Eugene Onegin by Alexander Pushkin

Viktorina Savelieva.
June 2024

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The review for my Book club

I thought it was impossible to translate Eugene Onegin by Alexander Pushkin into English, but I stumbled upon a perfectly acceptable translation by James E. Fallen who is using an original and famous Onegin-stanza. A New translation conveys the literal sense as well as the poetic music of the original.

 I suggest Eugene Onegin Alexander Pushkin Audiobook    It translated from Russian into English by JAMES E. FALEN and read by by Stephen Fry.

 


 I also recommend the version of "Eugene Onegin", both audio and e-copy , to read and to listen at the same time. I found it easier. Don't pay attention on

Russian titles, just open links, read and listen in English:

Chapter 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZ9VLGWK8Zk&list=PL2VoouK3WyqOJWhza2qjNUhzoPXgj63e_&index=1&pp=iAQB

Chapter 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9jQAxEDPu8&list=PL2VoouK3WyqOJWhza2qjNUhzoPXgj63e_&index=2&pp=iAQB

Chapter 3   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQTaVsr4WaQ&list=PL2VoouK3WyqOJWhza2qjNUhzoPXgj63e_&index=3&pp=iAQB

Chapter 4   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpRY5_T2k5Y&list=PL2VoouK3WyqOJWhza2qjNUhzoPXgj63e_&index=4&pp=iAQB

Chapter 5  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HChKPoYhXwM&list=PL2VoouK3WyqOJWhza2qjNUhzoPXgj63e_&index=5&pp=iAQB

Chapter 6     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiHddgHJKUQ&list=PL2VoouK3WyqOJWhza2qjNUhzoPXgj63e_&index=6&pp=iAQB

Chapter 7    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfWNUaVFbbM&list=PL2VoouK3WyqOJWhza2qjNUhzoPXgj63e_&index=8&pp=iAQB

Chapter 8   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBsxitLWAo4&list=PL2VoouK3WyqOJWhza2qjNUhzoPXgj63e_&index=7&pp=iAQB

 

A  Roger Clarke

 

While I am re-reading Eugene Onegin, I am overwhelmed with emotions, which I will try to share.

 

Anyone, interested in the treasures of World Literature, will find Pushkin and, in particular, “Eugene Onegin” there.

You can read at least a few of the 2,331 reviews, of which 43% are 5-star:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27822.Eugene_Onegin  

They are all different, just like the themes in this novel.

 

Usually, in North America, people first get acquainted with Eugene Onegin by listening to the same name opera performed by famous singers.

On November 1 2024 - Ottawa event: NAC  Gala with living legend Renée Fleming and the NAC Orchestra 

The audience can hear her performance of the famous final aria from the opera Eugene Onegin.

I can listen to the final duet of Tatiana and Onegin an infinite number of times:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVbvbAuBsk4

 

I also recommend to watch film-opera, music by Pyotr Tchaikovsky. All characters are played by famous actors and sung by famous singers. I found only with French sub-titles, but with English commentaries https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3_dQjW6Zhw   Please watch, you will enjoy it, and after reading a novel you will understand everything without translation 

 

With English subtitles I found a very good British version opera. All characters are also played by famous actors and sung by famous singers. You can watch parts 1 - part 10, one, by one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHctLqsFhdU 

 

You may be interested in films by famous directors inspired by Pushkin and his poem in verse. One of them  - Martha Fiennes' directorial debut and stars her brother Ralph Fiennes in the role of Yevgeny (Eugene) Onegin, Liv Tyler as Tatiana and Toby Stephens as Lensky - PLUS Magnus Fiennes wrote the music and Sophie Fiennes appears in a minor role!   https://youtu.be/WyTDqc8Nj8w

 

Wikipedia will tell you about his Ancestry and in short - about his outstanding life. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Pushkin

 

Unfortunately, we are living in terrible times now: the war between Russians and Ukrainians who had been living together for many centuries. Fans of the brilliant Pushkin watch with horror "Pushkinfall"  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demolition_of_monuments_to_Alexander_Pushkin_in_Ukraine

I would like to hope that we will live to see the time when Pushkin again takes his proper pedestal.