The Pushkin House

Name: The Pushkin House
ISBN: 9787301276761

Andrei BitovAug 2025

4.6

Word count: 67 words
Chapters: 36
ISBN: 9787301276761

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Summary

Pushkin House is a novel written by Andrei Bitov between 1964 and 1971. It was not published until 1987, during the period of Soviet reform. The protagonist is Lev Odoevtsev, a philologist in Leningrad and a typical representative of the Soviet sixties generation. The novel describes his journey from high school graduation to working at the Institute of Russian Literature—the famous "Pushkin House." Each chapter is named after a Russian literary classic: the preface—"What Is to Be Done?"; Chapter One—"Fathers and Sons"; Chapter Two—"A Hero of Our Time"; Chapter Three—"The Bronze Horseman"; Chapter Four—"Commentary." Each chapter recounts a particular phase in the protagonist's life. The novel is considered the most important representative work of Russian postmodern literature.

Editor's review

Pushkin House follows Lev Odoevtsev, a Leningrad philologist, from high school graduation to his entry into the Institute of Russian Literature, placing the spiritual condition of Soviet sixties intellectuals within the context of literary history. Each chapter is named after a classic—What Is to Be Done?, Fathers and Sons, A Hero of Our Time, The Bronze Horseman—creating an intertextual structure that reads like a passage between literary tradition and personal fate. Written between 1964 and 1971 but published only in 1987, this time lag itself prompts readers to note the writing background and publication context. Regarded as an important work of Russian postmodern literature, it has multiple narrative layers and dense allusions, suiting readers willing to read closely and verify literary intertexts. First-time readers can compare chapter titles with the themes of the corresponding classics to gradually appreciate the characters' choices between system and literary tradition.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in Russian literature and postmodern novels
Literature students who need to study intertextual structure and the Soviet literary context
Deep readers willing to read slowly and verify allusions to classics
Readers concerned with the spiritual history of intellectuals and narratives of era transition

Not a good fit for

Casual readers who only want tightly plotted, linear stories
Readers unfamiliar with Russian literary classics and unwilling to verify references
Readers expecting light humor or fast-paced narrative

Reading tips

First understand the themes of the Russian classics corresponding to each chapter, then read the main text against those intertexts
Prepare notes on character relationships and timelines to avoid getting lost in multi-threaded narration
Mark allusions as you encounter them and verify them after finishing the chapter to maintain reading rhythm
Supplement with materials on Soviet sixties cultural background to understand the context of delayed publication

版权信息
《普希金之家》重要人物表
译者前言
怎么办？（序幕，或写于最后的一章）
第一部父与子
父亲
狄更斯专篇
父亲（续篇）
父亲的父亲
父亲的父亲（续篇）
说法和版本
继承人（值班者）
附篇散文两种
暴风雪
镜子
第二部当代英雄
法伊娜
宿命论者（法伊娜——续篇）
阿尔宾娜
柳芭莎
关于米季沙季耶夫的故事
说法和版本
波那瑟夫人（值班者）
附篇主人公的职业
第三部穷骑士
值班者（继承人——续）
肉眼看不到的魔鬼
假面舞会
决斗
射击（尾声）
说法和版本（尾声）
真相大白的早晨，或铜人（尾声）
附篇阿喀琉斯与龟（作者与主人公的关系）
斯芬克斯
注释
译后记

FAQ

Can I understand it without having read Russian literary classics?

You can read it, but you will lose some of the intertextual interest. Each chapter is named after a classic, and characters and themes often parallel those works. It is advisable to at least know the basic content of What Is to Be Done?, Fathers and Sons, and The Bronze Horseman, and to treat chapter titles as hints rather than verifying every allusion.

Why was the novel only published in 1987?

Sources indicate the novel was completed between 1964 and 1971 and was not published until 1987, during Soviet reform. When reading, note how the text presents the situation of intellectuals and the literary system, but consult literary history sources for specific reasons behind the publication delay rather than inferring solely from the novel.

Where does the main difficulty of the narrative lie?

The difficulty lies in the density of intertexts and narrative layers. Chapters are named after classics, allusions abound, and characters' inner lives intertwine with literary tradition; the threads are not strictly linear. Read slowly, take chapter notes, first grasp the protagonist's coming-of-age main line, then return to allusions and structural issues.

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About the author

Andrei Bitov Author · Russian · 1937–2018

Andrei Bitov (1937–2018) was a Russian writer best known for his novel Pushkin House. The work is often classified under foreign literature and has been introduced to Chinese readers through translation. Publicly available information about his life and complete body of work is limited; only the basic facts noted above can be confirmed. Pushkin House reflects Bitov's engagement with the Russian literary tradition and the situation of the intelligentsia, and its narrative echoes and reconsiders classic texts, which gives it a place in twentieth-century Russian fiction. His writing tends toward layered psychological and cultural reflection, and readers often need to follow the literary allusions and introspective threads within the text to grasp its themes. For Chinese readers seeking to understand the complex strands of contemporary Russian fiction, Bitov offers a rewarding sample for close reading.