Polikúshka (novella) explained

Polikúshka: The Lot of a Wicked Court Servant ("Поликушка") is a novella by Leo Tolstoy written in 1860[1] and first published in 1862. According to Tolstoy's translator, Aylmer Maude, it is the story of a serf who loses some money that belongs to his mistress before hanging himself.[2]

Influence

According to literary critic and translator Leo Wiener, the book (along with The Cossacks) "evoked a mass of very favourable criticism," even receiving compliments from Ivan Turgenev, who traditionally opposed Tolstoy's works.[3] Oscar Wilde purchased a copy, along with The Pursuit of Happiness, and commented that Tolstoy can "crowd without overcrowding, the great canvas on which he works."[4]

In 1922, it was made into a Soviet film: Polikushka.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: The Complete Works of Count Tolstóy: Latest works. Life. General index. Bibliography . Leo Weiner . Leo Tolstoy . 313 . 1905.
  2. Book: 294 . The Life of Tolstóy . Aylmer Maude . 1930 . Oxford University Press, H. Milford.
  3. Book: Lev N. Tolstoy: An Analysis of His Life and Works by the Translator; Chapter 4 . Leo Weiner . Leo Tolstoy . 254 . https://books.google.com/books?id=p49DAQAAMAAJ&dq=Polik%C3%BAshka&pg=PA254 . The Complete Works . 24 . 1905.
  4. Book: Built of Books: How Reading Defined the Life of Oscar Wilde . 127 . Thomas Wright . 2009 . Henry Holt and Company . 9780805089936 .