Faces 2014 by FACES magazine

FACES magazine

2014

FAC E S

Content IS LITERATURE DEAD?

AROUND THE GLOBE

4 Live long the literature

34 Compound article Ekaterina Kulikova

Irina Yaropolova

5 Why blame the children? Alexandra Demchenko

BOOKS VS MOVIES

7 Books — why burn them?

36 M is for misery

Nikita Zagvozdkin

Polina Archipova

38 All sense is in the concept Yulia Filimonova

INSIDE 10 Reading fairytales Anna Pavlova

BREAKING DOWN STEREOTYPES

12 Kierkegaard critics on Andersen

40 Home is a place where nobody asks questions

14 Decadnce of the 21st century

44 When some secrets are told

16 The great detectives: from fiction to reality

48 Does the book have a future?

18 This is your cup of tea

50 A real journey in an unreal world

RESEARCH

BOOKSHELF

20 The world of classical ethiopian literature

53 What will be when the unexpected happens?

Andrey Sergeev

Anastasiya Kudryavtseva Irina Pavlova

Victoriya Boiko, Darya Smolina

Darya Savelieva

Mila Vasilieva

Anton Putilovsky, Mila Vasilieva Adelina Ishmuratova Elisaveta Vasilieva

Anastasia Konfetkina

22 Literary modernism as I met it Alexandra Belova

54 A Novel without a hero Ilona Schetinina

WAYS OF PERCEPTION

55 The teleport is here Maria Evdokimova

24 Inspiration

56 Changing the view angle

26 Who wants to read the mysterious Russian soul?

Expert's opinion

Maria Belonogova

Antoine Jerar

Svetlana Gorlatova

28 Effect of words

Veronika Stasyunaite

Ivan Delazari

COMMERCIAL

IMPOSSIBLE TO BREAK AWAY

60 Britannia shop

30 Photography

Anastasia Kudryavtseva

Editors-in-chief

Alexandra Naumova Mila Vasilieva

Illustrator

Anastasia Navnyka

Makeup

Aleksandr Spiridonov Oleg Philippov

Special

thanks to

Elena Vertugina

Special contribution Ekaterina Kulikova

Editorial board

Dear friends! You are holding the sixth issue of the “FACESmagazine” which this time is an exciting introduction to the magic world of LITERATURE. I hope you will find all the articles interesting, the majority of them thought-provoking, some, probably, will become your favourite. We do not pretend to be very serious and scientific edition, but what we DO claim is that our magazine is a unique collection of views, impressions and ideas of young people WHO READ AND THINK and, therefore, it's really worth your attention. I want to thank sincerely all the authors, editors and designers for their contribution to our project and wish us all a happy reading. :-)

Elena Vertugina

Editor's word Dear reader! You're holding in your hands the 6th FACES festival annual issue. What can the editors of it say? It's an amazing spring again, nervous term papers time and a time for some enjoyment… That is a usual editors speech. We could leave you with the entire magazine here but we can't. There is something different about this issue and not just the theme. It's still full of really great articles, the diversity of topics is also saved. But the specific character of this year festival topic required some changes. So we took graphic illustrations, added vivid language of interviews taken by students and unique opinions given by experts, as well as always we included inspiring photos. And that is what we’ve got. We're sincerely grateful to everyone, who have been making that issue with us. And here it is. It’s time for you to read, evaluate, argue, make your discoveries and enjoy.

Alexandra Naumova Mila Vasilieva

FAC E S

Is the literature dead?

FAC E S

Irina Yaropolova

Live long the literature

In school we often hear a funny saying: “Literature is dead”. Seems as an unspoken rule for every teacher to point out one more time that the area of our self-expression is limited. However, it is not the biggest problem — social structure and stereotypes, apart from school, always kindly remind us that art is “for the chosen ones”. The real threat comes from the acceptance of this dogma. A widely-spread belief sets an idea of literature lying in the casket and not being able to change the world the way it used to. Therefore, “Harry Potter” by J.K. Rowling is treated just as a fairytale for children, “Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins — just as a tale for rebellious teenagers, and those are just the most popular examples. These understatements make children divide beautiful world of books into serious and silly, while it can be neither and both at the same time. Have you ever noticed how difficult it is to meditate about great authors and poets? Mostly, because of a lovely adverb “great”, which parallelizes thoughts and makes it impossible to love, hate or even feel literature. It scares most people to think “wrong”, to produce an idea the textbook will not approve. This attitude ruins breathtaking part of discovering a book and then, page by page, discovering the hero, the author and the meaning, your own unique meaning, which is most likely to lead you to an ability of independent thinking.

Art by Moosekleenex. Sourse: www.moosekleenex.tumblr.com

Literature is alive and kicking. Yes, maybe we do not fight wars as epically and massively as they were described 200 years ago. But humanity faces issues still unnamed in art. Extreme poverty and luxurious wealth dwell in the same country, legitimate inequality, misogyny, homophobia and racism, mental-illnesses treated as a joke — the list can never end. As society's structure grows more complex, people should not forget that previous centuries hardly expected enormous changes to come. Thus, classical literature is not always a wisdom-full consoler. Despite its wit, cure for nowadays problems need to be sought in another direction. And that's the time for knights to leave the shadow and raise the sword — which is sharply made phrases — and raise the shield — which is open-mindedness and excitement still to be found in the modern routine. Of course, there is no way to force creators to make a worthy piece of art, however, the sooner society is ready to tolerate new ideas and mind-flows the quicker fighters and leaders revile. We should never forget the classics, but we also should be willing enough to encourage beauty-seekers within this century.

Alexandra Demchenko

Why blame the children?

I sincerely greet you at this part of the type rage, my dear reader. In a text situated below we will use two unique and surprising metaphors to make our message the clearest message in the whole world. Metaphors: 1. Two sides of a medal. 2. A pack and a contents. And the topic: School compositions.

And a problem of discussion is if we need them? Do we need this form for students creating process? Are the form and the contents two sides of medal or are they the package and the contents? The question is what a degree of re-influence is. Are they just the neighbors or they control each other, almost dominate? And what is a Dominator in the school composition? It’s unfair when you receive a tiny present in a huge package and an embarrassing situation when you get a bounty in a mean packet. What did I write it for? You know, teachers, they like presents. Childhood of each of us was full with compositions for Literature classes. Do you remember how it works? Topics, chosen by a teacher for you; the structure that never has been explained and never has been understood; general phases, repeated after student book’s authors; light sickness in the throat after 3 sheets of milk and water. That is Literature! Deprived from the necessity to create and understand deeply the manifestations of lives and characters by himself, schoolboy concludes: “Literature is an idle talk” and “What’s the profit of reading?”. Of course, there is no profit at all when a pupil gets super-difficult and indefinitely formed package and he tries to fill it with no matter what just to make the teacher let off your back (oh, sorry). Obviously, the form should help, at least not prevent to express an idea, a content, a conception.

Is the literature dead?

FAC E S

A form of the composition requires children to find in the text the idea of the book, themes, main subject lines, make the analysis of one or a variety of characters, suggest a comparison with other works of this author or other books from this epoch and much more stuff than teenagers can barely berry off. Especially at the age 11–15. As a result we have totally non-working literature classes, where reading and anatomizing comes to giving to children prefabrications of concepts, which they put in microwaves of their heads, if they only do it, to prepare something for completely ineffective pack. I’m not even mentioning cheating. God bless the Internet, schoolchildren have no need to think at all. There is a recipe to change this stalemate situation: to change a form. I’m so sorry that we don’t have wide practice of writing essays. A free form, that make students write by themselves and to reflect naturally and to think out something fresh and tasty and unexpected. Of course, writing essays is also a skill to get but it is much easier than bulky compositions — you should just not be afraid. An Essay pushes lazy pupils to think and, moreover, to understand literature openmindedly, using their own emotions and sense points. This is madness: to make a whole bunch of different kids get a novel or poem in one way, that is something unnatural. Each of us has their own life picture and each piece of art occupies a special place in a special area of mind and heart with a very very special interpretation. Literature helps us to understand the world and others not just through displaying characters and collisions, but comparing our ways of understanding. Every of us makes his own accents in a story and marks his own themes and with the help of others we can, firstly, get the whole picture of the art piece through restoring missed parts, and secondly, we can reveal something special in a person we are talking to, and, listening to his version, we are perceiving them and his life picture. Essay is a form that perfectly fits the exchange of points of view, visions and notes and ourselves. Posing a task to write an essay we make pupils to be sensitive towards art, towards their own feelings and towards feelings of others. Offer them a free package — so that they can put in anything they want, as much as they want and as good as they can. Make them free to do it. Children are smart.

So, essay? Essayer!

Nikita Zagvozdkin

Books — why burn them? An article not to be printed

And yet, it has been. Not at the fitting place, really. I bet, the value of literature — if not declared, then implied by common silence — is everywhere around this “barbarian” text. Is it the just indignation? Certainty, and I would never deny everyone`s case about the dignity of books. But I am resolutely loyal to the chosen theme and I can give at least 5 reasons, why one should sometimes take and burn books down. It seems that I have fulfilled, quite unexpectedly, the goal of any introduction — confuse a reader. I affirm value of books and want to burn them down. What does it mean? A year ago, I wrote an article entitled “When travelling becomes your philosophy” to the previous FACES journal. There I fought with idols of acting automatically for one’s freedom. As time passed by, I still believe in things that I wrote then, but now I realize that to reach my goal of sharing the fruits of philosophy I have to question more radically. Not about accidental for our culture and life travelling, but about so essential and so beloved by modern people books, not turning something into something, but burning, not when, but why. Not questioning, but shouting and waking every reader from a dogmatic sleep to hear an unpleasant story, why one should burn books. Although I have changed the way, I approach the same point — life. Do we understand this mysterious word now and what should we head hope for in the end?

Let the text show. Enough with introduction prepare to be shaken:

5 reasons to burn books

Books, to be precise, their multiplicity, causes a feeling of being historically secondary. Who we are, you would ask. Looking at the eternal shelves with books, I shall reply: we are inferior children of great civilization, the last and least spots of thousand-year-old picture, shadows of passed giants, the smoke that is left for after the fire has vanished. Our credo is to accept the heritage silently and be proud of it. To imitate, if we are lucky enough. “There is a new writer of Tolstoy`s level” — such proclamations always sound suspiciously nowadays. Maybe, that is why there are no such writers, haven`t you thought about it? Books are a gravestone on the faith of humankind in itself, and that is why we should burn them.

Is the literature dead?

