Talk:Eugene Onegin

Untitled

We should add the following to the pending tasks: "*" discuss the style and literary qualities of the poem I tried to add it but failed. --xjy 19:29, 3 Jun 2005 (UTC)

Managed it, but bozhe moy it was complicated -- waiting for ages. --xjy 19:59, 3 Jun 2005 (UTC)

• List and discuss notable translations

• Walter Arndt's Template:ISBN (published in 1963) - the accepted translation before's Nabokov's?

• He is the same Walter Arndt listed here List_of_translators
• Translation is much (spitefully) criticized by Nabokov (though it seems that Nabakov does this with anyone he disagrees with)
• Criticisms: Germanisms (Nabokov's Criticism),
• Apparently won the Bollingen Prize all references to it online say "Bollingen prize winning" but Bollingen Prize doesn't list it can't seem to find a reference to Bollingen which makes reference to it. This seems like a reliable reference http://www.smith.edu/metamorphoses/biograph.htm, so my guess is that they are different Bollingen Prizes. Can anyone clear this issue up?

• Nabokov's translation

• This translation is a wholly literal attempt, which while (mostly preserves the iambic rhythm) sacrifices rhyme. Published in 4 volumes, the first mostly consisting of the translation and the other three being extensive commentry (infact the page on wikipedia about Nabokov says: "Nabokov's stature as a literary critic is founded largely on his four-volume translation of and commentary on Aleksandr Pushkin's Russian soul epic Eugene Onegin."). Whether people dislike the translation or not the commentary seems to be very well regarded. However, articles (online) talking about Douglas Hofstadter's "translation" seem to suggest that Hofstadter doesn't like either the translation or the commentary.
• After Edmund Wilson (a friend of Nabokov) reviewed this version here, Nabokov and he had a falling out mentioned here (can anymore be found out about this break-up of the apparently previously close friends?)

• The book "Dear Bunny, Dear Volodya" is a compilation of letters sent between the two of them

• In the previously mentioned review Wilson criticises Nabokov's translation for using obscure English words, and thus not translating into an idiomatic or recogniseable English. Also as Nabokov accuses Ardnt of using Germanisms, Wilson accuses Nabokov of using Russianisms. Number 0 14:40, 24 Jan 2005 (UTC)

• Babette Deutsch - has written a version in 1969.

The following was placed into this article, but removed again:

"Мой дядя самых честных правил,

Когда не в шутку занемог,

Он уважать себя заставил

И лучше выдумать не мог.

Его пример другим наука;

Но, боже мой, какая скука

С больным сидеть и день и ночь,

Не отходя ни шагу прочь!

Какое низкое коварство

Полуживого забавлять,

Ему подушки поправлять,

Печально подносить лекарство,

Вздыхать и думать про себя:

Когда же черт возьмёт тебя!"

It would be very nice if someone could explain what this is/means/etc. Is it a quote? Can it be reasonably put into the article and placed into context? — Timwi 17:48, 4 Apr 2004 (UTC)

This is the first stanza of the poem/novel, very famous in Russia. In fact, many Russian speakers can quote it by heart. I'm not sure if it really has a place in the article.

I think putting the first stanza in a box (compare the article on Ozymandias) would be a nice illustration to the article. It would have to be labelled properly, of course. Maybe Johnston's translation could be given in another box. --xjy 18:57, 3 Jun 2005 (UTC)

Here is my translation of this stanza:

“My uncle with his regulations,
“When he was taken really ill,
“Had made respectful our relations
“And could not find a better will.
“Well, he’s a lesson for another;
“But, Jesus Christ, it would just bother
“To sit with him full night and day,
“Not making any step away!
“It’s so sinister, so unfair
“To entertain a half dead man,
“Arrange the pillows yet again,
“To bring the pills with pensive care,
“Sighing and thinking to yourself,
“’When would you really go to hell!’”

