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A review by elisabethl
The Steppe by Anton Chekhov
5.0
This was a slow but lovely story, where the beauty of it lies in the limited but expanding consciousness of the boy, Egorushka, travelling across the Steppe and in its depiction of the natural world. The focus on Egorushka highlighted the degree to which a child, particularly one alone amongst adults, must follow the whims and plans of others.
The story also illuminates the power gradations of class and of race/religion. It has a short section of [almost] Oliver Twist level antisemitism when the travelers stop at an inn owned by a Jewish family, which is unpleasant -- but which certainly adds to one's understanding of the prejudices of the time.
The translation of Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky is beautiful.
The story also illuminates the power gradations of class and of race/religion. It has a short section of [almost] Oliver Twist level antisemitism when the travelers stop at an inn owned by a Jewish family, which is unpleasant -- but which certainly adds to one's understanding of the prejudices of the time.
The translation of Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky is beautiful.