FAC E S

Books, of course, develop flexibility and resourcefulness of one`s reason. They are supposed to make people have an open mind, and surely, they do so. Sometimes. One who takes a great interest in reading will find him- or her-self surrounded by infinite contradicting opinions. The risk to catch a very widespread intellectual disease — “All people are right in their own way” — arises. This is the lack of inner form, sterility and weakness even to imaging the truth in any form, as One, as Many or as Skeptical Silence. Do not confuse this relativism with pluralism. The pluralist has a position and belief, he affirms multiplicity — the relativist has a habit, he accepts and submits to multiplicity. Relativist has no imagination and no creative impulse — why even try, if everyone is equally correct (=incorrect)? The “good reader” in this sense can think only of the grey foggy sphere, where “Pro” and “Contra” are fused all in one. Books kill our self-confidence in affirming and denying, and that is why we should burn them.

Books are, without any doubts, the decorations of the cathedral of our culture. But what if this cathedral is fed up with them? Informational pollution causes the atrophy, the fading of the feeling of beauty — how could we escape getting blind to beautiful when there are so many hollow images around?! The demon of informational pollution is defeating us in the heart of our culture, and if we do not dare to fight, we will let down not only us, but all the previous and upcoming generations. They will say — “You, while keeping books, lost what they are read for, lost the Beauty”. In the times of generators producing new “masterpieces”, the vast rivers of books flow together into Lethe, the river of forgetfulness and oblivion, to flood us — and the Book will disappear among books. No, we should say, there is gold behind the garbage, and it can be obtained only with fire. And that is why we should burn books.

Literature is, clearly, the achievement of reason — through all the wars and revolutions, the rational soul of Europe has preserved itself in books. Are you so sure about it? The divine respect to books has the same nature as ritual songs to sun and concern with black cats and zodiac. It is a superstition, the remnant of primitive thinking. Once it is clear (you know it somewhere in the depth of your mind) that books are not God or whale, on the back of which our world rests, and so they can be burnt. Now it is only the point of courage, to show it — not theoretically — because the great past and probable future doubt after seeing so many words with no action — but practically. That is why we should burn books.

Burning books. The great fire in which the images of time vanish. Isn`t it an event that can teach one how to laugh — truly and philosophically? It does not matter, with laugh of winner (we have won this future!) or looser (we have lost so many books!). In this laugh, that reflects the fire, man can see himself both as creator and destroyer. I am alpha and omega, the beginning and the end, the writer and the burner. I chose them for life and now I sentence them for death. The heritage of yesterday and hopes of tomorrow — all are just shadows of the shining me and shinning now. And standing in front on the fire, I feel the midday — the highest point of day, when all shadows are gone. Burning of books reveals the true (and always double) dignity of man. But from another point of view, books in the fire are something that can be judged. So, in fire a book can be bad — not in the critics, not in the student compendiums (that are books themselves) and not in our heads and opinions. Fire is something that overcomes abstracts words of goodness and badness — only in it a book can be really bad. But this possibility is at the same the possibility to be really good and worthy, and only in this way. Destruction gives the ability for immortality, the value itself, the dignity, since we reserve books that we are ready to share air and epoch with. The question to a good book is not if we are ready to spend money and paper, but to give it a place in our life, and only when a book is in our hand in front of the devouring fire, this question can be asked sincerely and seriously.

To burn for humankind? To burn for books themselves? To burn for life?

Burning — and this is my last argument — is a ritual and a philosophical event, an act of growth — both for books and people. Creation gives value. It is silly to think that burning takes it away. Instead, it guarantees, affirms, shouts — “It is a Book, it is a Man!” The first public incineration of books followed the first sincere love to a Book. The pagan books were burnt in the name of the Bible in 35 AD. And Bible became the great book at that moment. Creation and destruction, dawn and sunset, pen and fire — two essentially united moments of life. We have come to what we have started with, life. Once again, this is entirely about life. This is the only thing that I see in this text as I write the last lines. Have you already understood that fire is only a metaphor? And that this is, probably, the most favorable to books text in the whole journal? So will you laugh today and burn, burn, burn them all down? Will you burst out laughing when hearing that books are only to be preserved? Will you rise to such comprehension, be so courageous and free to burn for creation?

FAC E S

Inside

Anna Pavlova

Reading fairytales...

Tale of sense, if not of truth! Food for thought to honest youth. Pushkin A.1 We were all told fairytales when we were kids. And it’s most likely that we will tell fairytales to our kids in turn. Have you ever wondered, why? Why did people start to tell their children fiction stories thousands of years ago? And why do they keep doing it nowadays?

1. Collected Narrative and Lyrical Poetry, Aleksandr Sergeevich Pushkin (Author), Walter W. Arndt (Translator), Ardis Publishing (31 Dec 1981), ISBN 978-0-88233-826-2

Obviously, the main reason is that fairytales are a part of educational process. The “Kolobok” teaches a kid not to run away from home. “The Little Red Riding Hood” warns not to talk to strangers. The “Cinderella” inspires to be patient and hard-working. Tales give children an image of they should behave themselves how. Listening to fairy stories, children learn to cope with various difficult situations. They gain necessary life experience without getting into a real trouble. We can say that in its core a fairytale is a “bank” of ready-made solutions, free to be learned. So, fairytales are surely helpful for children. But what about adults? Do fairytales still have sense for them? If yes, do they help them? Or, in contrast, don’t they plant pipe dreams in people’s mind and sentence them to suffer. There is a common opinion (especially in popular women’s magazines) that some fairytales form negative “life script” — unconscious concept how life shall be lived. For instance, “The Little Mermaid” by H. C. Andersen might create a complex of a “victim” or “unrequited love”. “Beauty and the Beast” incepts an image of woman who is struggling to turn a monster into a prince and eventually have spent the whole life with a monster (as a drunken husband). “Cinderellas” are always waiting for a prince and lose a lot of shoes for nothing…

But we must say a word of support for fairytales’ authors. They shouldn’t be blamed for the fact that reading their fairytales may lead to unpleasant emotions and unhappy lives. They write down the stories but what the reader will see in them is a matter of the reader oneself. Everyone sees in a fairytale only those things that are close to his or her personality or that resonate with the present emotional state. So, the negative life script may emerge when a current feeing of loneliness or denial clings to a certain part of the fairytale and intensifies for its sake. For example, in “The Little Mermaid” one may be upset since the Mermaid lost a chance to become a Princess and had to turn into sea foam. But, in fact, the story doesn’t have a tragic ending! The Mermaid became an air spirit and got a chance to gain a human soul and reach the unending bliss one day. Fairytales resemble a layer-cake. And every layer has its own sense. Reading or listening to a fairytale we are unconsciously searching for a matched sense at the same time. That is why fairytales don’t grow old with the time passing by. At different ages a person can find something novel and exciting even in the old and well-known story. Fairytales are metaphoric reflection of life problems. Through them we look at our problems from a certain distance, in a more objective way. As well as we can consider fairytale’s plot from different points of view, we can see our situation in a different light. As well as we can say what this story teaches us, we can see a meaning in our problems. As well as we know that fairytales have happy end, we can believe in our own success. These features of fairytales allow using them in psychotherapy. It’s called “fairytale therapy” and consist of reading and discussion fairytales. Surprisingly, it really works. So, as you can see, fairytales are much more than a convenient way to put children into a bed. They influence our course of life, they give a hint how to cope with life struggles, and they inspire and support us. When you take a storybook next time, think about it. It would be no harm, if you ask yourself: “What can this story teach me?

FAC E S

Inside

Andrei Sergeev

Kierkegaard’s Critics on Andersen Hans Christian Andersen and Søren Aabye Kierkegaard. Two men who lived at the same time in Copenhagen. This period we call “Danish Golden Age”. They knew each other. But one of them, Søren Kierkegaard, didn’t want to know only others. He wanted to understand himself. He didn’t want to build an illusory palace (like storytellers and writers) or a “real” palace like Hegel did. We often make some rules which “help” us to live. But why do we ask about the creator of these rules so rarely? Why are we afraid to look at ourselves? It takes strength and bravery. Are we weak? I can live with my point of view, if I know myself. Or I can live with someone else opinions in imaginary fragile sick world. If I get lost or confused, I can change my opinion. And then again, again and again. So it’s easy to live if I don’t know myself. Andersens’ adult life was easy, he enjoyed his triumphal social success. It was quite clear that Andersen and Kierkegaard were hardly the best friends in the world — too different were their views. Kierkegaard wanted to set people’s eyes on themselves through critics of his life and their life, even if people didn’t want to do that. These novels were so romantic, that’s why Kierkegaard didn’t understand their importance.

1. Peter Tutvad “Andersen & Kierkegaard” www.dr.dk/hca/en/bag_om_ hca/peter_tudvad/pt_2.asp

In 1837 Andersen published his new novel “Only a Fiddler”. The novel was about maturing of some genius. In September 7, 1838 Kierkegaard published a book «From the Papers of a Person Still Alive». The book was a reply on Andersen`s novel. Kierkegaard revealed himself to be a hard critic and exposed Andersen as a «wimp» and a «blubberer».1 Did Kierkegaard dislike Andersen?

Maybe. But I think that this book was a reflection on some personal displeasure. Let’s look at the books’ title. The final words which is a key to book are “Still Alive”. What does the life of a person who is still alive look life? I don’t know. I can only presume that this being cannot be called “life”. Can I call “life” a situation when I don’t know who I am? No. Did heroes of Andersen’s novels and fairytales know themselves? Perhaps, no. Or even their creator didn’t know himself? Even after “Papers…” Andersen Still wrote novels and fairytales when heroes don’t know and don’t want to know themselves. The most striking example is “The Ugly Duckling”. Why the Duck think that he is ugly? Not because of the reflection about “who I am”, but because of someone’s opinion. And when does the duck become happy? When others say that he is pretty. He dissolves in other people’s truth. He didn’t find his own truth, didn’t find himself. Life is not about being alive. And still alive. (Because it’s incomplete life, life of living dead — when someone doesn’t know who he is) Now let me explain the name of Kierkegaard’s work about Andersen — “From the Papers of a Person Still Alive”. From the Papers I can read about his author (Person). From the novel “only a Fiddler” (Papers) Kierkegaard identify his author. The Complete name of Kierkegaard work would be “From the “Only Fiddler” (Papers), Hans Christian Anderson, a person, who is still alive”. So, Did Andersen know himself in Kierkegaard’s opinion?

Perhaps, no.

