Böcker i Russian Texts-serien

Griboyedov's "Woe From Wit" is part of the BCP Russian Texts series, designed to meet the needs of the growing A Level and undergraduate market for texts in the Russian language. Each text comes with English notes and vocabulary, and with an introduction by an editor with a knowledge in the field.

Originally published in 1835, this is one of two works by Gogol dealing with the "little man". Poprischin is a middle-aged, grade nine civil servant who is painfully aware of the social gap between himself and Sophie, the Director's daughter. It is this frustrated love that drives him to madness.

Nevsky Prospect, published in 1835, is Gogol's major contribution to the 'Petersburg' theme in Russian literature, a theme taken up and developed by Dostoevsky, Blok, Zamiatin and many others. By day, Nevsky Prospect, the capital's main thoroughfare, is thronged with people from all sections of Petersburg society. After dusk it is the haunt of prostitutes and the Devil holds sway. Gogol's story, which he eventually includes in the 'Petersburg' cycle of tales, is ostensibly two stories in one, linked by the slimmest of threads: the tragic tale of the flippant philanderer Pirogov. In the final paragraphs, another theme emerges: the struggle between Good and Evil or - in Gogol's terms - between Beauty and the Devil.Nevsky Prospect epitomizes much of what has come to be termed Gogolian, the inimitable prose style, the love hate relationship with Petersburg, and above all the preoccupation with poshlost (vulgar pretentiousness) in all its manifold forms.

A title in the BCP Russian Texts series, in Russian with English notes, vocabulary and introduction. In this play, the defeated Whites flee the Reds and emigrate to Constantinople and Paris. In the form of eight "dreams", it hovers between tragedy and comedy.

This edition contains three of Ta'tiana Tolstaia's stories: "Sweet Shura" ("Milaia Shura"), "Peters" ("Peters"), and "The Okkerril River" ("Reka Okkerril"). The book is in Russian language with English notes and vocabulary that explain Tolstaia's stylistic characteristics.

A fictional account of one woman's experience following the arrest of her son during the Yezhov purges. Written in 1939-40 but not published in the Soviet Union until 1988, the introduction tells the story of its publication, gives a brief biography of the author and a vocabulary and notes.

Pikovaia dama (The Queen of Spades) has continued to fascinate readers since its first publication in 1834, and has been successfully adapted to both operatic stage and screen. The most generally admired of Pushkin's stories, it has earned a high place amongst his works as a whole and in many ways is the embodiment of 'essential' Pushkin. With its play on both psychology and the fantastic, its tersely precise language and its openness to multiple readings, it continues to mesmerise critics, teachers and students alike.This book contains the complete text in Russian of The Queen of Spades, with an introduction to Pushkin's life and work. The text is also supplemented with extensive notes in English and a complete vocabulary.

This collection of stories by Solzhenitsyn is part of the "BCP Russian Texts" series, designed to meet the needs of the growing A Level and undergraduate market for texts in the Russian language. Each text comes with English notes and vocabulary, and with an introduction by an expert.

A title in the BCP Russian Texts series, in Russian language with English notes, vocabulary and introduction. "The River Potudan" (1937), should introduce the student to the thought and ideas that writers like Platonov, despite the severity of the times, were able, and brave enough, to convey.