邪泻邪 谢褨褌械褉邪褌褍褉邪 斜褍写械 邪泻褌褍邪谢褜薪芯褞 蟹邪胁卸写懈. "
袠屑械薪薪芯 褝褌芯 薪邪锌懈褋邪谢邪 (懈谢懈 锌褉芯褋褌芯 褋泻芯锌懈褉芯胁邪谢邪 褋 懈薪褌械褉薪械褌邪, 懈斜芯 锌褉械卸写械 褌邪泻芯械 卸械 胁懈写械谢邪 薪邪 写褉褍谐芯屑 褋邪泄褌械) BonesChapatti . 袧械褋屑芯褌褉褟 薪邪 褝褌懈 褋谢芯胁邪, 褏芯褔褍 褋泻邪蟹邪褌褜, 褔褌芯 屑芯懈 薪邪写械卸写褘 褍斜懈褌褘, 邪 锌芯褝屑邪 蟹邪斜褘褌邪 薪邪 胁械泻邪. 袛邪 懈 褔懈褌邪褞褌 械褢 褌芯谢褜泻芯 褉邪写懈 褌芯谐芯, 褔褌芯斜褘 褋写邪褌褜 袙袧袨 懈谢懈 褋写邪褌褜 写芯屑邪褕泻褍 薪邪 褍褉芯泻械. 袩芯写芯斜薪邪褟 谢懈褌械褉邪褌褍褉邪 屑械薪褟 胁芯芯斜褖械 薪懈泻邪泻 薪械 懈薪褌械褉械褋褍械褌, 邪 薪邪锌懈褋邪薪芯 薪邪褋褌芯谢褜泻芯 褋泻褍褔薪芯, 褔褌芯 褟 褔褍褌褜 薪械 蟹邪褋薪褍谢邪. 小邪屑邪 锌芯褝屑邪 薪械 芯褔械薪褜, 懈斜芯 胁 薪械泄 写芯褋褌邪褌芯褔薪芯 薪械锌芯薪褟褌薪芯 薪邪锌懈褋邪薪褘 褋芯斜褘褌懈褟, 泻邪泻 写谢褟 屑械薪褟, 薪械褌 褋懈谢褜薪褘褏 褝屑芯褑懈泄 懈 胁芯褋褏懈褖械薪懈褟/褉邪蟹芯褔邪褉芯胁邪薪懈褟.
"袨 袪褍褋褜泻邪 蟹械屑谢械, 褌懈 胁卸械 蟹邪 谐芯褉芯褞!
袩褨褌褜屑邪 褋胁褨褌谢褨褦. 袙褉邪薪褨褕薪褟 蟹芯褉褟
袙褋褌邪褦 薪邪写 锌芯谢械屑, 屑邪褉械胁芯屑 锌芯胁懈褌懈屑.
小褌懈褏 褋芯谢芯胁械泄. 袙芯褉芯薪薪褟 泻褉懈泻 蟹薪褟谢芯...
(袩械褉械胁芯写: 袨 袪褍褋褋泻邪褟 蟹械屑谢褟, 褌褘 褍卸械 蟹邪 谐芯褉芯泄!
孝褜屑邪 褋胁械褌谢械械褌. 校褌褉械薪薪褟褟 蟹胁械蟹写邪
袙褋褌邪械褌 薪邪写 锌芯谢械屑, 懈谢谢褞蟹懈械泄 褍胁懈褌邪褟.
袟邪屑芯谢泻 褋芯谢芯胁械泄. 袙芯褉芯薪褘 泻褉懈泻 蟹邪蟹胁褍褔邪谢/锌芯褟胁懈谢褋褟...)"
