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andgineer's review against another edition
5.0
Невероятное проникновение в наш повседневный язык цитат из этой книги.
Сколько лет прошло, а мы до сих пор используем эти фразы.
Может, конечно, это связана с наличием этой пьесы в школьной программе.
В любом случае, эта пьеса - одна из вещей, формирующих наш язык.
Конечно, сама пьеса, к сожалению, уже безнадежно устарела.
Безусловно, она злободневна практически для любого периода человеческой истории,
поскольку осмеивает вечные несовершенства людей.
Но язык и антураж уже воспринимается как что-то далекое, поэтому и злободневность не лежит так на поверхности, как это было во времена автора.
Тем не менее, сам стихотворный слог, меня в какой-то момент захватил в свой ритм.
Сколько лет прошло, а мы до сих пор используем эти фразы.
Может, конечно, это связана с наличием этой пьесы в школьной программе.
В любом случае, эта пьеса - одна из вещей, формирующих наш язык.
Конечно, сама пьеса, к сожалению, уже безнадежно устарела.
Безусловно, она злободневна практически для любого периода человеческой истории,
поскольку осмеивает вечные несовершенства людей.
Но язык и антураж уже воспринимается как что-то далекое, поэтому и злободневность не лежит так на поверхности, как это было во времена автора.
Тем не менее, сам стихотворный слог, меня в какой-то момент захватил в свой ритм.
alisaa_vl's review against another edition
1.0
1.75 ⭐️
ew, i'm sorry school but this book... just no thanks
ew, i'm sorry school but this book... just no thanks
vof5017's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Since I'm unfamiliar with Russian literature, poetry, and drama, I was a bit apprehensive about reading this title. However, I was pleasantly surprised with how enjoyable and amusing this play was to read! Griboedev's characters are hilarious and contrast each other nicely, and the dialogue is fast-paced and funny. The entire play reminded me a lot of Jane Austen's work, especially Lady Susan.
I definitely benefited from the substantial introduction at the beginning of the play, which provided excellent information on the social, political, and cultural environment in Russia at the time of the play's publication. Without this, I don't think I would have enjoyed the play so much.
Since I'm unfamiliar with Russian literature, poetry, and drama, I was a bit apprehensive about reading this title. However, I was pleasantly surprised with how enjoyable and amusing this play was to read! Griboedev's characters are hilarious and contrast each other nicely, and the dialogue is fast-paced and funny. The entire play reminded me a lot of Jane Austen's work, especially Lady Susan.
I definitely benefited from the substantial introduction at the beginning of the play, which provided excellent information on the social, political, and cultural environment in Russia at the time of the play's publication. Without this, I don't think I would have enjoyed the play so much.
chlkvnck's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
alakazamlet's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
jasonfurman's review against another edition
4.0
In December I was browsing in the McNally Jackson bookstore in New York City. One of my favorite things about the bookstore is they organize the fiction by country/region. I was looking through the Russian section, as I've done many times before, expecting that I had already read just about everything in it when this cover jumped out at me. I loved the title Woe from Wit and it was advertised as a verse comedy, a genre I love (having read all of the Richard Wilbur Moliere translations, many of them multiple times). I bought it but only just got around to reading it. And I read it with no preconceptions: I didn't read the intro or the back cover so I didn't have a confident idea of when it was written or any of the other context (I read all of that afterwards).
I was drawn in from the very beginning with the witty rhyming lines in aabb and abab format. It started out as what I thought would be a light comedy of romantic misunderstandings: the mistress of the house is in love with someone but he's in love with the maid, the father is a bit of a buffoon, and then another suitor enters the mix. But when that happens it shifts, it is still light and comic but the new character (Alexandr Chatsky) is a Russian returning to Moscow to find it changed, he is witty and biting about the army and much of the society as well. Eventually there is a splendid scene set at a ball where the mistress starts a rumor that Chatsky is mad and roughly a dozen characters, really not much more than extras, amplify and distort it. The final act wraps up with some more romantic mishaps bringing it to a sort of joyful or at least amusing conclusion.
I was drawn in from the very beginning with the witty rhyming lines in aabb and abab format. It started out as what I thought would be a light comedy of romantic misunderstandings: the mistress of the house is in love with someone but he's in love with the maid, the father is a bit of a buffoon, and then another suitor enters the mix. But when that happens it shifts, it is still light and comic but the new character (Alexandr Chatsky) is a Russian returning to Moscow to find it changed, he is witty and biting about the army and much of the society as well. Eventually there is a splendid scene set at a ball where the mistress starts a rumor that Chatsky is mad and roughly a dozen characters, really not much more than extras, amplify and distort it. The final act wraps up with some more romantic mishaps bringing it to a sort of joyful or at least amusing conclusion.
vanjr's review against another edition
1.0
I wanted to love this play, but I should know by now that poetry is such a huge barrier for translation that it is almost insurmountable. I am sure this is an important work in Russian culture. But the English translation reads like a children's poem.
13february's review against another edition
5.0
Со школьных времен не помнила вообще ничего! Читала как будто в первый раз.
graypeape's review against another edition
5.0
I admit, I was not expecting to enjoy this as much as I did. I credit that not only to Griboedov's writing, but also to Hulick's marvelous translation- I can't imagine it was easy to translate a play in verse, but to make it flow as this does is remarkable.
Before I get to the play, let me say that the reader should absolutely read the introduction and the translator's note before reading the play- I know, many people skip these things, but in this case, don't skip it. Knowing the historical and cultural context is important here, and the explanation of many bits of dialogue adds to the understanding of what's going on, as well as the reader's enjoyment. As someone who has skipped many introductions, let me say I'm so glad I didn't this time!
Now, for the play itself: no synopsis here, you can read the publisher blurb, and I don't want to spoil the fun of jumping into this without too much to go on. I'll say the dialogue was witty, biting, and delightful- I'd swear Griboedov was channeling Jane Austen, the lines were that chewy and delicious! There's a lot of scathing commentary on the lickspittle (I learned a new word!) fawning of Russian aristocracy for anyone above them who can be used to better one's position, some fun with a rumor mill, a love quadrangle, and discussion of revolutionary ideas that seem tame to today's reader, but managed to get the play banned in Russia for 40 years. If you are interested in Russian literature at all, or if you just like cracking good plays with snarky dialogue, do yourself a favor and read this!
#WoefromWit #NetGalley
Before I get to the play, let me say that the reader should absolutely read the introduction and the translator's note before reading the play- I know, many people skip these things, but in this case, don't skip it. Knowing the historical and cultural context is important here, and the explanation of many bits of dialogue adds to the understanding of what's going on, as well as the reader's enjoyment. As someone who has skipped many introductions, let me say I'm so glad I didn't this time!
Now, for the play itself: no synopsis here, you can read the publisher blurb, and I don't want to spoil the fun of jumping into this without too much to go on. I'll say the dialogue was witty, biting, and delightful- I'd swear Griboedov was channeling Jane Austen, the lines were that chewy and delicious! There's a lot of scathing commentary on the lickspittle (I learned a new word!) fawning of Russian aristocracy for anyone above them who can be used to better one's position, some fun with a rumor mill, a love quadrangle, and discussion of revolutionary ideas that seem tame to today's reader, but managed to get the play banned in Russia for 40 years. If you are interested in Russian literature at all, or if you just like cracking good plays with snarky dialogue, do yourself a favor and read this!
#WoefromWit #NetGalley