FAC E S

Inside

Anastasia Kudryavceva

The Decadence of the 21th century Decadence arose on the boundary of the 20th century as a new quaint character of culture. At that time against a background of a world pressed in between Two World Wars, the culture of decline was the reaction and defense that liberal ideals could not give. It is generally agreed today that culture and history are formed by people. Therefore, sometimes, to understand the character of a whole epoch, it is necessary to understand at least one man, because just man is a specific reflection of international, cultural, social and political processes. The 20th century was the time of decay and lack of faith. Because of particular political situations, literature was a way to create a precise sketch of the world, countries and people. I believe, all of us know a great number of authors, named experts of human soul. This is not amazing, because Sartre, Kafka, Kamu, at least to my mind, exposed something more terrible than wars and revolutions. Still, today, in the 21st century, which is characterized by democratic ideals, freedom of words and mind and so on, heroes of these authors are agreed to be rather similar to modern people. On the one hand, it seems really stupid. Now we have a lot of opportunities to get help, to unbosom ourselves to a friend or psychiatrist and almost each of us can cry from the rooftops that they are normal and happy. On the other hand , we can admit that evident confrontation between different powers just has become concealed and human problems and troubles havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t vanished into this air. This is the reason why we cannot forget names and books of authors of the Decadence century.

They are absurd, rude and straight and can show us as we are. The theme of existentialism is becoming more and more popular nowadays. It seems people shout: “Pay attention to me! You consider yourself a humanist, don’t you? Why man has got to forget about himself to survive?”. “Our schizoid world” as Rollo May stated, was described 50–60 years ago. There is an opinion that writers are successful in predicting future. Like J. Vern forecasted the invention of submarine. Maybe, for example, Sartre predicted today’s man?

Hero of our time I believe that “Herostrarus” shows us a type of Sartre’s kind of man. When we begin to read a short story, we can find a lot of connections between a protagonist and Rascolnikov. He tries to demonstrate that he is a Man with a capital letter, whose actions have great influence on other people. He separates himself from other people, even coincidence contacts with them are disgusting for him. It is really preferable for him to look down on the crowd, standing on a balcony of the 7th floor. This is a material confirmation of moral superiority, to his mind. Such behavior shows him having great hostility towards himself and in general the whole mankind. First time we read considering this idea as the main, we have a hero with an interiority complex who wanted to prove something himself. However, then we find a question: “Why should I kill them, if they are already dead?”. Just these words, from my point of view, are the reference to the type of modern man. Today people are tired from a lot of different simple daily things. That is why such wishes as to be loved, to be popular or famous are only the tip of the iceberg. I strongly believe that the primary desire modern people have is to feel themselves alive. Just be alive, be able not just to go and breathe, but do it consciously. It seems stupid, yet if this thought once crosses your mind, it then never leaves. One of the most difficult actions for everybody is to realize the simplest things he has. The paradox is that you can forget about something you wanted, when you have it. Thus, what can we say about actions we do everyday? We don’t think we should pay attention to them. And we don’t think we should pay attention to life itself. As a result, we are lost, afraid and lonely. That is why the plan of murder and then suicide for protagonist is an act of creation and will. It is an opportunity for him to feel something, firstly, feel his own nature.

FAC E S

Inside

Irina Pavlova The Great Detectives, from fiction to reality

In the world of literature there is a human factor which always plays the decisive part. Creating, the author one way or another fills the story with his surrounding reality. Stare deeper, it will be possible to recognize a real hero, hidden under a mask of a literature character. There are personalities who had trodden the globe once upon a time, and weren’t let to be obscured by fate and sink into oblivion but were glorified for many years. History knows quite a number of such names, which attained fame, not by belonging to royals or talented creators of art world. There are men behind every of such name, who deserved by their affairs not to disappear in the whirling kaleidoscope of centuries but to go down to history. Their destinies became unique novel’s pages, their adventures sometimes desperate, sometimes of national importance, and not rare hilarious, imprinted their trace forever. And nowadays, hearing their names, we unwittingly touch the history. Rereading the pages of favorite books, do you ever think about that every hero probably had a prototype or consisted of collective images? Or maybe these men really lived on earth, and were transformed into original mark of epoch, became the symbol of destination without who is impossible to imagine one or another scene? Illustrating my story I would like to go into details about two persons who are common in one feature — the detective talent, brought them unique.

“Only a thief can catch a thief” Now let’s move back to Paris of the 18th century. Who was that hero that disarmed the criminal society of Paris and made the general conception of detective business completely reversal? Meet, Fransua Vidok, a duelist, a thief, a murderer and the head of secret police’s department at the same time. How come? One day he dared for the most extraordinary adventure in his life. After being prosecuted by his enemies for a long time, he just offered himself as an informer to the police of Paris. As he claimed “Only offender could overcome a crime”. So, in 1811 under the direction of Vidok there was formed a special group, which consisted of ex-prisoners. It was called “Surete” or Safety. Having dramatic abilities and being well-informed during many years of the illegal past, Vidok went down onto the very underworld of criminal society of Paris. Hiding behind the mask of an offender he disclosed all the ideas of criminals. The results of that double game were amazing.

“You see everything but you don’t bother to speculate about what you see!”

Vidok and his co-workers provided authorities with valuable information and created a database for more than 5 millions of offenders. About 17.000 people were arrested during his cooperation with the police. And no one could guess, that they had been exposed by Vidok! He knew offenders’ habits himself very well so he didn’t cause any suspicions. Vidok got popularity and became a prototype of many heroes of detective literature by such brilliant authors as Victor Hugo (Jean Valjean, “Les Miserables”), Honoré de Balzak (Votren, “The Human Comedy”), Alexandre Dumas (Police Jackal, “The Mohicans of Paris”), Edgar Allan Poe (Auguste Dupin, “The murders in the Rue Morgue”) and others. This outstanding man also published some works by his own, but there was a rumor that it was not without help: “Notes of Vidok, the Chief of the Secret Police of Paris” (1828), “The Thieves” (1836), “The True Secrets of Paris” (1844) and others. As for Department of National Safety — it became a prototype for initiation the American FBI and English Schotland Yard. The last one refers indirectly to the next part of my story. Let’s move to England of the XIX century. A well known at that time surgeon and professor of Edinburg University Joseph Bell apparently didn’t know about the large footprint on the sands of time which his vivid personality would leave in the world of literature. He was sharp-minded and had an extraordinary ability to diagnose basing on many details in the appearance of his patients, analyzing their manners, walk steps, etc.

The detective genre of literature is truly intriguing thing, isn’t it? Resuming the aforesaid, I can certainly say that we never know whose names will be chosen and immortalized next time, so let’s look around — maybe they are already among us?

He taught his students to recognize the main things. Afterwards his consultations came to be in great demand. Among the patients of Dr. Bell also was the family of Charles Doyle, where the future writer Arthur Conan Doyle was born. In those years he could hardly imagine that the fate would bring them together with Dr. Bell in 1877, when student Doyle became an assistant of the talented doctor. Being unaware of it, Dr. Bell became the founder of the deductive method of thinking, which would be the advantage ground of the famous Sherlock Holmes. Some of real features of Dr. Bell were put into the character of Sherlock — from the resemblance in appearance to common interests of real and fictional heroes. The personality of Mister Holmes gained fame, and later the love of millions thanks to the fate, which let to cross the two destinies of these outstanding people — Arthur Conan Doyle and Joseph Bell. One gave to the world the literature masterpiece, the second — had inspired with his life for that.

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Inside

Victoria Boiko Darya Smolina

This is your cup of tea

Many phraseological units appeared due to customs, traditions, historical facts, but most of English idioms arose from literary compositions. The majority of English idioms were borrowed from the literary heritage left by Shakespeare, Alexander Pope, Walter Scott, Geoffrey Chaucer, John Milton, Jonathan Swift and Charles Dickens. Literary compositions by an outstanding classic Shakespeare are a source of English idioms. The shakespearism, which means a process of study and development of creative heritage of Shakespeare, is one of the most important elements in the developing of English idioms. The majority of them were taken from Shakespeare’s poems. Well, you can discover a lot of idioms in his works, for example, «Macbeth», «Hamlet», «Othello», «King Henry IV», «King Henry V», «King Lear» and etc. «Othello» includes idioms such as «the green-eyed monster»(this one is a hilarious idiom! If we translate literally, it will mean really monster, but Shakespeare envisages entirely different meaning — jealousy); «trifles light as air» — «выставлять на показ свои чувства»; «King Henry IV» is «to eat one out of house and home» — «разорить человека, живя за его счёт»; «the wish is father to the thought» — «желание порождает мысль». Not only Shakespeare gave idioms to the English language. During several centuries English writers had been enriching English phraseological fund. “To catch smb. red-handed” (“Ivanhoe”) — «застать с поличным»; “On one’s native path” (“Rob Roy”) — «перейти от смеха к слезам» are by Walter Scott. “Fall on evil days” — «бедствовать»; “Heaven on Earth” — «рай земной» are by John Milton from “Paradise Lost”. “King Charles’s head” — «навязчивая идея»; “Never say die” — «не отчаиваться» are by Charles Dickens “David Copperfield”. “Merry as a marriage-bell” (“Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage”) — «очень веселый, жизнерадостный» is by George Gordon Byron. “The tail wags the dog” — «подчиненный командует начальником» (“The Conundrum of the Workshops”) is by Joseph Rudyard Kipling. Nowadays idioms from literary compositions are very popular in daily life and are widely used by people in Great Britain. So, we have read some examples of idioms from the English literature. But, maybe, some questions about methods of translations appeared and you wish to get answers on them? Actually, translation of idioms can bring to us a rather big quantity of problems, but there are ways to overcome them. Now, let’s lead our steps on methods of translation, which is the search of equivalent.

For instance, if we have such phraseologism as “to clip smb’s wing”, that come to us from 18th century English literature and was used by Christophe Marlowe, the famous English playwright and poet, we can find an obvious equivalent in Russian: «подрезать кому-либо крылья». That is why we can translate this phrase without difficulty. But what are we supposed to do if we don’t have a straightforward equivalent? Then we go in search of another lifebuoy that is called an analog method. And for illustration of this way of translation let’s take a funny idiom “as cool as a cucumber”, which also has its roots in the 18th century literature and was used by John Gay. There is no the exactly corresponding indiom in our language. Despite this fact, we can say «глазом не моргнёт» or «в ус не дует». Maybe, you hope, that it is all, but we are going to attract your attention to two more methods, which we use, when we face the situations that are more difficult. One of them is meta-phrase, when we should translate an idiom word for word. And now the literature of the 20th century hurries to help us in the person of Joseph Rudyard Kipling, because we will use his idiom “the tail wags the dogs” from his “The Conundrum of the Workshops” as an example. So, why don’t we translate this phraseologism as «хвост виляет собакой»? It is unlikely that the problem of understanding this phrase will arise and we understand a figurative meaning of the idiom without any difficulties. But, there are some situations, which make us think more time… If we can find nothing, that will be a suitable change for an English idiom to the Russian language, we translate such phrase by means of description. “An albatross about one’s neck” is a rather catching and unusual idiom from poem “The Ancient Mariner” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. The fact, that this idiom has a direct connection with content of the writer’s poem. The character (sailor) killed the albatross and this accident became the cause of trouble on his ship. As a punishment of his action, he had to bring a dead albatross on his neck. So, this idiom should be translated as constant reminder about somebody’s fault, i.e. we can only describe the meaning of this phraseologism, but cannot find an equivalent or some analog. So, now you know some information about idioms and methods of translation. We hope this article can help you to increase your level of English.