校卸械 褝褌懈 褋谢芯胁邪 谐芯胁芯褉褟褌 芯 褌芯屑, 褔褌芯 胁褋褢 谐褉褍褋褌薪芯 懈 锌械褔邪谢褜薪芯. 袠 褔褌芯 芯褔械薪褜 屑薪芯谐芯 褌褉褍锌芯胁 褉褍褋褋泻懈褏 褋芯谢写邪褌. 袩械褉械胁芯写 薪械 褌芯褔械薪, 懈斜芯 锌械褉械胁械谢邪 褋邪屑邪, 屑芯谐谢邪 泻邪泻-褌芯 薪械 褌邪泻 褋写械谢邪褌褜, 褌邪泻 褔褌芯 懈蟹胁懈薪懈褌械 蟹邪褉邪薪械械.
袣邪泻 懈褌芯谐, 械褋谢懈 胁褘 懈蟹 校泻褉邪懈薪褘 懈 械褖褢 薪械 芯泻芯薪褔懈谢懈 褕泻芯谢褍 - 褔懈褌邪泄褌械 锌械褉械写 褝泻蟹邪屑械薪芯屑 袙袧袨, 邪 褌邪泻 芯薪芯 胁邪屑 胁芯芯斜褖械 薪械 薪褍卸薪芯 懈 薪械 薪械褉胁懈褉褍泄褌械 褋械斜褟 锌芯 褝褌芯屑褍 锌芯胁芯写褍. 效懈褌邪褌褜 谢懈? 袣芯薪械褔薪芯 卸械 - 薪械褌. 袧褍, 锌褉邪胁写邪. 袟邪褔械屑? 袙 泻邪泻芯屑 褋谢褍褔邪械 褔懈褌邪褌褜 - 褟 褍卸械 褋泻邪蟹邪谢邪, 邪 斜芯谢褜褕械谐芯 懈 薪械 薪邪写芯.
袛芯 胁褋褌褉械褔懈 薪邪 袥褍薪械~
协褌芯 褋邪屑褘械 锌械褔邪谢褜薪褘械 懈 锌芯谢薪芯褋褌褜褞 蟹邪斜褘褌褘械 胁褉械屑械薪薪褘械 褉邪屑泻懈 褔褌械薪懈褟. 袛邪, 褟 薪械 锌芯屑薪褞 屑薪芯谐芯谐芯, 薪芯 褔褌芯-褌芯 褋械泄褔邪褋 锌芯锌褘褌邪褞褋褜 褉邪褋褋泻邪蟹邪褌褜.
""小谢芯胁芯 锌褉芯 锌芯褏褨写 袉谐芯褉褨胁" - 谐械褉芯褩褔薪邪 锌芯械屑邪, 褖芯 芯锌懈褋褍褦 锌芯写褨褩 1185 褉芯泻褍, 邪 褋邪屑械 薪械胁写邪谢懈泄 锌芯褏褨写 泻薪褟蟹褟 袉谐芯褉褟 锌褉芯褌懈 锌芯谢芯胁褑褨胁. 袛芯 褉械褔褨, 褔懈 蟹薪邪褦褌械 胁懈, 褖芯 屑芯胁邪 泄写械 锌褉芯 褔芯谢芯胁褨泻邪 携褉芯褋谢邪胁薪懈, 邪 薪械 泻薪褟谐懈薪褨 袨谢褜谐懈? 携褉芯褋谢邪胁薪邪 - 锌械褉褕懈泄 卸褨薪芯褔懈泄 芯斜褉邪蟹 胁 褍泻褉邪褩薪褋褜泻褨泄 谢褨褌械褉邪褌褍褉褨. 袧械 屑芯卸褍 褋泻邪蟹邪褌懈, 褖芯 褟 胁 蟹邪褏芯锌谢械薪薪褨 胁褨写 褌胁芯褉褍, 褌邪 蟹薪邪褞 薪邪锌械胁薪械 - 薪械 蟹薪邪褌懈 锌褉芯 褑械泄 褌胁褨褉 薪械 屑芯卸薪邪. 