Stories

Kuzmin, M. A. (Mikhail Alekseevich), 1872-1936Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.8

Word count: 341K words
Chapters: 35

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Geschichten by M. A. KuzminAuthor: Kuzmin, M. A. (Mikhail Alekseevich), 1872-1936,Language: German, Class: PG: Language and Literatures: Slavic (including Russian), Languages and Literature, Release Date: Nov 6, 2012

Editor's review

Kuzmin was a major writer of the Russian Silver Age, and this German-language collection of his stories offers German readers an entry point into his art of fiction. Kuzmin's narratives often depict character psychology and everyday scenes with delicate strokes, and the short form allows readers to experience his style within limited space. The existence of a German translation also makes it interesting material for comparative literature and translation studies. As a free Project Gutenberg e-book, it is easily accessible and suited to readers interested in Russian literature, the Silver Age, or short narrative. Note that a layer of linguistic transfer exists between the German translation and the Russian original; readers with German proficiency will have a more complete experience. Reading by piece is recommended—there is no need to finish it in one sitting; pause briefly after each story to savor its atmosphere.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers with German reading ability interested in Russian literature
Enthusiasts studying Silver Age literature or the art of short narrative
Readers interested in literary translation who wish to compare translation styles
Those who enjoy the short form and prefer to arrange reading flexibly by piece

Not a good fit for

Readers with no German at all and no parallel translation to assist them
Readers expecting long, continuous plots or popular storytelling
Beginners who need detailed annotation and background guidance to enter the text

Reading tips

Read piece by piece, pausing briefly after each to savor the narrative atmosphere.
Keep a Russian original or English translation on hand for comparison, observing how the translation handles style.
Start with shorter pieces to build a feel for the language, then move on to longer works.
Note the characters and settings of each piece to help grasp the author's overall style.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book a German original or a translation?

Judging from the title Geschichten and Kuzmin's Russian background, this is a German translation of his short works, not a German original. Readers are reading a translated text whose style is shaped by the translator's choices—a layer researchers may wish to note.

What is Kuzmin's place in literary history?

Kuzmin was a writer of the Russian Silver Age, active in the early twentieth century and known for poetry and fiction. His works often focus on character psychology and daily life, with a delicate style. This German presentation of his short stories offers readers an initial encounter with the Russian literature of this period.

Can I read it without knowing German?

The main text is in German, and reading without German would be quite difficult. If you are interested in Kuzmin, seek out a Russian or English translation instead. Using this book as language-learning material also requires some German proficiency; it is not recommended for absolute beginners.

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About the author

Kuzmin, M. A. (Mikhail Alekseevich), 1872-1936 Author · Russian · 1872–1936

Mikhail Alekseyevich Kuzmin (1872–1936) was a Russian poet, novelist, and composer, and one of the representative figures of the Silver Age. He is best known for his novel Wings. His works often revolve around art, love, and religious experience, written in a delicate, aesthetic style in which his musical training also informs the rhythm of his prose. The library holds two of his works, Taten des großen Alexander and Geschichten: the former draws on traditional stories of Alexander the Great, while the latter is a collection of narrative short pieces, both reflecting his interest in exotic subjects and classical storytelling. Public information on the details of his life is limited, so this note confines itself to a brief account of his creative direction and literary standing.