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Research

Daria Savelieva

The world of Classical Ethiopian Literature What do we know about Africa except high mountains, wide rivers and marvelous animals? Unfortunately, almost nothing. Imagine, more than 2000 languages and people who are cardinally remarkable for their customs and traditions. From these facts we can ideate how many writers were born in Africa. All of them create their writings in different genres and pens. African literature refers to literature of and from Africa. While the European perception of literature generally refers to written letters, the African concept includes oral literature. And it's the main problem in studying and exploring African literature. One of the countries that has a written literary tradition, which remounts to antiquity, is Ethiopia. The rise of Ethiopian classical literature was due to the introduction of Christianity so opuses were associated with religion and orthodox beliefs. It includes heroic poetry, works of philosophic reflections, historical narratives, theological and ecclesiastical books, hagiology, chronicles and romance. The classical literature was expressed in Geez that is the oldest written language in Africa.

First books were the Ethiopic translations of the Holy Bible and other religious texts made from Arabic, Greek, Coptic. One of the earliest native works written in the thirteenth century is the famous Kebra Nagast (The Glory of Kings). It is a romance, tracing back the origin of kings to the beginning of the world and the lineage of the Abyssinian dynasty to the time of Solomon. Then, in the fourteenth century “Lives of saints” and “the Chronicles of the Kings” first were written. They were about native saints but with adopted details. Chronicles refer to the different movements of the king and his reign. The fifteenth century became the Golden Age of classical literature on Geez. King Zara Yakob wrote “the Book of Light”. It is polemic against heathenish practices and magic ceremonies. Church hymns of various kinds also come from this time. King Naod create a collection of Sellase (six-lined stanzas). The “Sellase” is a kind of poem intended to be sung in Church after certain verses of the Psalter. Other books of Church-song are the “Deggua” and the “Meraf ”, which are collections of hymns for the different festivals throughout the year. In this time also various lives (of Takla Haymanot, of Yekuno Amlak) and chronicles were written by Ethiopians. The sixteenth century was marked by wars and struggles which caused a plentitude of writing of Chronicles. One of the most important of these is the Short Chronicle about ancient and contemporaneous kings of Ethiopia. It is the century when first books about philosophy and law were appeared. Two philosophers of the seventeenth century are Zara Yakob and his pupil Walda Heywat. They exhort people to believe in God, use their mind and develop psychic qualities. Their philosophy is still relevant. “The Fetha Nagast” (Laws of the Kings) is the corpus of Ethiopian laws composed of two parts. The first part comprises subjects connected with the Church, the Liturgy, Fasting, Martyrs. The second part comprehends laws related to guardianship, wills, relations between creditor and debtor, murder and punishments. However, the Ethiopians except the clergy neither spoke no wrote Geez, so in the nineteenth century Amharic became the literary language of the country. A new period of literature began. Of course, this is only a small portion of Classical Ethiopian Literature. It is impossible to list them all. Besides, many texts have not been found or explored yet.

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Research

Alexandra Belova

Literary Modernism as I met it

Modernism is claimed to be revolutionary. What is the movement’s defining features?

Modernism was born in 1890–1920s. It was created by James Joyce, Ezra Pound, Virginia Woolf. It’s difficult to say what is common between the authors. We should say a few words about the time. It is a period of many movements. Patterns of life and culture are breaking up. Skepticism at the end of 19th century became a kind of force for modernism. Cinema appears and cosmopolitism, urbanism, avantgarde comes under flickering light. Self-consciousness, human character changes in general and writers represent it in their novels. The early 1920th are determined by an effort of part of the intellectuals to exclude the masses from culture. On the other hand Virginia Woolf patronized the lowest classes. Modernists found democratization a «dirty word». They ignored technology progress, but named themselves the modernists. The movement was full of paradoxes.

V. Woolf is famous “philological maiden”

Modernism was a total break with conventional forms, with lyric. Although it is difficult to say what is common between all the authors, we will. There is a stream-of-consciousness, an inner monologue, and the use of multiple points-of-view. All the points can be found in any definition of modernism. What does it mean? Virginia Woolf is the one of the most influential authors of modernism. She writes everything about the stream-of-consciousness. Actually, she doesn’t write. She reflects not on the outward things, but herself. And you are immersing in this reflection like in a river stream. “Mrs. Dalloway”, “Orlando: a Biography” are great examples of sophisticated author’s style.

Modernism continues for me with a strong connection with the name of Marcel Proust. Proust is great. His main work contains more than 3000 pages and 7 volumes. The title is “In Search of Lost Time”. You can imagine how many jokes have appeared provoked by the size of the book! Just one of them:

“I have read Proust… now looking for the lost time”.

In some sense, Proust’s epic novel is not the literature. It is a symphony, which allows you to forget where you are and what you are doing as far as to forget the main line and meaning of what you’ve read. One of my friends called it «lace». The entire book is the inner monologue of a young man Marcel. The name of the author is a mere coincidence, I suppose. An inviting sight of M. Proust. Read it all

The last but not the least for today is William Faulkner. I cannot describe his manner of writing, each book is a masterpiece. “The Sound and the Fury” is a great example of multiple points-of-view. You should be careful with that book. It allows you to penetrate into someone’s consciousness too deeply. Not to mention “As I Lay Dying”. If you could handle it, you would be able to lay and... Fortunately, you cannot. It is not an article, actually. In the end I can tell only one thing. If you are looking for something to read, pass by the modernists. However, if you are willing to feel the power of the word, go ahead!

W. Faulkner is relaxed

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Ways of perception

Maria Belonogova

Inspiration

— the process that takes place when somebody sees or hears something that causes them to have exciting new idea or makes them to want to create something, especially in art, music or literature Oxford Dictionary of Current English

Inspiration... Many people have heard this word, some of them even think, that they know, what it means. However, there could not be a rigorous definition for such a personal part of our life as an artistic inspiration. This article is just an attempt to look inside a creation process and to understand, how it is to be inspired.

“I write when I’m inspired, and I see to it that I’m inspired at nine o’clock every morning”.

First, it is important to know, when inspiration comes to be ready to meet it :) There are several opinions on this issue. Some people think, the best time for oeuvre is dark night, for example 2 a.m., others believe that muse can visit a creator whenever she wants. Some people need special conditions to become inspired: light room or a sound of the sea, but others needs only a desk. You will understand that later. Peter De Vries, who is a famous American writer, is an adherent of a third point of view. He told: So, IT has come. But what should you do now? Take paper and a pen, all you need is to write down everything! Some people suggest, that the condition of inspiration is very fragile and ephemeral, that’s why you should try to fix the images you will see, do not care about the form, there will be time for making it ideal later. It is not less important what to do at the rest of time. “Read a lot and write a lot… reading is the creative center of a writer’s life… you cannot hope to sweep someone else away by the force of your writing until it has been done to you”, — Stephen King advises. Every simple word, sound or action is able to inspire.

“The Inspiration of the Poet” Nicolas Poussin, circa 1629–1630

The Louvre museum Richelieu wing, 2d floor, room 12

You should live your usual life, because you are just you, do not spy your grandmother to write a detective novel :), be yourself and try to remember the things you would like to share. Keep everything in your mind, you needn’t tell a truthful story, it should be interesting. What about an origin of inspiration? It is rather difficult question. Perhaps, it’s answer depends on personal convictions — for example religious people believe that God gives them ideas, answers their questions and communicates this way. Other think, only their own work is a source for creativity. As for me, I am not totally sure in anything about inspiration. The only thing I know is that Dan Poynter was absolutely right, when he told following words:

“If you wait for inspiration to write; you’re not a writer, you’re a waiter”. You just need to decide, who of them do you want to be.

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Ways of perception

Gorlatova Svetlana Who Wants to Read the “Mysterious Russian Soul”?

It is typical for Russians to be involuntary experts on Tolstoy, Dostoevsky and Chekhov. Russian classics are included in a mandatory school program. As the result, practically everybody in Russia has a clue about these authors. And I took a thought about reading Russian literature abroad. It is a well-known fact that Russian classic literature is famous all over the world. Do people from other countries read and love books of Tolstoy, Dostoevsky or Chekhov? I have read some articles and forums, where Russian emigrants share their observations about reading in different countries, to answer these questions. Firstly, I found out when Russian literature appeared in foreign languages. In the middle of the 19th century Prosper Merimee, a French writer, introduced Pushkin and Gogol to Frenchmen. Later, at the turn of the century, other Russian classics’ works were translated into European languages. Foreigners have been attracted to Russian literature by the idea of “Mysterious Russian Soul”. The concept of “Mysterious Russian Soul” was invented by themselves. They meant that sometimes people from other countries don’t understand Russians’ behavior and find Russians’ psychics very cryptic. Foreign readers have always tried to open this secret of Russian soul, to understand Russian culture. As the result, Russian literature has become famous all over the world. The “War and Peace” by Tolstoy was accepted as a rebirth of Homeric epic tradition and at the same time as a psychological novel. What is more, world literature readers have been borne away by tragic and painful passions of Dostoevsky’s characters and important philosophical questions posed by the writer. Chekhov was widely recognized as a distinguished playwright. The next step for me was to make an overview of Russian literature works’ presence in different countries. It is very prestigious to have a shelf with the tomes of Tolstoy, Dostoevsky and Chekhov in bookshops of the USA, Belgium, Great Britain, Germany and France. Besides, there are a lot of libraries with Russian classic literature abroad. For example, even the library of a small town in Belgium like Dendermond has books of Pushkin, Tolstoy, Lermontov, Dostoevsky etc. Nevertheless, this is not peculiar in every European country. If we take Spain, we will see that you can find these Russian authors only in special university libraries. Similarly there are no high-quality translations into the Spanish language. The problem of translation was discussed on the seminar “Problems of promotion Russian literature abroad” in Moscow in 2012. Cecilia Akiko Kashivamura, a literature agent from Japan, said that several years ago “The Brothers Karamazov” (Fedor Dostoevsky) became a sensation in Japan.

