Journal Volumes by Andrea Zink
Papers by Andrea Zink
Brill | Fink eBooks, May 10, 2024
This is an open access chapter distributed under the terms of the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license.
Zeitschrift für Slawistik
Summary In contrast to many other Russian authors of his time, Nikolai Leskov makes a point of in... more Summary In contrast to many other Russian authors of his time, Nikolai Leskov makes a point of investigating economic questions not only in his journalism articles, but also in his literary works. He focuses on social groups that earn their living through work, in particular merchants and craftsmen. Among these are bridge builders and icon painters, as in Zapechatlennyi angel. The skilled craftsmanship of the painters is especially emphasised in the angel story, which demonstrates, above all, what Leskov considers to be good work: his expectations include mastery of the material, a good cause for the work, and its use for a social collective. Adequate pay is valued, but profit is not the objective. With these demands, Leskov undermines not only the capitalist growth imperative, but also the image of a Russian tendency towards idleness. In the end we are, as in all of Leskov’s economic stories, referred to the merits of literary craftsmanship.
In 1961 Ivo Andric was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature. The jury emphasized Andric's so-ca... more In 1961 Ivo Andric was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature. The jury emphasized Andric's so-called Bosnian trilogy, the novel "Gospodica" ("The Woman from Sarajevo") being part of it. But in contrast to the other two historical chronicles ("Na Drini cuprija"/"The Bridge on the Drina" and "Travnicka hronika'7"Bosnian Story") "The Woman From Sarajevo" did not seem to be quite such a masterpiece. In this text-as the laudator Oesterling puts it-Andric cannot display his great narrative skills. The critical readers have been joining this judgement for years, thus unconsciously accepting and reproducing the subject of the novel. The underestimation of "Gospodica" is-as I wish to argue-quite deliberate. In "Gospodica" Ivo Andric not only looks into the problem of Outsiders but also insinuates it: reading the text reproduces the aversion the spinster causes under her fellow Citizens. Being a sexually and economically irritated human being, unmarried and passionately devoted to saving money Rajka Radakovic doesn't fit into any family or any society. She is unsuited to the heterosexual world, yet this world is build on her, needs her. Although at first glance an old fashioned text "The Woman form Sarajevo" illustrates modern gender theory in a very subtle and very fascinating way.
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Journal Volumes by Andrea Zink
Papers by Andrea Zink