The Golden Calf

Name: The Golden Calf
Brand: Unknown
SKU: 9781934824078
Price: 34.99 NZD
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By Evgeny Petrov and Ilya Ilf

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4.43

( 9,135 ratings, 252 reviews)

Summary

The Golden Calf by Evgeny Petrov and Ilya Ilf is a satirical novel that follows the cunning conman Ostap Bender as he navigates the chaotic post-revolutionary Soviet Union. Ostap forms a motley crew in pursuit of wealth by attempting to swindle an elusive millionaire, highlighting the absurdities and contradictions of Soviet society. It's a humorous exploration of ambition, greed, and the human condition set against the backdrop of a shifting political landscape.
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Format: Paperback / softback

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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this novel if you're fond of satirical stories with a comedic twist, set against the backdrop of Soviet Russia. The authors, Evgeny Petrov and Ilya Ilf, craft a narrative that delves into themes of greed and human nature, combining wit with clever social commentary. This book may appeal to you if you appreciate characters whose schemes for wealth lead to unexpected adventures and humorous situations.

The Golden Calf

First new translation in 50 years of one of Russia's most beloved--and comic--works of literature.

Description

The funniest novel of the Soviet era, this translation is based on the uncensored original, thus restoring missing passages.

Set during the New Economic Policy, con man Ostap Bender and his merry band of mischief-makers set off on a raucously funny jaunt across the 'wild west' of the early Soviet Union. Their mark is Alexander Koreiko, another shady figure who exploited the corruption and chaos of the NEP to become an underground millionaire. Once Bender hears of Koreiko, the chase is on.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Golden Calf by Ilf and Petrov is celebrated for its satirical wit and comedic depiction of post-revolutionary Soviet life, often compared to the works of American authors like Fitzgerald and Hemingway. This new unexpurgated translation is praised for capturing both the humour and the socio-political nuances, although some original language-based jokes are inevitably lost. Critics appreciate the vibrant characters and the rich, satirical tapestry the authors weave, offering a lighter, humorous contrast to the usually serious tone of Russian literature.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781934824078

Publisher: Open Letter

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 31 December 2009

Country: United States

Imprint: Open Letter

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 140.0mm

Height: 216.0mm

Weight: 422g

Pages: 342

Collections

Evgeny Petrov Fiction General Fiction Ilya Ilf Literary Fiction

About the Author

Ilya Ilf (18971937) and Evgeny Petrov (19031942) were the pseudonyms of Ilya Arnoldovich Faynzilberg and Evgeny Petrovich Katayev, a pair of Soviet writers who met in Moscow in the 1920s while working on the staff of a newspaper that was distributed to railway workers. The foremost comic novelists of the early Soviet Union (invariably referred to as Ilf & Petrov), the pair collaborated together for a dozen years, writing two of the most revered and loved Russian novels, The Twelve Chairs and The Golden Calf, as well as various humorous pieces for Pravda and other magazines. Their collaboration came to an end following the death of Ilya Ilf in 1937-he had contracted tuberculosis while the pair was traveling the United States researching the book that eventually became Little Golden America.

Konstantin Gurevich is a graduate of Moscow State University and the University of Texas at Austin. He translates with his wife, Helen Anderson. Both are librarians at the University of Rochester.

Helen Anderson studied Russian language and literature at McGill University in Montreal. She translates with her husband, Konstantin Gurevich.