Then Ikuo Kameyama, the professor of Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, adapted this novel for the Japanese and they welcomed “The Brothers Karamazov” enthusiastically. Furthermore, I investigated the question about screenings of Russian classic books. There are a lot of screenings of Russian classic works in different countries: Great Britain, Germany, France, the USA. It is interesting that there is a soap opera “Anna Karenina” (Leo Tolstoy) in Brazil. Besides, the Japanese TV made a soap opera based on “The Brothers Karamazov” in 2013, but it was adapted to Japanese everyday life. In addition, there is a film about Leo Tolstoy’s life “The Last Station” of German-Russian-British production. So, foreigner readers are interested in biographies and personalities of Russian classics as well. Each of these facts tells us that people from all over the world try to interpret Russian classic literature. However there is one more question that hasn’t been investigated. Do common people living in other countries read Russian classics? I conducted little research asking my friends to contact with their foreign friends. The results are rather curious. For example, the Spaniards often don’t know even their own classics, because reading is a rare occupation for them. In addition, you can face the same situation in the USA. If you ask the Americans why they rarely read classics they will answer if the Americans read they are wasting the time they could spend on solving their economical problems. Of course, it is not the rule for whole nation. According to my research, the Americans like Tolstoy, Pushkin and Dostoyevsky. One American guy saw a movie “Anna Karenina” and then decided to read it. A curious message was from one Italian. He said that while he was reading books by Dostoevsky he meditated why his heroes are so strange. Later he began to communicate with Russians and he understood that all Russians were the heroes of Dostoevsky’s books. However, many people from different countries buy the books by Russian classics, but then never open them. As the result, Russian literature has strange reputation in the world. On the one hand, it is very prestigious for foreigners, bookshops and libraries to have it. On the other hand, Russian classics are rather difficult to read for people from other countries. In spite of this, foreigners show a deep interest in Russian literature and sometimes even more than the Russians themselves. The Great Secret hides in every book of Lermontov, Dostoevsky, Pushkin, Tolstoy, Chekhov… Reading the Russian classics, foreigners get a chance to unravel the “Mysterious Russian Soul”.

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Ways of perception

Veronika Stasyunaite Effect of words or how to choose the book

What is this article mainly about? The heading can’t always accurately convey the meaning of the content. The books with the mystifying title are often boring and uninteresting. Imagine that you are the person holding the book in the hand. The book is the world and а life story. But if the book is still closed, it has no effect on the reader. When anybody has opened it, his life changes and his mind sinks in an endless stream of letters and symbols. Does it happen to you that you put aside the book and dive into the infinite world of dreams? The book is falling from your hands, you are feeling light-headed, your thoughts are disappearing, you can only see the reflection. You see the people. Their faces are alive, joyful, people are laughing, people are alive (!)... Suddenly, someone put his hand on your shoulder, and you realize that you are in the room where there is nobody, no flowers, no music, no sound of laughter. The book has made this short traveling into the world of dreams possible. The book was the guide. The guide may be any other object and phenomenon. I would like to tell you about the effect of words. Before I start, I will say a few words about the reasons for writing this article. At first. I suggest you answer some questions.

1. Can somebody tell a story that has never happened with him? If your answer is “YES”, try to look at the situation from the other side. Fictional stories happen to us in our minds, these stories have their background. Our mind, imagination, feelings and desires don’t live apart from ourselves and they’re events of our lives. If your answer is still “Yes”, put aside this article; don’t waste your time. Believe me, reading won’t give you anything. 2. Does man do anything for no reason? I’ll help you a little. If the action is disorderly conduct, the reason may be breaker’s psychological state. There is always a reason. If you do not see it, it doesn’t mean that it there is not/it doesn’t exist.

Short story Blind can see right side or left side, but behold only fog. Everything has a reason.

It was a June evening in the field. Two people were going down the path. One was looking around, breathing the aroma of herbs saturating air, staring at the sky and saying: “Look, what a beauty!” his companion looked right, looked left, and said: “Where? I can’t see! When will we go home?” The reasons for writing this article are elementary. 1. Coming into contact with something you remain the keeper of something forever. The keeper of treasures can’t hide treasures. 2. Mayakovsky said the following words: “If stars are lit, it means there is someone who needs it.” I hope, if this article is written, it will find its readers. What is the effect of words? Does every word have an effect? Is there a difference between the word on paper and on lips?

“The snow like stale bread is cutting hungry eyes that are looking for some ray of the light.”

The effect is something that affects the reader and listener. Remember the books you have read. Remember what feelings they evoked. You open some books, start reading, and suddenly realize that the wings behind the back are cut, the head is heavy, thoughts are muddled into a ball. Looking out the window, you remember these words from the book Another book has an opposite effect: you want to live and have power. The words — “The stale bread is bread and the sun is shining on the snow-white winter blanket; the sparkle nourishes the eyes” — becomes the motto of a new day.

Изнемогая от боли, он продолжал писать. Его строки лечили и исцеляли, Он не мог перестать страдать, Потому что буквы боли не знали.

Words are repeated, but the structure of sentences is different, therefore the effect is opposite. Structure is the core of the book. Structure is put in a book by the author. Sometimes it happens spontaneously. Life's core (like the trunk of plants) penetrates into the pages of the book (like leaves of the plant are fed from the trunk).

Он впитывал то, о чем говорил, Он писал то, что должно родиться, Он мимо не проходил, А когда уходил, нам было, чем гордиться.

The author is always responsible for what he said. It doesn’t matter what you have — the written word or said word. The word is the embodiment of saying word’s thought. Always try to remember it!

Он был просто писателем, А мы только читали, Он был жизни создателем, А мы ее проживали.

Be careful when you choose the book. The reader becomes a new page of the book because he/she absorbs a piece of the author. Written by one person words can create, whereas written by others the same words can destroy.

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Impossible to break away

Photography by Anastasia Kudryavtseva

Model: Alexandr Kovalenko

Model: Natalya Beldinova

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Impossible to break away

Model: Vladislav Beliy

Model: Elena Karelina

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Around the globe We are all different. We have different interests, different professions, different views. But there are some things that unite us. And one of them is the magical world of books. I asked my friends all over the globe about their favorite ones to prove it. And maybe you’ll find one of yours among them.

Katya Kulikova

My favorite American book is called ‘‘Eat, Pray, Love’’. It's about a woman who goes on a journey to different countries where she meets different people, has different experiences, and ends up finding truth, enlightenment and herself. It was also recently made into a movie. I like it because it’s very well written, it’s touching and meaningful, it has beautiful story and lesson. And I think people should read it to experience that story.

Alright, So one of my favourite books is ‘‘Going Postal’’ by Terry Pratchett. I like it because it is very funny with a good storyline, it puts humour in a fantasy backdrop about a post office. And everyone should read it and other novels by Terry Pratchett because they because he is an amazing author that gets your imagination working into overdrive. Hope that is enough, if not let me know. hope all is well. My favourite book is probably ‘‘The Hobbit’’. It’s an introduction to the world of Middle Earth that speaks to the inner children of millions around the globe, and it allows one to lose themselves in something greater than themselves. It’s funny, witty, and incredibly charming; giving insights into humanity, love, and loyalty that one can carry with them for the rest of their lives. People should read The Hobbit for no other reason than that it’s good fun, and Tolkien paints a world that’s un-put-downable.

Andrea Cameline 23, theater major Albright College, Bethlehem, PA, USA

Joshua Talbot 25, archeologist, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Rashid Ibrahim 23, civil engineering Northamptom Community College, Bethlehem, PA, USA

‘‘Next’’, by Michael Crichton. Crichton is very popular here and well known for his techno-thriller novels. ‘‘Next’’, in my opinion, is one of his best. It explores the morality of technology involving genetics and the consequences of improving this technology, while keeping the reader on the edge of his/her seat with a compelling murder mystery. A very good read.

‘‘Roses are red’’ by James Patterson. Its an amazing book its part of a six book series. I like it because it has just the right amount of insanity vs sanity the mastermind being insanity Alex cross being sanity. Patterson does a good job at portraying both psychopath and detective. Plus there's a lot of necrophillia in it which I love. And the bad guy ‘‘the mastermind’’ ends up being an FBI agent all along. It shows that anyone can be capable of evil even people in power.. ahem you're welcome.

Okay, it is impossible for me to pick a favorite book, because every book evokes a different emotion and during my life at different times, different books have meant so much to me and made me who I am today. When I think about when I was young I remember reading ‘‘Louisa may’’ Alcott's little women series and it completely blew me away, when I was a teenager and felt misunderstood, JD Sallinger's ‘‘Catcher in the Rye’’ made me realize I'm not alone.

Sean Miller 26, BBA Actuarial Science Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

Brian Matos 21, Liberal arts Northampton Community College, Fountain Hill, PA, USA

Elaine Dippenaar 25, theology with focus on old testament and ancient near eastern studies University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South African Republic

Recently before Travelled to India I read ‘‘Shantaram’’ by Gregory David Roberts, a modern day epic tale set mostly in India, I couldn't put it down! Being from South Africa, I think every South African, but also anyone in the world who wants to understand the last 100 years in SA should read our old president Nelson Mandela's book ‘‘Long road to Freedom’’, it is an inspiring tale about human spirit in the face of adversity. It continues to be one of the biggest inspirational tales to me as well as our country! All these books formed me into who I am today, but if I HAD to chose just one book to read for the rest of my life it would be JRR Tolkiens ‘‘Lord of the Rings’’. I read it once a year, and it always have a different meaning. It completely takes me to another world but teaches me about this world. It always reminds me that ultimately, no matter how dark everything looks around you, good always triumphs over evil. Even when it seems completely impossible.