笑械 薪邪褕邪 褨褋褌芯褉褨褟. 效芯谐芯 胁邪褉褌褍褦 "蟹芯谢芯褌械 褋谢芯胁芯" 小胁褟褌芯褋谢邪胁邪, 蟹胁械褉薪械薪械 写芯 褋胁芯褩褏 褋懈薪褨胁. 袩邪屑'褟褌邪泄屑芯 锌褉芯 泻谢邪褋懈泻褍 - 褋邪屑械 褌邪泻邪 谢褨褌械褉邪褌褍褉邪 斜褍写械 邪泻褌褍邪谢褜薪芯褞 蟹邪胁卸写懈. "
袠屑械薪薪芯 褝褌芯 薪邪锌懈褋邪谢邪 (懈谢懈 锌褉芯褋褌芯 褋泻芯锌懈褉芯胁邪谢邪 褋 懈薪褌械褉薪械褌邪, 懈斜芯 锌褉械卸写械 褌邪泻芯械 卸械 胁懈写械谢邪 薪邪 写褉褍谐芯屑 褋邪泄褌械) BonesChapatti . 袧械褋屑芯褌褉褟 薪邪 褝褌懈 褋谢芯胁邪, 褏芯褔褍 褋泻邪蟹邪褌褜, 褔褌芯 屑芯懈 薪邪写械卸写褘 褍斜懈褌褘, 邪 锌芯褝屑邪 蟹邪斜褘褌邪 薪邪 胁械泻邪. 袛邪 懈 褔懈褌邪褞褌 械褢 褌芯谢褜泻芯 褉邪写懈 褌芯谐芯, 褔褌芯斜褘 褋写邪褌褜 袙袧袨 懈谢懈 褋写邪褌褜 写芯屑邪褕泻褍 薪邪 褍褉芯泻械. 袩芯写芯斜薪邪褟 谢懈褌械褉邪褌褍褉邪 屑械薪褟 胁芯芯斜褖械 薪懈泻邪泻 薪械 懈薪褌械褉械褋褍械褌, 邪 薪邪锌懈褋邪薪芯 薪邪褋褌芯谢褜泻芯 褋泻褍褔薪芯, 褔褌芯 褟 褔褍褌褜 薪械 蟹邪褋薪褍谢邪. 小邪屑邪 锌芯褝屑邪 薪械 芯褔械薪褜, 懈斜芯 胁 薪械泄 写芯褋褌邪褌芯褔薪芯 薪械锌芯薪褟褌薪芯 薪邪锌懈褋邪薪褘 褋芯斜褘褌懈褟, 泻邪泻 写谢褟 屑械薪褟, 薪械褌 褋懈谢褜薪褘褏 褝屑芯褑懈泄 懈 胁芯褋褏懈褖械薪懈褟/褉邪蟹芯褔邪褉芯胁邪薪懈褟.
"袨 袪褍褋褜泻邪 蟹械屑谢械, 褌懈 胁卸械 蟹邪 谐芯褉芯褞!
袩褨褌褜屑邪 褋胁褨褌谢褨褦. 袙褉邪薪褨褕薪褟 蟹芯褉褟
袙褋褌邪褦 薪邪写 锌芯谢械屑, 屑邪褉械胁芯屑 锌芯胁懈褌懈屑.
小褌懈褏 褋芯谢芯胁械泄. 袙芯褉芯薪薪褟 泻褉懈泻 蟹薪褟谢芯...
(袩械褉械胁芯写: 袨 袪褍褋褋泻邪褟 蟹械屑谢褟, 褌褘 褍卸械 蟹邪 谐芯褉芯泄!
孝褜屑邪 褋胁械褌谢械械褌. 校褌褉械薪薪褟褟 蟹胁械蟹写邪
袙褋褌邪械褌 薪邪写 锌芯谢械屑, 懈谢谢褞蟹懈械泄 褍胁懈褌邪褟.
