Historical Dictionary of Russian Literature

Stone (Russian studies, Franklin & Marshall Coll., Lancaster, PA) brings an overview of Russian literature to the "Historical Dictionaries of Literature and the Arts" series. The entries include authors (Dostoyevsky, Turgenev, Gogol), titles (Anna Karenina, Dead Souls, Brothers Karamazov), and periods (Romanticism, Realism, Modernism). Genres (The Novel, Poetry) are explored along with groups/concepts (Formalism, Symbolism). Terms that appear in bold have their own entries. Stone mentions in the preface that "this is intended to complement" other more detailed works on the subject (e.g., Victor Terras's Handbook of Russian Literature). The information here is in brief articles and a helpful chronology establishes the historical time line. Through extensive bold items and cross referencing, the reader is led through a sampling of Russian literary topics, creating an atmosphere that will engage students to learn more. Some interesting facts include Doctor Zhivago actually being published in Italy and that the poet Esenin was once married to Isadora Duncan and met a tragic end. Other intriguing entries are acmeism, samizdat, and sections devoted to women (Women in Russian Literature, Women's Writing). Censorship, Stalinism, and Solzhenitsyn are also covered. The appendix offers "Russian Names and Titles" in both English and Russian. Some alternate spellings are shown, for example, "Tolstoi, Lev Nikolaevich (Alt. Tolstoy)." The sizable bibliography is divided into subject and author categories, which is useful. This would be a good companion to an Introduction to Russian Literature course.