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Books vs Movies

Polina Archipova A story about

Misery

I like to read books and I also like to watch movies, but most of all I like to compare them. And there is no wonder why I chose Stephen King's novels — as we know, they are very popular in the film industry. The first book I opened was “Misery” and I liked it so much, that I decided to write an essay about it. Imagine the situation: you are a famous writer who just finished a new novel, which should save your honor as a professional. Thank God, you don't need to write another dull book about Misery and her endless sentimental adventures. And how it was pleasant to kill her in the one of the last chapters. Of course, you need to drink a little. And maybe once again. You jump in your car and rush at full speed beyond the horizon. But what is it? The sky becomes dark and you can't see anything. Champagne dims your mind and you’re loosing control with the car because of the snow flakes. The last thing you see is darkness and the only thing you feel is pain. Sounds terrible? Our main hero, Paul Sheldon, was in this situation. But, he was a lucky one (or maybe not), and he was rescued from the car wreck by Annie Wilkes. It looks like I'm talking about the happy end of the book. But the culmination is still to come. The story that starts with the great luck turns into a great disaster. The mask of decency hide the madness. And the number one fan can become the number one enemy. The novel electrifies the readers and makes them forget about everything. And the feeling of misery slowly penetrates in the heart. It seems, like you are there, locked with Paul Sheldon and trying to save your live. You can't runaway — your legs are broken. You can't shout — no one can hear you. Your only escape is writing another book about Misery. I guess, this special atmosphere is the key to the book's popularity and that's why I was quite disappointed when I didn't feel it while I was watching the film. The screenplayer for the film was written by William Goldman. He meaningfully rid the film of all cruel scenes, because he wanted to show “the idea of a chess match between the artist and his fan”. (thanks wiki!) I am not a fan of bloody scenes but I think that this maneuver wasn't that good. Let me show an example. When Paul Sheldon did or said something wrong Annie Wilkes always punished him. In one chapter she gave him slops instead of water and in another she locked him in the cellar with rats. But she didn't do it just because she liked it. She had a mental disorder that made her “the special one”. The one who knew the true order of the things. And in that way she tried to save Paul Sheldon from bad things just like his typescript or something worse.

So this severity is a part of her intricate personality. And even the great acting can't fill up the gap. These are not empty words, Katy Bates as Annie Wilkes shows the great performance. Her change from calm emotions to furious amazed and surprised. And there is no doubt why she got the Oscar. Another part of the film that quite disappointed me was Paul Sheldon. I read that many actors didn't want to play this role because of its passivity. That's right, he suffered a repulse many times. But I also think that it's not the main idea in this character. We can see how he's growing up as a writer and how the writing saves him in times of trouble. He is not a superhero. He is just like us. Moreover, he has terrible injuries. But in the film I saw another Paul Sheldon. He was calm, charming and active. James Caan looks great but I didn't see the book character. Just another person in the same decorations. I think that the director of this film, Rob Reiner, didn't show some important details. For example, dreadful scenes. After all we still can watch an interesting film about crazy fan and miraculous rescue of the famous writer. But there is nothing about writer's reflection and his personal growth. In this film Poul Sheldon didn't break the vicious circle of commercial scribble and didn't pay dear for his successful and faceless novels. And that's why I became disillusioned with James Caan's character. Thus, I think that Rob Reiner was too focused on the entertaining part of the plot. I saw a good horror film with great actors, but I really missed this second line. Of course, there were good finds too. The resourceful sheriff and his wife wove some humor into a plot. (But they also wove a river of sadness. I wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t say why, but I was crying like a baby). The line with the writer's daughter and his editor looked interesting too. And, certainly, decorations. While I was watching the film I had a strong feeling that Annie Wilkes' house was taken from my head. Just amazing! After all, I'd like to say, that I didn't want to impose my opinion. Oh no! It will be great to discuss these novel and film and I'm open to criticism. But I still think that the book is much better :p And what do you think?

Thanks for reading!

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Books vs Movies

Yu l i y a F i l i m o n o v a

Photo: Yarik Tavchenkov, Aleksandr Spiridonov

ALL SENSE IS IN THE CONCEPT! We met with the Professor Eugenie Georguievich Sokolov to talk about books, movies and defects of education. What does literature and filmmaking mean for the culture? They both take up an important place in the culture. It is impossible to talk about the superiority of one. Anyway, literature and filmmaking play a big part in socialization and a cultural education. Can you say that the desire for making a screen signifies the weakness of a film expressive power? That the filmmaking is forced to turn to the literature… And vice versa. No, It is not. Literature and filmmaking are different things. Each of them has its own sign system. The sign system can use the same narration… Eventually, it does not matter where it comes from, because this narration is put over a concept, over social guidelines. And pragmatics can be absolutely different: didactic or entertaining… Why don’t I like the new adaptations of “The Idiot” or “The Master and Margarita”? Because the filmmaking stays in this case in the same space with the source, solving the same problem. But different sign systems must create their narration in different ways. Then, from the point of view of a culture theorist, what is an ideal adaptation? Definitely, the adaptation of a concept, not a narration. So, multiple points of view at the same book? The more the better? Of course. It applies to the modernizing of the classic drama. It does not matter that Bergman uses an image of fascists in Hamlet. The point is that the concept is paradoxically kept. And the concept is in a new day tradition, in settled views. And if you were a director, what would you screen? If you would screen? Of course, I would! A cookery book! (laughing). Why not? It is cool! Because today it is necessary to screen books, which are meaningful for a today culture. Now food, body, healthy lifestyle are practices, which are interpreted as important ones. So it should be screened. How? Maybe, cartoons’ images, allegory figures… “Alive dead body” of the theatre “Roman” is wonderful. It is about it, about the concept. Have you seen it? You ought to! Can you name your favorite recent adaptation? Yes, I can. Just don’t laugh! (laughing) There are two adaptations of “The Idiot”. One of them is with Gérard Philipe. It is “The Idiot”, the French one. Usual interpretations disappear with the French approach. The same narration, but the other concept. The same thing with a Japanese version… Oh! I’ve remembered! It’s wonderful! The adaptation of “Ten Commandments” by Kisielevski. One Commandment — one film. A usual today life, the same heroes. Poland in its transition from socialism to capitalism. Is it the adaptation? Yes! But they screen concept!

Evgeniy Georguievich, what about philosophical literature? There are adaptations… You mean Plato’s “Feast”? As an example. But “Feast” is good to screen. And what about more “dry”, laconic philosophy? It has the concept that you talked about, as well. So is that possible to screen “The Critique of Pure Reason”? Yes, I suppose. How exactly? You know, film is a depiction. The depiction can be abstract like literature. You’ve watched “Man Ray”! It’s a pure abstraction! So “The Critique of Pure Reason” can be realized! And it should be abstract like the book is. It could be interesting… But, It seems to me, it is unprecedented. Would it help to popularize this kind of literature? Or there is no need in this… It couldn’t be. I think this kind of popularization should be in the primary school together with reading of Plato’s “Dialogs”. It’s naïve to say that there is different literature for children and for adults. There are people who can read Descartes and people unable to do it.. So, you don’t agree when parents say: “You are too young for this book!”? If there aren’t ethic reasons, of course. No. You do know the history of culture. Two last centuries: what is early? What is late? You can or you can’t! You’re knowledgeable or you’re not! I think Descartes should be simply read at school. (laughing) And will the problem be solved? Not solved, but a place will be reserved for a filling. There will be an idea of this place!

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Breaking down stereotypes

“Home is a place where nobody asks questions” Interview:

Mila Vasilieva Photos by Christina Bandzeladze

? Mila Vasilieva:

Good afternoon, Ekaterina! Firstly, I want to know why “An American cabinet of Joseph Brodsky” appeared here, at the museum of Anna Akhmatova in Fountain House. We know that Brodsky and Akhmatova were friends. Was it an extraordinary story of moving personal belongings to the museum?

The spirit of Brodsky strolls about the streets of Saint-Petersburg avenues of New-York and the squares of Venice. We can find the images of these cities in his verses. There is no museum dedicated to Brodsky, but just a temporary shelter is in the Akhmatova museum. It is “An American cabinet of Joseph Brodsky”. We had a conversation with Ekaterina Pechenik, the co-creator of the exposition about the process of its organizing. Ekaterina Pechenik: Brodsky’s possessions were transferred here when the museum of Anna Akhmatova was created. Mostly there were documents connected with Brodsky and Akhmatova. Then, in 1990s Brodsky’s friends started to bring memorial things. J. Gordin, the poet’s friend, a writer and historian, passed to the museum a part of the archive which he had kept after Brodsky parents death. There were autographs, letters, postcards and photos. Organization of a series of exhibitions dedicated to Brodsky was another reason for getting new objects. In 1990 the first exhibition was opened, it was connected with Brodsky’s 50 anniversary. “Leningrad. Venice. New-York” was the name of a big exhibition that was held in the 2003. The poet’s widow Maria Brodskaya gifted to the museum the things from an American town South Hadley, Massachusetts, where Brodsky had been lecturing in a college since 1980 Especially for this event. The cabinet consists of a table, reading-lamp, armchair, sofa, old wooden desk, the part of the library and many photos.

MV:

EP: Yes, and in the 2005 “An American cabinet of Joseph Brodsky” was opened.

MV:

EP: The organizers didn’t try to reproduce the real personal study of the poet but create a writer’s image through the things that were dear to him. The cabinet is a kind of poet’s pattern of consciousness that reflects his lifestyle, no matter on which part of the globe he is.

And these things were the basis of the exposition, that we can see now?

This exposition differs from other memorial complexes. There is no impression that the things owner has just left for some time. The space is quite peculiar. How was it created?

This is not a collection of poet’s belongings, it shouldn’t be regarded literally. That is a so-called total installation (Ilya Kabakov’s term) in a memorialliterature museum. It’s dedicated to the poet whose life across the ocean had been always linked with our city. MV:

And what special techniques were used while creating this installation?

EP: All the original things here are unique. They have their, events, history and the marks of poet’s fate. They also refer to his texts. “Home is a place where you’re not asked unnecessarilly. Nobody is asking here, there is nobody here, there is just me”, — Joseph Brodsky wrote. It was the house organized by its own rules: furniture like in Leningrad’s house, books, photos of the parents and favorite poets. The aim exposition organizers had was not just to show the external look of Brodsky cabinet in the University Town South Hadly, but to give an impression of what is named “poets creating process”. The author of that total installation wasn’t just an expositioner but an artist-director (V. Bystrov), who took into account the psychology of visitor’s perception and tried to encourage the viewer to reflect vividly. That is why the exposition creators attempted to unite two spaces — the space of American personal study and Leningrad house Muruziand two time periods — the late 1980th, when Brodsky was writing his essay devoted to his parents’ memory, and the middle 1960th, when the action of “A room and a half” took place?

Breaking down stereotypes

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MV:

So we should sense by being here what Brodsky felt in South Hadly while thinking of his mother city and his parents?

MV:

It’s perfect that there is the place where we can remember Brodsky and emerge in his creations. But the real Brodsky apartment preserved on Liteyniy prospect — will a museum be ever created there?

