A review by amurray914
Eugene Onegin by Alexander Pushkin

4.0

The Falen translation of Pushkin’s “novel in verse” masterpiece really drew me in and was a very enjoyable read. Falen remains true to the original Russian rhyme and metre scheme and adds an excellent introduction and annotations. There is much to be appreciated here; the excitement and splendor of 18th century aristocratic Russia, contrasted with Onegin’s boredom and ennui, his “spleen”; a timeless story of love, rejection, loss, guilt; and Pushkin’s allusions to his development as an artist, a transition from poet to prose writer.

And scorning then Apollo’s ire
To humble prose I’ll bend my lyre:
A novel in the older vein
Will claim what happy days remain.