Sanine

Artsybashev, M. (Mikhail), 1878-1927Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.8

Word count: 550K words
Chapters: 55

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.Sanine by M. ArtsybashevAuthor: Artsybashev, M. (Mikhail), 1878-1927,Language: English, Class: PG: Language and Literatures: Slavic (including Russian), Languages and Literature, Release Date: Oct 1, 2005

Editor's review

Sanine is the representative work of the Russian writer Artsybashev, and this English translation is released by Project Gutenberg. Centered on the title character, the novel shapes a figure who takes instinct and individual freedom as his creed and rejects all external moral constraints, around whom gather men and women lost after the old order loosened. The work's value lies not in offering answers but in thrusting the collision between individual desire and traditional ethics in early twentieth-century Russian society before the reader; the language is direct, the scenes concrete, and the dialogue often carries sharp self-justification. It is easy to feel uncomfortable while reading, but that discomfort is precisely what constitutes its intellectual weight. This English electronic edition is suitable as a primary text for understanding the individualist strain in Russian literature, and also for comparison with characters in Turgenev and Dostoevsky, observing how different writers of the same era handled freedom and responsibility.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Russian literature enthusiasts who wish to expand their map of late nineteenth- to early twentieth-century fiction
Readers interested in intellectual issues such as individualism and moral relativism
University students studying the literature and intellectual history of Russia's social transition
Advanced readers with English reading ability who wish to access public-domain primary texts

Not a good fit for

Readers sensitive to explicit descriptions and controversial ethical topics
Readers expecting positive moral edification or warm, healing stories
Beginners who struggle with English reading and need Chinese annotations for support

Reading tips

Before reading, learn about early twentieth-century Russian social background to understand why the characters adopt an anti-moral stance.
Read Sanine's dialogues with other characters as intellectual debates, noting both sides' arguments before judging.
Compare with characters in Dostoevsky's works to see how freedom and responsibility are handled differently.
After finishing, write a reflection distinguishing the views presented in the work from the author's own position, avoiding simple identification.

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 the content of this book controversial?

Yes. The novel directly challenges traditional morality and sexual ethics and sparked debate upon publication. It is not a guide advocating a way of life but a literary text presenting the conflict between individual desire and the old order during social transition; readers should maintain critical distance.

Can I read this if my English is not good?

This is an English translation. The syntax is not overly difficult, but it involves extensive intellectual dialogue and Russian social background. Readers with average English can first read a Chinese translation or summary, then return to the English original for fuller understanding.

How should the character Sanine be understood?

Sanine is often seen as a figure who takes instinct and individual freedom as his creed; he rejects external moral constraints and therefore constantly clashes with those around him in the novel. Readers need not treat him as an ideal embodiment but should see him as a literary vehicle for a proposition of his era.

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About the author

Artsybashev, M. (Mikhail), 1878-1927 Author

M. Artsybashev (1878–1927) was a Russian writer whose life and career are only sparsely documented in publicly available sources. Two of his works are held in this collection, the best known being the novel Ssanin, also published in English as Sanine. Centered on the title character, the novel portrays a man who embraces instinct and individual freedom, exploring desire, morality, and social convention in a blunt, strongly anti-traditional style. The work provoked considerable controversy in the early twentieth century and brought its author attention. Artsybashev's writing generally focuses on the conflict between individual will and social custom, with a sharp tone and characters marked by a rebellious temperament. Given the limited public material, a full account of his life and oeuvre remains to be verified.