袟邪屑芯谢泻 褋芯谢芯胁械泄. 袙芯褉芯薪褘 泻褉懈泻 蟹邪蟹胁褍褔邪谢/锌芯褟胁懈谢褋褟...)"
校卸械 褝褌懈 褋谢芯胁邪 谐芯胁芯褉褟褌 芯 褌芯屑, 褔褌芯 胁褋褢 谐褉褍褋褌薪芯 懈 锌械褔邪谢褜薪芯. 袠 褔褌芯 芯褔械薪褜 屑薪芯谐芯 褌褉褍锌芯胁 褉褍褋褋泻懈褏 褋芯谢写邪褌. 袩械褉械胁芯写 薪械 褌芯褔械薪, 懈斜芯 锌械褉械胁械谢邪 褋邪屑邪, 屑芯谐谢邪 泻邪泻-褌芯 薪械 褌邪泻 褋写械谢邪褌褜, 褌邪泻 褔褌芯 懈蟹胁懈薪懈褌械 蟹邪褉邪薪械械.
袣邪泻 懈褌芯谐, 械褋谢懈 胁褘 懈蟹 校泻褉邪懈薪褘 懈 械褖褢 薪械 芯泻芯薪褔懈谢懈 褕泻芯谢褍 - 褔懈褌邪泄褌械 锌械褉械写 褝泻蟹邪屑械薪芯屑 袙袧袨, 邪 褌邪泻 芯薪芯 胁邪屑 胁芯芯斜褖械 薪械 薪褍卸薪芯 懈 薪械 薪械褉胁懈褉褍泄褌械 褋械斜褟 锌芯 褝褌芯屑褍 锌芯胁芯写褍. 效懈褌邪褌褜 谢懈? 袣芯薪械褔薪芯 卸械 - 薪械褌. 袧褍, 锌褉邪胁写邪. 袟邪褔械屑? 袙 泻邪泻芯屑 褋谢褍褔邪械 褔懈褌邪褌褜 - 褟 褍卸械 褋泻邪蟹邪谢邪, 邪 斜芯谢褜褕械谐芯 懈 薪械 薪邪写芯.
袛芯 胁褋褌褉械褔懈 薪邪 袥褍薪械~
March 6, 2021
Het Igorlied is een zeer kort episch gedicht in het 'oud-Oost-Slavisch' dat in acht zeer ongelijke zangen de mislukte veldtocht beschrijft van prins Igor en zijn broer Vsevolod tegen de woest Polovetsen (1185). Het moet kort daarna zijn opgeschreven en de anonieme schrijver richt zich dan ook tot het eigen volk om hier lering uit te trekken.
Opvallend is dat de schrijver zich afzet tegen een eerdere, blijkbaar zeer beroemde zanger met de naam Bojan en dat de veldtocht al in de vierde zang mislukt, na een reeks slechte voortekens. Er zijn veel natuurverwijzingen, de twee onbesuisde broers worden geregeld vergeleken met valken en er zijn nog sporen van een heidense, pre-christelijke wereld te vinden in het gedicht. De taal is zeer onevenwichtig en in deze vertaling is het niet helemaal duidelijk of delen ooit moesten rijmen of niet, maar er zitten prachtige passages tussen, met de klaagzang van de dochter van Jaroslav, Igors geliefde, als hoogtepunt.
Opvallend is dat de schrijver zich afzet tegen een eerdere, blijkbaar zeer beroemde zanger met de naam Bojan en dat de veldtocht al in de vierde zang mislukt, na een reeks slechte voortekens. Er zijn veel natuurverwijzingen, de twee onbesuisde broers worden geregeld vergeleken met valken en er zijn nog sporen van een heidense, pre-christelijke wereld te vinden in het gedicht. De taal is zeer onevenwichtig en in deze vertaling is het niet helemaal duidelijk of delen ooit moesten rijmen of niet, maar er zitten prachtige passages tussen, met de klaagzang van de dochter van Jaroslav, Igors geliefde, als hoogtepunt.
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