Isaak Babel stands as a towering figure in Russian literature, celebrated for his masterful short stories that delve into the complexities of human experience. His prose is renowned for its sharp wit, vivid imagery, and profound psychological insight, often exploring the intersection of culture and identity. Babel's unique voice captures the tumultuous spirit of his era with unflinching honesty and lyrical precision. His lasting impact lies in his ability to render the profound truths of life through deceptively simple yet powerfully evocative narratives.
'Compact, irreverent, enigmatic, savage and tender... it is impossible to look at the world the same way after reading Babel... one of the enduring jewels of 20th-century Russian literature' - Financial Times
This monumental collection showcases the complete works of Isaac Babel, featuring previously unavailable stories, plays, and film scripts. Celebrated for its exceptional translation and editing, it balances scholarly depth with accessibility, making it a labor of love for readers. Recognized as one of the twentieth century's greatest writers, Babel's influence resonates through this comprehensive volume, which has garnered multiple accolades, including the Koret Jewish Book Award and recognition as a New York Times Notable Book.
One of the great masterpieces of Russian literature, the Red Cavalry cycle retains today the shocking freshness that made Babel's reputation when the stories were first published in the 1920s. Using his own experiences as a journalist and propagandist with the Red Army during the war against Poland, Babel brings to life an astonishing cast of characters from the exuberant, violent era of early Soviet history: commissars and colonels, Cossacks and peasants, and among them the bespectacled, Jewish writer/intellectual, observing it all and trying to establish his role in the new Russia.Drawn from the acclaimed, award-winning Complete Works of Isaac Babel, this volume includes all of the Red Cavalry cycle; Babel's 1920 diary, from which the material for the fiction was drawn; and his preliminary sketches for the stories—the whole constituting a fascinating picture of a great writer turning life into art.
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