Rasputin and Other Ironies by Teffi
One of my highlights from 2014 was the discovery of the writings of the wonderful Teffi. I reviewed her “Subtly Worded” collection when Pushkin Press brought this out and was swept away by her wonderful, evocative prose. So as you might imagine, I was very, very excited to discover that the publisher was bringing out two more Teffi volumes; the first, a collection of autobiographical pieces entitled “Rasputin and Other Ironies”, is out today – and it’s a treat!
Teffi was a master of the short form, and the pieces gathered here are arranged chronologically to build up a picture of her life. As one of the translators, Anne Marie Jackson, points out in her introductory note, much of her writing harks back to her past and all through her life as an émigré she had a longing for her lost homeland. The book is divided into four sections, covering aspects of her work, her early life, her experiences during the revolution and civil war, and finally her portraits of other writers and artists. Two of the pieces were previously published in “Subtly Worded” and an earlier version of one in Robert Chandler’s exemplary collection, “Russian Short Stories: From Pushkin to Buida”.
Teffi has the reputation of a humorist, but there’s really so much more to her than that. Playing the buffoon, supposedly writing light-weight prose, actually allows her to get many sharp observations across. Her prose is quite beautiful and evocative, and she conjures up her life as a child wonderfully.
The morning of each long day began joyfully; thousands of small rainbows in the soapy foam of the wash bowl; a new, brightly coloured light dress; a prayer before the icon, behind which the stems of pussy willow were still fresh; tea on a terrace shaded by lemon trees that had been carried out from the orangery in their tubs; my elder sisters, black-browed and with long plaits, only just back from boarding school for the holidays and still seeming strange to me; the slap of washing bats from the pond beyond the flower garden, where the women doing the laundry were calling out to one another in ringing voices; the languid clucking of hens behind a clump of young, still small-leaved lilac. Not only was everything new and joyful in itself but it was, moreover, a promise of something still more new and joyful.
She’s also a very astute observer of character and her memories of time spent working on left-wing journals and meeting with Lenin are priceless. As for her recollections of Rasputin, they’re really fascinating and it’s chilling to see him trying to exercise mesmeric techniques on her. Fortunately, our Teffi is strong-minded enough to resist, but she paints a clear portrait of what can happen when someone like Rasputin gains influence over weak-minded rulers and everyone else then crowds round trying to curry favour. But there is humour, too, and Teffi’s turns of phrase are wonderful – for example, she describes one gent’s rather spectacular sounding beard as being “like a bush of Austrian broom. Each of the curly dark hairs on his head grew in a distinct spiral, and one half-expected these spirals to chime together in the wind.”
However, Teffi doesn’t suffer fools gladly, and one of the most powerful pieces in the book is “The Gadarene Swine”. Here, she lambasts the powerful fleeing Russia during the Civil War to save their own money and skins, and laments the fate of the ordinary people, the refugees unable to survive or find food and shelter during the conflict who leave with nothing.
“Rasputin and Other Ironies” was a real joy to read; the translations were in the capable hands of Robert and Elizabeth Chandler, Anne Marie Jackson and Rose France, edited and with introductory material by R. Chandler and Jackson. A helpful glossary of historical characters appears at the end, as well as informative notes. The rediscovery of Teffi has to rank high in the achievements of Pushkin Press, alongside their championing of Stefan Zweig and Gaito Gazdanov. Let’s hope there will be more Teffi volumes in future – but at least there’s another to look forward to next week…. ! 🙂
MarinaSofia
May 05, 2016 @ 07:06:02
I’ve had my eyes on this too, but was turned down by Netgalley, so am trying to procure it by other means…
kaggsysbookishramblings
May 05, 2016 @ 08:25:33
Oh, I do hope you track it down – such a wonderful author!