Since Russian is my mother tangue, I cannot value it. By the way, is there a free accessed translation by Arndt in the Internet? --Чупакабр (talk) 19:14, 15 February 2010 (UTC)

summary

The summary is pretty horrible. There are some plain inaccuracies, like saying that Tatyana only falls in love with Onegin at the dinner (that revives her interest in him). There is also the childish writing ("One day...") that damages the tone of the summary, and random interjections of literary interpretation. A lot of the information in that section is not "summary" content at all.

Agree. The article needs the plot, so refound it and popped it back in with a little work on it. Will refine it when I have time. Julia Rossi 01:32, 21 February 2007 (UTC)

Translations

I think notable translations not to English should be noted as well, especially Avraham Shlonsky's. Siúnrá (talk) 14:24, 30 December 2007 (UTC)

Tchaikovsky Suicide

The last paragraph of the "Major themes" section claims that Tchaikovsky committed suicide though this is not proven (which is why there is a whole article just on his death [[1]] ). I did more research after hearing the claim from this article. I have not edited the article because I just found out about his death. I feel that someone who knows more about the subject should edit the article. --Sidious1741 (talk) 00:51, 4 November 2009 (UTC)

That entire section should be deleted. There are no refs, and most of it is obviously opinion; not that there's anything wrong with opinion, but it has no place in an encyclopedia. It belongs elsewhere. -- JackofOz (talk) 09:19, 4 November 2009 (UTC)

So someone should change it but I'm no Eugene Onegin master. I feel that someone who better knows the subject should change it. I really know nothing about Eugene Onegin except that Tchaikovsky wrote an opera with the same title that I have played a small part from. --Sidious1741 (talk) 20:01, 4 November 2009 (UTC)

Film adaptations

The Film section is atrocious. It reads like a review of the films, rather than an encyclopedic record. I've not seen either of the pictures mentioned, but will do my best to clean this section up. Anybody who has actually seen the movies is welcome to contribute.Flutterman (talk) 03:39, 26 November 2009 (UTC)

Chapter X

there is an external link to something called the Xth chapter of onegin. pushkinists have a look at it and laugh at this bogus version, says ubuy at 18:15 on the 9th of august , 2011 — Preceding unsigned comment added by Ubuy (talk • contribs) 16:15, 9 August 2011 (UTC)

Translation by D. M. Thomas

The translation by D. M. Thomas - not worth to be mentioned? --13Peewit (talk) 20:43, 29 December 2012 (UTC)

Translations into the German language

The text about the translations into German is written in German, isn't it funny? --13Peewit (talk) 20:48, 29 December 2012 (UTC)

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Names in English: Tatiana or Tatyana

This article includes both Tatyana and Tatiana - it would be nice to choose one and stick with it.2001:7D0:839E:D580:41DC:AA7:A65:7FE5 (talk) 10:13, 19 August 2016 (UTC)

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Onegin’s age

The article says that Onegin is 26.

I have just read the novel in the James E. Falen translation: Onegin is 18 when he first meets Tatyana in the early parts of the novel ("our sage of eighteen summers' bloom" - verse 23, book 1) .

When they meet again eight years later he is 26.

In other words he should be described as 18 years old if the article quotes Pushkin as saying that Tatyana is 17, which would also apply to the first and main part of the novel. 2A02:C7C:7A8A:5A00:A924:EBCD:8266:4200 (talk) 08:56, 8 June 2025 (UTC)

Thank you. I'll add that Nabokov's literal translation, which I have to hand, reads (1 XXIII) "all this adorned the cabinet / of a philosopher at eighteen years of age.", and then, much later (8 XII), "having lived without a goal, without exertions, / to the age of twenty-six,". I'm no Pushkin scholar, and I'll await further comment before editing the article, but I agree with your suggestion. Jean-de-Nivelle (talk) 12:48, 8 June 2025 (UTC)

I've edited the article to reflect your suggestion. Jean-de-Nivelle (talk) 15:14, 11 June 2025 (UTC)