This one is the first book I read by Ivan Gontcharov
Une Soirée Littéraire is released by Editions de l'Herne.
It's a beautiful work, and more than a literary evening, to me this one is a turbuillon of considerations on literature at that time in Russia, passing through the analysis in particular of french, italian and Russian authors. Let's remember that french language was chosen by Russia because considered the most aristocratic tongue and french authors were and are beloved a lot.
I can tell you that the structure of the book reminded me at a good Agatha Christie's book. Oh, there is no murder of course, just a lot of people, thirty, one evening invited to the house of prestigious Gregory Petrovich Ouranov, book author and not only.
He wrote a new book: now he wants to read to these bunch of people he knows very well chapters of this latest work for having an idea of their opinion, later.
You musn't think that the people invited are of all the social classes, a thematic later touched heavily in the book and in the conversation with some of the guests, but only esponents of the Russian upper class.
There is a reporter, there is a literary critic, there are dames, with nobles titles, and there are a multiform representations of the Russian upper class of that historical moment, with esponents of the military world as well. There are people uninterested at the event, and there, just because of the novely represented by this invitation and because they hadn't planned anything better or more stimulating.
A multiform, also in this case, representation of the universe of people and characters.
The extract of the book has been read and it is moving. The story a mixture of problems, sadness, but also happy moments, the guests discusses it when in pause, after the reading of the first chapters. It will be at the end of the reading, at 12:30 of the night that the situation changes more interestingly because Gregory Petrovich invites them all at dinner. Yes, it's late, yes, after all a dinner can be heavy but...Do they want to remain? There is a lot of food.
People are always joyous when some food is offered and everyone decides to remain for dinner. And it is in this moment that, after dinner, the guests, start a conversation that will drive them in a multiform universe: the one of literary production and writing-stykes and what to wait from authors and their books. The beginning of all this discussion starts because of a gift that a guest would want to donate to Gregory Petrovich. He has been a super host, and they stay well in his house. But one of them refuses to present anything to him. Why not? ask someone? Simply, the book is not so great. Why not loved? And here we enter in a discussion that will start with a simple idea: he didn't write anything interesting. Other guests disagree: after all this consideration is not generous because, ehy, he added the world he knows, his sensations.Yes, but is it sufficient for a good literary work?
What a writer should write?
Guests will analyze the importance and role of journalism in Russia adding some criticism.
Back to the literary problems, new writers sound to everyone too superficials and just few, like Balzac, Dante for Italy, Victory Hugo and many past Russian writers should be defined as masters in story-telling, real geniuses.
Tolstoj is seen controvertially because he would want the abolition of social classes. And here, there are strong affirmations of what will become Russia soon: a place dominated by Communism and where the private property, as also asserted in the book, would be defeated for a long time.
If Tolstoj is seen under many ways negatively, same destiny the one of Gogol. Some people are in love for him and thinks that he is the new master of literature, other ones are allergic to him.
Gogol can't be defined differently after all: or you love him or just you read him without too much enthusiasm.
The modality of writing a book is essentially important and if some people thinks that all social classes should be portrayed in books as some authors do, other ones don't tend to think that it is necessary; a book must be the representation of the existence although some of them think that the newest writers give too importance to realism and what they see or perceive as the modernists are doing.
What are social classes after all if in a daily base we meet, add some characters in the book, many people of different social classes? Isn't it better to include everyone and not just people of the same circle?
Some authors tend to portray everyone, from the noble man to the poorest one, passing through cities or countrysides giving a vivid account to the entire complexity of reality that they see around them.
Speaking about policy, talking of nationalisms and populism Tchechnev remarks that "it expresses itself not just with the tongue. It's in the spirit of the union of the thought, sentiments, and of all the combination of the russian existence".
Pseudo-liberalism is seen as a horrible system because the main destroyer of the civilization and citizenship.
The end of the conversation, although sometimes point of views are pretty different, is a success and the author will invite later all of them to a special event.
I can't tell you that this book is funny, or light: if you search for a quick reading no, this one is not for you, differently, if you want to meditate on literature, the meaning of it, I guess it's the best. With the excuse of une soirée littéraire in fact, Gontcharov let us know what he thinks of literature, authors, and what it means writing, first of all.
I found the book beautiful because stimulating; after all the reader is not so passive as it could be with another reading because each of us has an idea of how literature should be conceived in our little or big reality.
One of the best books recommended also for being read by book club members because it will cause "incendiary" discussions on the state of literature now and the one in the Russia portrayed by Ivan Gontcharov, plus policy and journalism and writers and books and genres and whatever you think at, associated with literature.
Highly recommended
I thank Editions de L'Herne for the physical copy of the book.
Anna Maria Polidori
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