EP: It can be said so. But the aim of the creators was to make personal associations appear. In that case museum objects start to be not just themselves, united by some logical line, but carry on dialogue with each other uncovering new senses. Brodsky always had photos of dear people in his American cabinet and constantly talked with them mentally. Thanks to his memory a life story of his father, who was a war correspondent, a journalist and a photographer, was always alive. “Madonna with the Child” by Bellini is the most important moment in a complex chain of associations connected with the writer’s Christianity theme. This is also an eternal maternity theme — an inseparable connection and tragic parting of mother and son. To show the impression on Brodsky essay the artist added to the interior of the cabinet an installation made of changing photos. He used electronic pharms which look like traditional ones but let the depiction constantly change that makes an effect of photos “turned alive”. EP: There has been a need in organizing a Brodsky museum in his “Room and a half” for a long time. For this purpose the “Fund of creation of Brodsky museum” was established in Saint-Petersburg. Today, 5 out of 6 rooms of the flat are redeemed. Despite the fact that

the conception of future museum has been developed, the problem of creating a memorial exposition isn’t solved. The Social community “С миру по нитке — Бродскому музей” organizes different events and actions. MV:

EP: Yes, we actively do. We participated in literary evenings, books presentations in Murusi House in the “Room and a half”. This all is highly demanded.

MV:

EP: Certainly, this is a unique project, because friends and familiars of the poet are alive. They remember how books were placed at the shelves in his apartment! The apartment is unchanged, something of the furnishings is preserved.

Does Akhmatova museum take part in these events?

That is a proof that museum is needed.

MV:

If the museum is organized in the “Room and a half”, what will happen with “An American cabinet of Brodsky” in the Fountain House? Will the exhibition be transfered there?

EP: All exhibits are memoirs of Brodsky’s American life. They are at the permanent storage of the museum and they will stay here. “The room and a half” is about the life of the poet in Leningrad. The future museum exposition will be about social and political life of Leningrad in 1960–1990s. MV: Ekaterina, we just want to thank you for honest dialogue. During the conversation with Ekaterina we touched the theme of Brodsky’s lyrics, his pattern of consciousness, his friends. Of course, it’s impossible to put everything in this interview. The unique atmosphere of the cabinet of the poet helped us to emerge deeply into the world of Brodsky. If you visit “An American cabinet of Joseph Brodsky” in Fountain house, you will feel it.

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Breaking down stereotypes

When some secrets are told

Interview: Anton Putilovsky, Mila Vasilieva Photo: Aleksandr Spiridonov

Unfortunately, true bibliophiles can find few places worth visiting in St. Petersburg. Fortunately, “Britania” store is certainly among them. There you can get really nice pieces of literature from foreign publishers. Pleasant atmosphere and good collection of literature works are what the visitors can find. But the store has its own special life. We were lucky to have an opportunity to talk with the employees of the store — Elena Kislenkova and Marina Efremova to lift the veil from some mysteries of “Britania” store.

Good evening! To begin with, I would like to ask who is the target audience of your store? Marina: The target audience consists of all people, young and old, who learn foreign languages in St. Petersburg. Of course, first of all, there are school students, students of commercial courses, university students and people whose work is related with the foreign languages. Some housewives dreaming of getting married to a rich foreigner are also among them as well as older people whose children live abroad. Elena: You can specify the books which are popular with housewives? Marina: These are usually some brief speaking intensive courses that are enough to communicate through the network, for example. What kind of literature is the most popular with your customers? Marina: This is, of course, educational literature. Unfortunately, our people are still not good enough at foreign languages to be interested in fiction or some scientific books in English. A pretty long time of cultural isolation made many people not understand why there is a necessity of learning foreign languages. Only the last few years there are enough motivated customers who understand that knowledge of foreign languages is significant for our people to be a valuable member of the world society.

Walking through the store, we saw a book of Conan Doyle with the cover, on which the heroes of the series "Sherlock " were pictured. How often do you use such methods? Marina: I try to use them, because, pay attention, first of all, to design of the cover. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why our western partners made a cover with Cumberbatch . Someone knew nothing about Conan Doyle until the series. And now, with the help of the remarkable picture he has a chance to meet Sherlock within the original text. By the way, we know much about the movies shot on the books but there are also plenty of books written on the movies or even on the computer games, what I found extremely funny. From what sources do you get information about any new books? Marina: We are looking through the catalogs of publishers that are sent to us constantly. We are also monitoring the authors popular in previous years or those whose books will be bought according to our experience. In addition to this, we get much information from our customers. Are the any presentations of books in your store? Marina: No, because they are to be hold on a high level, including inviting the writer. However, I often talk about the books by myself and try to give useful advices to the customers. Elena: What Marina told is right for the fiction. On the other side,

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Breaking down stereotypes

the presentations of textbooks are regularly held, even with participation of foreign authors and publishers. Of course, these activities are organized for a pretty narrow circle, for teachers etc. You’ve mentioned that educational literature is the most popular with your customers, and there are some difficulties with the sale of fiction. Are there any other difficulties during your work? Elena: fluctuations of the euro. Marina: Yes, this is perhaps one of the most difficult moments. And the second is the administrative burden on educational institutions, a number of laws that are being made about the use of only Russian textbooks for language learning in schools. It's not right, I believe. Elena: Foreign language courses should be worked out by foreigners, because students need to understand how the world differs in languages in England, Spain, Italy etc. How has the demand changed during five previous years? Marina: Fortunately, people have improved their knowledge of foreign languages. The “Starter” courses have almost disappeared as this stage seems to have already been passed. Also, more and more people take international exams in order to study or work abroad. Moreover, preschoolers tend to study languages . Parents now invest more in education of little children because they are mostly controlled. And even international exams for children came to appear. On the other side, schoolchildren of forms 5–7 are the least motivated in studying languages as their knowledge is usually

enough to communicate and they do not understand the reason for them to improve their skills. How quickly a book published in the West, appears in your store? Marina: If this is some awaited world premiere, which are published pretty rarely (such as Harry Potter), it appears in Russia on the same day. In general, the book appeared on the shelves in stores overseas, will be sold in Russia in six months. It can be a little longer with educational books cause there are lots of additional materials which cannot be published at the same time with the basic one. What books could you advise us, students of the Institute of Philosophy, taking into account the fact that we are not only philosophers, but also conflictologists, theologians, museologists? Marina: This is very subjective, and may be even not connected with your professional orientation. For example, I believe that anyone could love Stephen King. I believe that his magnificent "Under the Dome" should be read by everybody. But this is only my opinion. Thank you! We are grateful for the interview to:

Marina Efremova Head of wholesale department

Elena Kislenkova Head of cultural and educational programs department

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Britaniaâ&#x20AC;? is a pleasant store with incredibly friendly staff and huge collection of educational literature and fiction on foreign languages. It is located in the heart of the city, among the amazing places to visit. So, if you are a English-loving person, do not lose a chance to visit this extremely useful store to widen the world around you.

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Breaking down stereotypes

Adelina Ishmuratova

Does the Book have a future?

Tell me what your favorite book is and I tell you who you are. The connection between people and books is undoubted. Do you remember your mom reading you fairytales when you were a child? And Literature is the one of the most important subjects at school. A lot of students choose it as a further field of activity. As for me, I believe it is one of the most vital parts of our life. However, nowadays many young people believe that reading books is a waste of time. As you can see books are becoming out of date. People more often leaf through their news-line in Facebook, Vkontakte or Twitter, surf the Internet, watch TV and films rather than open a novel. Of course, today we should keep the track of the world news and local events. And we are suffering from the lack on free time. That is why you could declare that it is unreasonable to spend days or even weeks for reading when you can watch a 2-hour film, for example. But ask yourself one simple question: “What I read for?” I guess that it is not so easy to answer that you could think in a first view. When you read, you open the world from the other side. You have wide opportunities to dream, to feel the strongest feelings, to be in another country in another time. You can fancy appearance, clothes, voices of heroes yourself. It develops imagination. Eventually, through the book you get new life experience.

“Bibliotheque de Plage” La Romaniquette in Istres, France

So, despite my respect for another opinion I cannot share it. Personally, I know nothing better than cold evening with a sweet tea, warm wrap and the favorite novel. Nothing can change it. You never be alone if you have a book. Where do people get books from? Right — a bookstore. Now many of them look like fantastic but cozy worlds. When I happen to get into one, I forget about reality, — so excited I get touching, smelling, turning the leaves of new books!

Of course, there are other places to get books from. I’m afraid, most of us have forgotten the meaning of a strange word — “library”. We are used to thinking that it is a calm place with old-fashioned women and a lot of ancient and boring books.

“Biblio Tech” Texas, USA

But how wrong we may be! Book industry is developing together with the changing world. There are new formats of books and libraries are becoming more interactive too. The new library in Texas (Biblio Tech), for example, does not have physical books; it has an electronic catalogue, consisting of 10,000 e-books. The building looks like modern store. The walls are painted in a bright orange color; it has a colorful games area for children, with plush seats and bright screens. iPads, laptops and desktop computers, as well as e-reader are available for users. Modern library is not only the boring place for smart people in glasses. In different places you can find fresh and sometimes amazing ideas for a library. Street the library in New York, mobile library in Thailand, library on the beach in France, library Cycling in Seattle and library in the airport in Amsterdam. As for St. Petersburg, we can identify some marvelous projects in our city too. First of all, it is an idea of “Open Library”. The organizers are holding meetings with writers, lectures and round tables, public readings, workshops and discussions. And the Internet portal “SamoLit” allows writers to publish their works, and readers can download electronic versions of classical and contemporary books for free.

“Schiphol’s Airport Library” Amsterdam, the Netherlands

All in all, literature plays a valuable part in our life. It develops our imagination and mentality, give life lessons and form our character. Someone can protest that today there are practically no great poets and heartwarming books. This is difficult to argue. But we always can travel in Jane Austen, Oscar Wilde, Remarque or Dostoevsky times. Everything depends on you. And who knows, maybe you are a future Shakespeare…

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Elisaveta Vasilieva A real journey in an unreal world Museums of literary heroes

This article tells about the phenomenon of museums of literary heroes. You may ask yourselves: how to realize the reality of something that never existed? For a long time I thought it was impossible, but the creators of many museums of literary characters proved the opposite. These museums help us to feel the atmosphere of literary work, to feel author’s world, to understand the historical period, and sometimes to get acquainted with the characters of a literary work.

The first museum I want to tell you about is The Sherlock Holmes Museum. The Sherlock Holmes Museum is a privately run museum in London, England, dedicated to the famous fictional detective Sherlock Holmes. It opened in 1990 and is situated in Baker Street, bearing the number 221B by permission of the City of Westminster. The Georgian town house which the museum occupies as «221B Baker Street» was formerly used as a boarding house from 1860 to 1936, and covers the period of 1881 to 1904 when Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson were reported to have resided there as tenants of Mrs Hudson. So you can start the great journey of Sherlock Holmes’s world! There are four floors in the museum. A gift shop and a small hallway are at the ground floor. Living room and bedroom Holmes are on the first floor. Room Watson and Mrs. Hudson, hostess and owner of the house are on the third floor. Wax figures of various characters from the novels are on the fourth floor. Museum interior was worked thoroughly, all are taken from the book about Holmes and other sources describing the time.

