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Bortko's Idiot

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I finally managed to get a hold of a copy of Bortko's Idiot with Yevgeni Mironov in the title role.  It was a 10-part television series done in 2003, and is available with English subtitles for those who have poor comprehension of Russian like myself.

I had hoped to see Nekrosius's play earlier this month, but it was canceled due to illnesses among the actors.  It is scheduled to come around again in February.

In the meantime I had bought an Everyman's Library edition of the novel, translated by Pevear and Volokhonsky, who appear to have become the foremost authorities on Russian literary translations in recent years.  I have to say I enjoy their translations.  While Volokhonsky does the grunt work of making a word-for-word translation of the original text, Pevear seeks to give it a narrative flow in keeping with the author's original intent, without losing the meaning.

Anyway, here is a YouTube link, with English subtitles.  Seems you can follow the entire series on YouTube in 10 minutes segments.

Comments

  1. RickJanuary 21, 2010 at 2:39 PM

    I just realized I have a copy of the Pevear/Volokhonsky translation of The Idiot. When I got this, I have no idea. It's been years since I've read this book but I remember liking it.

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