Email address Sign Up. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Immediately, I felt I was in a beautiful word landscape under a word waterfall with words cascading over me. So beautifully written, it reads like a conversation with an especially eloquent and profound friend. After the Soviet government confiscated—or, as Grossman always put it, "arrested"—Life and Fate, he took on the task of revising a literal Russian translation of a long Armenian novel. It's as if he felt he had to "pad" the chapters with "significance". People come here to get rich and if they do, they flaunt it. Please try again. I have never been lucky enough to visit the ancient land of Armenia, but I don't think you need to have in order to appreciate this short but beautifully written memoir. News, author interviews, critics' picks and more. At least for me, that did not come across in this book. They’re called bad drivers, tacky and pushy. Enjoyable if not a little on the short side, the Caucasus region has always been present in russian history and literature, it was enjoyable to read a little about one of the countries of the region. Armenians get a bad rap if you live in Glendale. Brilliant travelogue deriving life lessons about nationality and nationalism. ‘An Armenian Sketchbook’ appears to be a simple travelogue, written after Grossman spent some time there translating an Armenian epic. It's all very heartfelt and poignant. The passage describing the author's 'near death experience', written only around two years before he actually perished of cancer, is one of the most amazing such passages I've read in all of literature. Grossman provides hauntingly beautiful descriptions of the Armenian landscape that rival the best work of nature-writers like Anne Dillard (_Pilgrim at Tinker Creek_) or Loren Eiseley (_The Night Country_) and muses on the incredibly tragic histories of peoples like the Jews and the Armenians. I went to Armenia some 60 years after this book was written, but still, so much of it was really evocative. He was born in Ukraine to a Jewish family and became a journalist and was known to be very critical of the Soviet Union, comparing it even to Hitler's Nazi Germany. The book was written in 1961, submitted for publication in 1962, and appeared in censored versions in 1965 and 1967; Grossman had meanwhile died in … Future plans include reading both his newly translated, This is a vivid little book, as much a platform for the author’s musings on a variety of subjects as it is a travelogue. In 1962, Vasily Grossman, the author of the controversial WWII novel (in the Soviet Union), Life and Fate, which dared to suggest the Soviet military might be as savage as the German, traveled to Armenia. But that’s because they are. I know, I know - I must be kidding. Young Vasily Grossman idealistically supported the Russian Revolution of 1917. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. Part travelogue, part memoir, and shot through with historical and philosophical insights, it is a joy to read. An Armenian Sketchbook, however, shows us a very different Grossman, notable for his tenderness, warmth, and sense of fun. This record of his journey is a delightful celebration of the human spirit he found there. NYRB Classics; Illustrated edition (February 19, 2013). Welcome back. A Russian nanny turned his name Yossya into Russian Vasya (a diminutive of Vasily), which was accepted by the whole family. The book tells of two months that he spent in Armenia. Vasily Grossman is known for his stunning writing on monumental tragedies of the 20th century: the holocaust, the Eastern Front, Stalinism. It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness. It is a pearl of great price. An Armenian Sketchbook, however, shows us a very different Grossman, notable for his tenderness, warmth, and sense of fun. You know, I'd searched for this book for a while and I'd always wanted to read it but I had no idea just how delightful it would be. Go right to his masterpieces "Life and Fate" and "Everything Flows". An Armenian Sketchbook From the Archive. Even though he's obviously a Russian outsider he can so easily fit himself into their days. The book is part travelogue, part memoir, part philosophy. (He was actually cleaning up a literal translation into literary Russian, and did not in fact speak Armenian at all.) The most intimate of Grossman’s works, this account of his impressions of Armenia has an air of absolute spontaneity. AN ARMENIAN SKETCHBOOK The New York Review of Books, Inc. As he writes the events of his visit the primary focus is the people, whether fishing for trout in a cold mountain-locked lake, reading to curious children in a school, or, as in the last chapter, attending a wedding whose joy can't be diluted by the numbing poverty of the families. An Armenian Sketchbook, however, shows us a very different Grossman, notable for his tenderness, warmth, and sense of fun. