43 Comments
User's avatar
Helen Rappaport's avatar

Have just got out my rather battered hardback of the 1958 edition of Hayward and Harari which I got about 60 years ago second hand when studying Russian at Leeds University - alas only a 10th impression not 1st. I much hope to be able to join you on the Zhivago slow-read.

Cams Campbell's avatar

It’s lovely to have you, Helen! I’d love to see a picture of your book! And now I feel guilty at having bought YOUR book (Caught in the Revolution) but not yet read it. Consider it bumped to the top of the pile, so as soon as I’m done with the new Elena Kostyuchenko book and the new Essential Politkovskaya book.

Helen Rappaport's avatar

I tried to upload a picture of it but it kept rejecting it

Cams Campbell's avatar

Ugh. Substack is weird. Try my email? cams.campbell@gmail.com

Helen Rappaport's avatar

Check email - images so might go in spam

Meredith DC's avatar

I’m in! Gave me an excuse to add another gorgeous Everyman’s Edition to my growing collection 😊

Cams Campbell's avatar

Thanks for joining, Meredith, and for your paid support. It’s lovely to have you with us.

Russell Smith's avatar

That was an excellent analysis of translations. Very neat. Thanks, Cams! I joined the Doctor Zhivago read-along!

Cams Campbell's avatar

Welcome aboard, Russell!

moss oak in a gown of storms's avatar

I have the unpopular edition as it was the only one I was able to procure on short notice - but am loving it so far. It’s been many years since I saw the movie. I remember loving it very much. I’ve already booked marked two passages that reminded me of our writing style/idea ideas for my memoir.

I read it aloud to my cat and I’m looking forward to further discussion!

Cams Campbell's avatar

Sounds fascinating! I’ve not seen the film yet. I’ll get to it soon.

Angela McElroy's avatar

I found your YT channel recently, so this is my first slow read. My only experience with this novel is the movie. My Mom and I used to watch the movie on TV. I am reading in Russian. I started with the English audiobook but switched over to the print version … it arrived today.

Cams Campbell's avatar

Hey Angela, it’s lovely to have you with us! Impressive to be reading in Russian! I’ve had a go. It’s not easy language!

Angela McElroy's avatar

I still look up plenty of the older, rare words in literature, so a “slow read” will help.

Alison Macaulay's avatar

I'd like to join in if I can lay my hands on a translation that isn't the P&V. I abandoned a slow read of the Brothers Karamazov recently because the only copy I had was the P&V and I was so irritated by it. Thank goodness I didn't pick their translation for War & Peace or I'd never have made it out of that soirée at Anna Pavlovna's gaff. I'll try and catch up.

Cams Campbell's avatar

Ah, another P&V fan 🤣 I hope you can find the Hayward / Harari. It's decent. Forget about the Pasternak Slater one though, unless you've got a spare grand lying around!

Alison Macaulay's avatar

Waterstones have provided. I've also just started Vassily Grossman's Life and Fate so now need to see if I can avoid getting my revolutions and wars mixed up...

Cams Campbell's avatar

Good luck with that! You’re the second person in my circle to mention Life and Fate in the last few days. I really must read that some day.

Strabo's avatar

Just signed up and looking forward to this very much! Currently slow reading Don Quixote and Brothers Karamazov and 'normal reading' The Radetzky March by Joseph Roth so ummed and aahed about whether I can manage all four but, hey, nothing ventured, nothing gained!

Cams Campbell's avatar

Hi Tom, welcome aboard! It sounds like you have your hands full with what you're reading, but we're going nice and slow with Zhivago. As you say, nothing ventured!

Jennifer Ebel's avatar

I’m joining in on the fun. This is my first slow-read. I’m very excited to read a book I’ve had for a really long time.

Cams Campbell's avatar

Excellent. It's a pleasure to have you with us. What translation will you reading?

Jennifer Ebel's avatar

It turns out my old copy is the Hayward and Harai translation.

Cams Campbell's avatar

That's my primary copy as well. It was originally my wife's copy from uni and has her annotations on the pages. It's a delight to see her thoughts from before we met!

Tom Coppola's avatar

I so enjoyed the Master and Margarita read along. I'm very excited to join you in this one as well! I have a copy from Everyman's Library which is translated by Harari and Hayward. Thanks for what you do.

Ann-Marie Gardner's avatar

I was going to skip this one, but you got me by slowing the pace. I can read one chapter a week!

Cams Campbell's avatar

Excellent! I’m glad to have you along!

Noreen G's avatar

I’m in! I too am reading a 1958 Hayward / Harari translation that was my uncle’s way back when it was new. I’ve moved house with it quite a few times but haven’t read it yet. Looking forward to it!

Cams Campbell's avatar

Sounds like it’s high time, Noreen! I hope you enjoy it.

Rhiannon Hart's avatar

I'll be reading along with you. I'm new to reading Russian literature, but I have become totally obsessed. I have a deep passion for learning the language and more about the culture. So far, the books I have read have felt like having a deep, soul-baring conversation with a very wise friend. It challenges me, it makes me think, and it helps me understand my own life a little better. And honestly, the characters are so vivid and real that they become a part of you. It's a commitment, sure, but it's an incredibly rewarding one.

I'm not a paid member/subscriber, so I'm not sure I will receive the posts and emails, but I will look out for any YouTube videos you post 😊

Cams Campbell's avatar

It sounds like you’ve been got, and have accepted it! Russian lit has a way of doing that. I’m rereading War and Peace along with you this year and few like I’m with family again. I hope you enjoy Zhivago!

Frances Howard-Brown's avatar

Read many, many years ago, not long after seeing the film when first released. Very much looking forward to a re read. I have my late mother in laws copy; a hardback, the 9th impression published in 1958.

Cams Campbell's avatar

I’d love to see a picture!

Frances Howard-Brown's avatar

Let’s see if I can do this- I’m not that tech savvy!!

John D Brown's avatar

Subscription duly managed. Really looking forward to this. Thanks for all the work.

Ksenia Chi's avatar

How interesting! I also like the first translation more, according to this piece, it's more musical, melodious, I think. And they had to work very quickly!

Cams Campbell's avatar

Quickly is right! I see that you’re a translator too? I used to translate Russian to English and stopped in 2008 when I started another business. I imagine the technology has moved on a lot since then!

Ksenia Chi's avatar

I don't use technology, I mean AI, if that's what you mean ☺️

Cams Campbell's avatar

I used to use WordFast translation memory software. My wife runs an agency and I know that she has to use Trados from time to time.

Ksenia Chi's avatar

No, I don't use any of that. Just my head and dictionaries 🤷‍♀️

Christin's avatar

I tried listening to this on audio book in the car, and that really did not work out well (the names! So many names!) I’m thinking very seriously about joining this with you all.