Annabel (gaskella)
May 05, 2016 @ 07:40:09
She’s on my list of authors to explore – but so little time! Love that cover too.
kaggsysbookishramblings
May 05, 2016 @ 08:25:18
I know – there are so many great authors out there needing to be read! the cover is stunning I think – Pushkin do make lovely books!
heavenali
May 05, 2016 @ 08:00:46
This sounds like a great collection. I particularly like the sound of Rasputin. I know it’s shallow of me but I do like that cover art. 😁
kaggsysbookishramblings
May 05, 2016 @ 08:24:40
Not shallow at all – I think the cover is lovely! This *is* a wonderful collection – even if you’re not particularly a Russophile, Teffi is definitely worth reading! 🙂
JacquiWine
May 05, 2016 @ 08:45:29
Lovely review, Karen. Rasputin was one of the standout pieces in Subtly Worded, so I’m very much looking forward to reading this collection!
kaggsysbookishramblings
May 05, 2016 @ 09:17:53
Thanks Jacqui! If you liked “Subtly Worded” I’m sure you’ll love this – and “Memories” which is out next week (when my review will be posted) is superb!
Sarah
May 05, 2016 @ 09:27:04
Aaaaaaaagh, just when I’d decided that my tbr list could take no more, another ‘must-read’ comes along and entices me. This sounds really wonderful Karen, and has gone straight on the wish list! *sigh*
kaggsysbookishramblings
May 05, 2016 @ 09:31:31
Sorry to be a bad influence…. 😉 But Teffi really is good!
Caroline
May 05, 2016 @ 13:11:49
I remember how much Jacqui liked Taffi. I had a one year Pushkin subscription and was so pleased that they sent me Subtly Worded. This sounds very good too.
kaggsysbookishramblings
May 05, 2016 @ 13:27:25
I love Pushkin Press books – they’re so beautiful, and the contents are pretty reliable! 🙂
Caroline
May 05, 2016 @ 13:33:11
Yes, I agree but the subscription wasn’t for me – for me. Too many titles were translations from the German/ or French and I already owned the originals or the French translations of the Russian titles.
kaggsysbookishramblings
May 05, 2016 @ 14:24:28
I admit that I like to choose my own books, which is why I’ve never subscribed to anything like this. But if you could choose your own – lovely!
Caroline
May 05, 2016 @ 15:43:21
There’s an amazing American subscription programme called The Nervous Breakdown that I’m interested in. Unfortunately delivery is pricey. I might still do it but I agree with you. It’s nicer when you can choose.
kaggsysbookishramblings
May 05, 2016 @ 15:51:56
It does sound fun, though as I’m a bit picky about new books I’d probably better stick to my own choices! 🙂
Jonathan
May 05, 2016 @ 21:53:44
Aggghhh! I still haven’t read Subtly Worded.
kaggsysbookishramblings
May 05, 2016 @ 22:00:56
Well, there’s plenty of time to catch up – and Teffi is just so wonderful!
Melissa Beck
May 08, 2016 @ 16:11:04
I am reading my first Teffi book now. It has just been reissued by the NYRB Classics lines and I am so loving it. She is wonderful and I just bought three more of her books!
kaggsysbookishramblings
May 08, 2016 @ 17:12:16
She’s fabulous! But… three “more” of her books? I only have 3!!! What am I missing?????
Melissa Beck
May 08, 2016 @ 22:35:21
I am reading Tolstoy, Rasputin and Others from NYRB. I also ordered Memories and We are Still Living (Also from NYRB) and Subtly Worded from Pushkin.
kaggsysbookishramblings
May 08, 2016 @ 22:39:01
Ah – I’m wondering what’s in We are still living – look forward to hearing!
shoshibookblog
May 08, 2016 @ 18:53:28
You’re ahead of me here! I’ve just got my copies of Rasputin and Memories … reviews will be on the way shortly …
(I’m pleased to hear they live up to ‘Subtly Worded’, not that I was doubting Teffi, it’s just that discovering her was such a joy I had been afraid my expectations were too high!)
kaggsysbookishramblings
May 08, 2016 @ 19:11:00
I think they’re wonderful books, both of them. Teffi is such a fabulous discovery!
Kat
May 10, 2016 @ 03:46:59
It definitely looks like something I’d like. I love both the quote–rainbows and bubbles–and the cover! Great review!
kaggsysbookishramblings
May 10, 2016 @ 09:07:35
Thanks! Teffi really is fabulous.
Everybody Loves Her – Teffi’s Newly Translated Life Writings (part 1): ‘Rasputin and Other Ironies’ | Shoshi's Book Blog
May 20, 2016 @ 16:03:17