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15796750-an-armenian-sketchbook An Armenian Sketchbook Quotes Showing 1-16 of 16 “The true champions of a nation's freedom are those who reject the limitations of stereotypes and affirm the rich diversity of human nature to be found.” An Armenian Sketchbook , however, shows us a very different Grossman, notable for his tenderness, warmth, and sense of fun. After the 'arrest' - as Grossman always put it - of Life and Fate, Grossman took on the task of editing a literal Russian translation of a lengthy Armenian novel. Grossman was a Jewish writer in the Soviet Union who had just had his masterwork confiscated by the authorities, when he traveled to Armenia to work on a “translation” of an Armenian novel. Where Grossman spends an entire chapter painting me an impeccable picture of his first impressions of Yerevan, wandering through the city while desperately needing to pee. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. Born Iosif Solomonovich Grossman into an emancipated Jewish family, he did not receive a traditional Jewish education. After the Soviet government confiscated—or, as Grossman always put it, “arrested”—Life and Fate, he took on the task of revising a literal Russian translation of a long Armenian novel. I only wish there was more of it. It is a fascinating read, and a must for anyone who likes the authors other books, or wants to know more about Armenia, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 21, 2013. Armenia has a very long history, armenian kings dealt with Rome and Persia, armenian suzerainty was always an issue between them. After the 'arrest' - as Grossman always put it - of Life and Fate, Grossman took on the task of editing a literal Russian translation of a lengthy Armenian novel. Vasily Semyonovich Grossman was born on December 12, 1905, in Berdichev, a Ukrainian town that was home to one of Europe’s largest Jewish communities. His vision of Yerevan was unique to him as were the other places he visited. An Armenian Sketchbook, however, shows us a very different Grossman; it is notable for its warmth, its sense of fun and for the benign humility that is always to be found in his writing. He admires the land itself, dominated by Mt. After the Soviet Government confiscated—or, as Grossman always put it, “arrested”—Life and Fate, he took on the task of revising a literal Russian translation of a long Armenian … Passersby stared at me. Cannot recommend it highly enough. One of the undisputedly good things about modern scholarship is that women’s history is finally getting its due.... To see what your friends thought of this book. All immigrants are and despised as such when they first arrive in the United States because they want the American Dream, which has been forced fed us through every media and educational institution since birth and broadcast over the world as a marketing ploy. Not only was the work itself confiscated but even the typewriters and ribbons on which it was produced were destroyed. Thanks for signing up! None better than the other. I hope readers will not start their Grossman journey with this meagre offering. A must read. In 1961 Vasily Grossman traveled to Armenia from Moscow to edit a long war novel by Rachiya Kochar. There was a problem loading your book clubs. This record of his journey is a delightful celebration of the human spirit he found there. They’re called bad drivers, tacky and pushy. A beautiful read. After the 'arrest' - as Grossman always put it - of Life and Fate, Grossman took on the task of editing a literal Russian translation of a lengthy Armenian novel. After the Soviet government confiscated—or, as Grossman always put it, “arrested”—Life and Fate, he took on the task of revising a literal Russian translation of a long Armenian novel. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. Mostly, it’s beautiful descriptions of the landscape and people, the food and customs, the relationships with bordering countries, his bowels, views on religion and literature, and anything else that comes into his head. The introduction and appendices note that during his time in Armenia Grossman was ill, his marriage was breaking down, and his masterpiece, I, who have always loved books on travel, had never heard of. There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. When I first went out for a walk around the mountain village of Tsakhkadzor, I was a foreigner. So I wanted to know what Vasily Grossman thought about his visit to Armenia when he wrote his memoir in 1962, two years before he died in 1964. Vassily Grossman is relatively unknown in the West, but he's a major voice of Russian literature, continuing in his modernist fashion the humanistic ethos of Tolstoy and Chekov into the maelstrom of Stalinism and the Great Patriotic War (WWII). That is the feeling that before you visit a city it is just a name on the map but when you enter it you create your own version of it in your mind and you see it as no one else has seen it before or ever will again. A travelogue is a perfect opportunity for Grossman to play to his strengths. Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free. After the Soviet government confiscated--or, as Grossman always put it, "arrested"--Life and Fate, he took on the task of revising a literal Russian translation of a long Armenian … (p. 100) This pretty much sums up not only the Armenian people, but also Grossman's view of them and of this account of the brief time he spent in Armenia. All immigrants are and despised as such when they first arrive in the United States because they want the American Dream, which has been forced fed us through every media and educational institution since birth and broadcast over the world as a marketing ploy. The humor, observation, and powerful prose of this master come clear through the translation to give an insight into an intelligence worth knowing. Happy Women's History Month! This is poetic prose. A delightful little book. lucky that this is available in English. It made me laugh, it made me cry. An Armenian Sketchbook (New York Review Books Classics), Grossman writes with extraordinary power about the disasters of war and the ruthlessness of totalitarianism, without losing sight of the little things that are the daily currency of human existence. His insight to the literary class (Hrachya Kochar) he was introduced to in [far away] Armenia and the various socio-economic classes throughout the country allowed myself a snapshot of a country finding itself after Stalin's grand industrialization and WW2. I liked this book a lot more than I thought I would. This is a delightful little book and a great place to start with Grossman, here at the end of his life on the Armenian steppe in the early sixties. An Armenian Sketchbook, however, shows us a very different Grossman; it is notable for its warmth, its sense of fun and for the benign humility that is always to be found in his writing. Vasily Semenovich Grossman is best know for _Life and Fate_, a historical novel offering a profound philosophical critique of the Soviet Union. And no matter how old the city is it is new to you, built as you see it, street by street, square by square, building by building. An Armenian Sketchbook by Vasily Grossman, 9780857052353, available at Book Depository with free delivery worldwide. Like this: If you want to know how to write a philosophically reflective travelogue I suggest picking up this book. I found An Armenian Sketchbook by Vasily Grossman an absorbing, wonderful book to read. I started reading this knowing nothing about it and thought it would probably be about someone drawing. Unable to add item to List. An Armenian Sketchbook displays all the humanity and candour of Grossman’s Red Star journalism, but with a difference. In 1962, Vasily Grossman, the author of the controversial WWII novel (in the Soviet Union), Life and Fate, which dared to suggest the Soviet military might be as savage as the German, traveled to Armenia. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 1, 2013. I expected more information on Armenia, which is still the significant majority of its content, but his monologues were so honest and revealed where he was at both psychologically and professionally. But the truth is, we’re all relatively the same, and if you visit us in our countries of origin you’ll find the same mix of personalities that you’d find anywhere, just in different clothes and eating different food. For Grossman these people stride proudly over the rocky paths and they shoulder back against mountains which tower over everything they do. by NYRB Classics. Vasily Grossman is known for his stunning writing on monumental tragedies of the 20th century: the holocaust, the Eastern Front, Stalinism. An honest read and an interesting moment in history, Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2019. The same can be said for this recently (2013) translated work An Armenian Sketchbook first published in an uncensored Russian version Dobro Vam in 1998. Although it contains some witty pen portraits and lyrical descriptions of vistas, it is really a book of profound reflections on life by a man who has seen the absol, Here is further evidence that non-fiction soothes the soul. If you have read any of his books you will love this as well. a look into the thoughts of Vasily Grossman, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 2, 2013, A very personal book, with Mr Grossman explaining his thoughts about the Armenians and their country. I found An Armenian Sketchbook by Vasily Grossman an absorbing, wonderful book to read. Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. Loved this book. After the Soviet government confiscated—or, as Grossman always put it, “arrested”—Life and Fate, he took on the task of revising a literal Russian translation of a long Armenian novel. You will see there the true measure of this literary master craftsman who has yet to earn the widespread recognition he richly deserves. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition. The book resulting from his trip is An Armenian Sketchbook, which is an apt name indeed. An Armenian Sketchbook is his account of the two months he spent there. An Armenian Sketchbook, however, shows us a very different Grossman, notable for his tenderness, warmth, and sense of fun. An Armenian Sketchbook, by Vasily Grossman, MacLehose Press, RRP£8.28, 192 pages. This was my first encounter with Vasily Grossman. Top subscription boxes – right to your door, © 1996-2021, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates, The Road: Stories, Journalism, and Essays. His description of the landscape is stunning. I have never heard of him before, much less read any of his books. The choice of title for this translation of Vasily Grossman's 1962 book, An Armenian Sketchbook, is admirably descriptive. Beautiful, humane, intelligent and insightful. An Armenian Sketchbook is his account of the two months he spent there. (He was actually cleaning up a literal translation into literary Russian, and did not in fact speak Armenian at all.) His brief An Armenian Sketchbook, written