Tolstoy Or Dostoevsky: An Essay in the Old CriticismGeorge Steiner's Tolstoy or Dostoevsky has become a classic among scholars of Russian literature. An essay in poetic and philosophic criticism that bears mainly on the Russian masters, Tolstoy or Dostoevsky deals also with larger themes: the epic tradition extending from Homer to Tolstoy; the continuity of a "tragic world view" from Oedipus Rex to King Lear and The Brothers Karamazov; the contrasts between the epic and dramatic modes, between irreconcilably opposed views of God and of history. "A must for the teacher, student, and intellectually serious reader."--Kirkus Reviews "This is a book that provides new and stimulating insight into the literary masterpieces and thought of the great Russian novelists. Moreover, in this work Steiner shows a great depth and breadth of literary knowledge and criticism that is not limited alone to the Russian writers under discussion but to writers of all genres and all literary periods."--Journal of Religion "His is a work of personal criticism, often ingenious, always deeply felt."--The New York Times "Brilliant, provocative, full of insights, this classic study still stands alone and unchallenged in modern criticism as a lucid and erudite study of the contrasting genius of Tolstoy and Dostoevsky. Steiner's book is a must for the student, scholar, or general reader who wishes to approach the Russian giants in their full literary and philosophical ambience."--Robert L. Jackson |
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achieved Aglaya Alyosha Anna Karen Anna Karenina artist Balzac believe Berdiaev Brothers Karamazov characters Christ Crime and Punishment criticism D. H. Lawrence daemonic death dialogue Dostoev Dostoevsky drama E. M. Forster earth epic epilogue essay European experience fact fiction Flaubert Gania genius Gorky Gothic Henry James Homer human Idiot Iliad imagination Ivan King Lear kingdom language Levin literary literature lives Madame Bovary Marya melodrama ment metaphysics mind moral motif Muishkin myth mythology narrative narrator Nastasia Natasha nature ness novelist passion Peace and Anna personages philosophic Pierre Pierre's play plot poem poet poetic poetry Possessed precisely Prince Pyotr R. P. Blackmur realism reality realized religious Resurrection Rogojin Russian scene sense Shakespeare soul Stavrogin stoevsky stoy symbolic techniques theme Thomas Mann thought tion Tolstoy and Dostoevsky Tolstoy's Tolstoyan tradition tragedy tragic truth vision Vronsky War and Peace write wrote