in 1962, now appears in English for the first time. This short book is more essay collection than straight travel narrative. Magic. An Armenian Sketchbook is his account of the two months he spent there. This brought a huge smile to my face. I was drawn to the book because I have visited Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, twice, the first time in 2015, the second time in 2016. Condition: new. One of the first things that strikes himin Armenia’s capital, Yerevan, is the huge statue of Stalin. A lovely gentle description of Grossmans trip to Armenia. I bought it on a whim at Half Price Books thinking I had read a book by Grossman but I guess I haven't. Timeless stories from our 170-year archive handpicked to speak to the news of the day. In 1934 he published both “In the Town of Berdichev”—a short story that won the admiration of such diverse writers as Maksim Gorky, Mikhail Bulgakov, and Isaak Babel—and a novel. AN ARMENIAN SKETCHBOOK. Grossman has a profound understanding of the human condition in hard times. People come here to get rich and if they do, they flaunt it. An Armenian Sketchbook An excerpt. Ararat, because of its fundamental link with the beginnings of all things and all history. “No matter where you are in the city,” he writes, “you can clearly see the titanic bronze marshal.” In my opinion, you can skip this book. This sketchbook details a trip into the Southern USSR near the end of Grossman's life. "In spite of everything, life would go on, the life of a nation making its way through a land of stone." MacLehose Press, £12. Supposedly unlike anything Vasily Grossman has written, but it's all one to me because I've never read anything by Vasily Grossman. As a travel book, it is merely average, and his personal observations and philosophical meanderings add little. Vasily Grossman. The novel was deemed dangerous and therefore "arrested" by the authorities. Although it contains some witty pen portraits and lyrical descriptions of vistas, it is really a book of profound reflections on life by a man who has seen the absolute worst of humanity yet has not lost hope for our species. From his first day in Yerevan to his last vignette, a wedding at Mount Aragats, Vasily Grossman's glimpses of life in Armenia of 1962 hold your interest. He is an exceptional writer and this book was sad and hilarious at the same time. This is the second half of the two part novel that begins with ‘Stalingrad.’. But that’s because they are. We’d love your help. Be the first to ask a question about An Armenian Sketchbook. _An Armenian Sketchbook_ is an equally profound but sadly lesser-known work. _An Armenian Sketchbook_ is an equally profound but sadly lesser-known work. Vasily Grossman is quietly becoming a favorite author of mine. Time had aged the mountain; time had killed the mountain-and here lay the mountain's bones.”, PEN Translation Prize Nominee for Elizabeth & Robert Chandler (2014), An Armenian Sketchbook, by Vasily Grossman, Power, Sister! Free 2-day shipping. An Armenian Sketchbook, by Vasily Grossman, trans. His gift as a novelist enabled him to record a feeling that is universal but few have found the words to describe. Also, I don't think the author made Armenia come alive. One of the most moving passages in the "Armenian Sketchbook" is an account of a village wedding where Grossman is greeted by a long speech in Armenian praising him and comparing the Jewish and Armenian nations, both of which had been the innocent victims of atrocities and genocide. His father had social-democratic convictions and joined the Mensheviks. , had recently been "arrested" as he put it - confiscated by the KGB. Confirms that Vasily Grossman is one of my favorite authors (maybe top two). Something went wrong. It works. My supplemental reading taught me that Armenia is an ancient and fascinating place. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. The book’s introduction notes that it could have been published in Grossman’s lifetime but he refused to take out fifteen lines the censors demanded he cut. Paperback. He goes a bit overboard in the these-people-don’t-suck-they’re-great flip side of prejudice, but that’s only a small part of this interesting memoir. After the Soviet government confiscated—or, as Grossman always put it, “arrested”—Life and Fate, he took on the task of revising a literal Russian translation of a long Armenian novel. 20 New Books on Women’s History. An Armenian Sketchbook, however, shows us a very different Grossman, notable for his tenderness, warmth, and sense of fun. This was my first introduction to Grossman. An Armenian Sketchbook shows Grossman at the end of his life, far from his beloved Moscow, reflecting on the best and worst of humanity. This long and interesting scene left an impression on me, as he was both honest of himself and to Armenians. A story of love, survival, honor, and an indictment of the totalitarian state, Grossman’s final novel centers on a former political prisoner adjusting to freedom after decades spent in Soviet camps. He sees what's important (and what's not so important), writes it down and leaves it for us to enjoy. With each chapter, the author writes about some experience and then adds a lot of personal observation that is, in many cases, mundane. Near the end of his road, the author … The novel is a mishmash of sketches of life in Armenia, Grossman's own views on life, philosophical musings, and the author's activities in the country. An Armenian Sketchbook, however, shows us a very different Grossman, notable for his tenderness, warmth, and sense of fun. I really feel he understood a significant portion of the Armenian people through his observations during a Sasuntsi Armenian wedding. Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video! February 19th 2013 A very humane story that is true, and autobiograhical, looking at the role and life of an author who went to Armenia at some point, and was able to empathize with the people there. Here is further evidence that non-fiction soothes the soul. A rather charming oddity, much lighter in tone and substance than anything else Grossman wrote - so although it is an easy read anyone starting with this one will see nothing of the power and humanity of his great novels (Life and Fate, Everything Flows and Stalingrad). Illustration by Michela Caputo. After a lifetime allowing his work to be mangled by the Soviet authorities, he wouldn’t be pushed around any more. Start by marking “An Armenian Sketchbook” as Want to Read: Error rating book. Maybe they will even become president one day. Part travelogue, part memoir, and shot through with historical and philosophical insights, it is a joy to read. This is a vivid little book, as much a platform for the author’s musings on a variety of subjects as it is a travelogue. An Armenian Sketchbook, however, shows us a very different Grossman, notable for his tenderness, warmth, and sense of fun. I didn't totally know what to expect but it has left an impression on me and my family members. An Armenian Sketchbook Vasily Grossman, translated by Robert and Elizabeth Chandler MacLehose Press, pp.221, £12, ISBN: 9780857052353 Vasily Grossman, a Ukranian-born Jew, was a war correspondent for the Soviet army newspaper Red Star . Enter your mobile number or email address below and we'll send you a link to download the free Kindle App. An Armenian Sketchbook was also published posthumously. _An Armenian Sketchbook_ is an equally profound but sadly lesser-known work. Like the best travel books, Grossman's Armenian Sketchbook is a document of the human condition more than a tourist guide. It … The Armenia he saw died with him. At moments, it seems like he is understanding and empathetic towards the Armenians he encounters. This is the prequel to ‘Life and Fate.’, An epic tale of World War II and a profound reckoning with the dark forces that dominated the twentieth century. Buy An Armenian Sketchbook at Walmart.com His penetrating understanding of the land and people combine with his elegant prose to unite the inchoate and the universal. We work hard to protect your security and privacy. So I wanted to know what Vasily Grossman thought about his visit to Armenia when he wrote his memoir in 1962, two years before he died in 1964. Don't Judge Grossman By This Ordinary Work, Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2014. It can't be this easy. The discovery here isn't just the Armenian people, landscape and culture, but of Grossman himself. As he is a novelist, I liked the way he was able to give life on the page to every one he met during his two month visit to Armenia. ... s reflections on the Armenian people among whom he lived for two months in 1961 as a “translator” for a famous Armenian novelist, Rachiya Kochar, although Grossman didn’t speak Armenian. The internal journey is equally as fascinating as his external trip to a foreign land. Refresh and try again. In an Armenian Sketchbook, written by Vasily Grossman, the author details the two months he spent visiting Armenia. An Armenian Sketchbook, however, shows us a very different Grossman; it is notable for its warmth, its sense of fun and for the benign humility that is always to be found in his writing. Armenians get a bad rap if you live in Glendale. Vasily Grossman exposes these prejudices in AN ARMENIAN SKETCHBOOK a travelogue of his time in Armenia working on the translation of a social realist novel. After the Soviet government confiscated--or, as Grossman always put it, "arrested"-- Life and Fate , he took on the task of revising a literal Russian translation of a long Armenian novel. “The true champions of a nation's freedom are those who reject the limitations of stereotypes and affirm the rich diversity of human nature to be found.”, “A mountain had died, its skeleton had been scattered over the ground. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, Published To get the free app, enter your mobile phone number. A Unique Travel Book - From the Heart of Soviet Russia, Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2014. Please try your request again later. If these aren't writing chops, I don't know what is. An Armenian Sketchbook, by Vasily Grossman An Armenian Sketchbook, by Vasily Grossman A trip to Armenia proved to be the creative answer for a writer censored by the KGB, broke, and dying of cancer As he is a novelist, I liked the way he was able to give life on the page to every one he met during his two month visit to Armenia. His record of his first walk around the streets of Yerevan particularly impressed and moved me. ‘An Armenian Sketchbook’ appears to be a simple travelogue, written after Grossman spent some time there translating an Armenian epic.