Also we can narrate you about another magnificent museum, which is situated very close to England — in France. The D'Artagnan museum

Since 1998, the community of Lupiac has boasted of a museum dedicated to d’Artagnan and located in the historic chapel of Saint Jacques, the very same chapel that d’Artagnan’s uncle, Bertrand de Batz, had built next to the hostel for pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostello. The visitor can become acquainted with the famous musketeer and his epoch through a permanent exposition and film.

Have you ever dreamt of seeing where your favorite characters of children's books live? If yes, welcome to the museum by Astrid Lindgren “Junibacken” in Stockholm. The Story Train is central to Junibacken, with its journey through the fabulous stories of Astrid Lindgren, but you will also meet many other famous figures such as Alfie Atkins, Festus and Mercury and Mulle Meck. Story-time characters come to life, and you can play and make noise, relax in a cozy corner, feel chills along your spine, discover and learn, and go to the theatre. The train journey ends at Villa Villekulla. Here, at the home of the strongest girl in the world, you are free to play just as wildly as you like. Here you can ride Pippi’s horse, Old Man, ride the slides, play in Pippi’s kitchen, dress up, paint and draw, play hopscotch, and do lots of other fun things.

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Breaking down stereotypes

You surely can feel the spirit of journeys in Baron Munchausen Museum. The Munchausen's museum is located at the picturesque seaside of Vidzeme in Dunte in Latvia.

In Munchausen's museum everything is true there, yet different. The museum revives the legend of Hieronymus Karl Friedrich von Munchausen. In the manor house of Dunte placed in Vidzeme, Latvia he spent the happiest times of his life together with his wife Jacobine and people have been telling the tales of Munchausen for centuries there. The sea meets the wood there, in winter horses are tied to church spires and it takes a single shot to kill ten ducks there. In the room of Munchausen's wife Jacobine you'll find a real corner of 18th century, a ladies’ paradise. In baron Munchausen's room you'll find a dozen of fresh game birds hunted down with a single shot. Baron Munchausen is a typical representative of landed classes of 18th century with the hunting and war as the main occupation. Hunting trophies, hunting horns, daggers, weapons, and Munchausen's wax figure with a string of ducks — these are only some of things you'll find in the museum of Munchausen.

We’ve just had a short tour around the most interesting museums of literary heroes. Of course, the list of the greatest museums can be much longer, and besides these museums we have already talked about, we would like to mention some museums, such as Uncle Tom's Cabin Historic Site, the Harry Potter’s museum, House of the station master and other. Would you like to visit them?

Have a safe journey!

Bookshelf It is a pleasant moment when you start reading a book and the whole new world opens to you! New characters, scenes, lives, events… It’s like a real life in a miniature. So, a book is truly one of the greatest inventions of man. We learn so many things by reading books. Books teach us to live and to compare people from real life with different types of characters in a book. A book can form our values and our features and also extend outlook.

Anastasia Konfetkina

What will be when the unexpected happens?

And the last one that I have recently read is “The unexpected” by Jack London. He was an American author, journalist, and social activist. The action of the book locates in the north, in Alaska. The company of gold seekers rushes to get as many gold ingot as they can. They work hard and in general their life is very calm, nothing portends the calamity. It is a well-known fact that we live in the world where only the obvious is seen, and the unexpected rarely happens. Why should we think about something unclear, if it hardly ever happens?! The author starts with “It is a simple matter to see the obvious, to do the expected”. I believe that it is quite important moment, because everything further on gets back to this theme. Friends who had already got enough gold, were spending last days in the North, preparing for getting home. To tell the truth, I really enjoyed reading about their relationships! Oh, it is the greatest stage of our life when favor graces us and presents true friends! What could be better? But the author prompts us many times that the characters do not see what is not obvious and are unable to do the unexpected. Lo and behold! One of 4 friends runs into the hut and kills two of his comrades. He didn’t want their earnings to be shared for 4 persons… The unexpected came in their life. The conditions of fear and shock the author describes fascinatingly and in great details. The tendency of the individual’s life is to be static rather than dynamic. When the unexpected does happen only a few people can keep the power of will. All the rest should die, as it happened in “The unexpected”. The end of the story struck me, and it was accompanied with rhetorical questions and reflections. The main idea of the plot is how different and unusual thoughts of people living in equal conditions are. I compared the very beginning of the text and the end. The climax at the end of the book unambiguously impressed me. Jack London had precise and accurate bright language and it fascinated me. It captivated me by its covert meanings, which the author faultlessly reported. Spending time reading an interesting book as “The unexpected” will be never wasted.

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Bookshelf We all study at the faculty of philosophy, so you’ll understand me if I tell you that sometimes I have to read and learn some wearisome materials. As a result my brain starts boiling and, looking aside from this, I prefer to read something relaxing. So, in this unusual book review I will tell you about one of my favorite “abstractive” books.

Maria Evdokimova

The teleport is here

“A Good Year” is a novel by Peter Mayle who is more known as an author of wonderful book series about Provence. In “A Good Year” the action also takes place in Provence, but Provence is not already the main character. It is Max — an inverter trader who is hard-working, cynical and aggressive. One day he receives a note that his uncle Henry died and left а legacy — an old house in Provence. When Max comes to Provence, he realizes that the house, where he spent the most time of his childhood, looks derelict. With his cynical view he looks at the life of a small town and people who live there. Also, the expert of vines tells Max that wine from his vineyard is terrible and costs nothing. So when Max is near to resign a legacy, unexpectedly there comes a girl from America who presents herself as a daughter of Uncle Henry. And here starts all the action. Also, one day Max finds a bottle of perfect wine in the cellar and one of the citizens says that this one is one of the best wines in Provence and no one knows where it comes from. Are you interested in what will happen next? Read the book! Fortunately or unfortunately, I have watched the movie before reading the book. I won’t be original if I say that in spite of the fact that the movie with Russell Crowe is charming, the book is better. I think that in a thousand words I couldn’t describe my feelings and emotions about this story. When you read it, you not only worry about main characters, but you feel exactly like you are there resolving problems and walking under the sun. This story is written with very easy and soft but bright language. Also in the text we can frequently see French words and phrases with the explanation in footnotes. But they look so appropriate that they don’t irritate the reader. Conversely, they initiate a desire to study this beautiful language. This book, with no claim to be scientific, teaches you to be a Human more than thousands of lessons. Of course, sometimes it looks a bit naive and predictable, but it doesn’t decrease the fact that it is really kind and playful So, I strongly recommend you find time, nestle in a cozy chair and plunge into the world of adventures, curious incidents and perfect Provence.

“Vanity Fair” is a novel of English writer William Thackeray that turned around his career and whole life. This book made him one of the famous novelists of his time. This is an excellent satire of English society in the 19th century that covers the period of 20 years which includes the events of Napoleon’s wars. This story will immerge you in the atmosphere of actual presence in that historical era.

Ilona Schetinina

I’ve wanted to read this book for a long time and I am glad that I have it done. I really enjoyed this fascinating story which wouldn’t make you indifferent.

A Novel without a Hero

The main plot is about life of two young women who just left boarding school and started an independent life. Amelia Sedley is a pious and kind woman who lives in her own world where is no place for envy, harm and vanity. Rebecca Sharp — another main character, is an absolutely different person, who cannot be compared with any woman from classic English novel. Literature of the Nineteenth century is full of idealized women, portrayed without any warts or foibles and all the duller for it. That’s why Becky Sharp stands so far apart from her sisters in Victorian fiction — she is cunning, deceitful, ruthless, adulterous, callous and horribly self-centered. Although she can hardly be described as an admirable heroine, Rebecca dominates most of the book. Thackeray tells about different problems which are still relevant. First of all, this is a vanity as a dominant theme of the novel. It is a motivation to almost all characters, driving the entire bourgeoisie reality. The author condemns materialism because that is what bourgeoisie people have in common. For some characters (Joseph Sedly, for example) having a lot of things is a sign of wealth that’s why narrator constantly ridicules them. Thackeray gives an important role to motherhood in “Vanity Fair”. There are good mothers and terrible mothers, doting mothers and absent mothers. It is obvious that the maternal influence on a person is a great one, and author clearly shows that Becky Sharp, who was grown up without her mother, leaves her “beloved” son. ‘Vanity Fair’ bills itself as ‘A Novel without a Hero’, but everybody can find congenial hero for themselves. Thackeray’s observations of human behavior are so apposite, the descriptions of situations, personalities, expressed motives and hidden motives (which are very different) are timeless. And this of course what makes this novel a classic. This is a magnificent novel from start to finish.

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Antoine Jerar

Changing the view angle

“Skinheads” is the last book of John King. We evolve again in the vortex of the elements that make a good John King: a medium defined by strong codes and a history of dealing with group life, punctuated by full English breakfast and lots of beer. He is clearly in top form. “England Belongs to King John”. In Skinheads the author probably continues the thought that originally appeared in “1984”. He tells to his readers that the change of our point of view on some situation could alter our life (or the world around us). I think this is a really valuable feature of this book... Change the image of the skinhead movement, restore its reality somehow, confront this word to its historical evolution, show different skinheads, other elements. The skinhead is a figure in which there is a form of consensus: everyone hates skinheads, there are actually quite a few nuances. The idea of the book is to separate the skinheads in some far-right picture, and the author comes fully handing things in context, creating characters, describing every part of this movement, three generations. In England, the heart of a movement too often maligned, between beer / pub / football and fight, but the novel puts things in their places. The novice will learn a lot about this exciting movement, made of passionate people. I think that for most people who have heard of “American History X”, reading John King will have a beneficial effect, even therapeutic. Happy reading!

Ivan Delazari

Expert's opinion (interview)

What to read? That’s pretty easy to say when we talk about classics. However, everything isn’t so obvious with a contemporary literature. We asked Ivan Delazari (lecturer of philology department, chair of foreign literature) for being a guide in that field and here is a short list of books to be read by students and by everyone who wants to get an impression what today literature is. Translated by: Alexandra Naumova and Mila Vasilieva

“Peeling the onion” Gunter Grass, 2006

Gunter Grass is one of a few alive (God, bless him) classics of the XX century, however, soiled word ‘classic’ hardly suits him — he’s not the one to be read at class (leastwise, his name can’t be found in every studying program) and has almost nothing to do with classical aesthetics, which starts in Antiquity and associates with Classicism of the XVIII century. But “the Great writer Gunter Grass” sounds pretty appropriate. “Peeling the onion” is a novel-memoir and when the second element of genre characteristic is underlined in the title, the first one is a bit masked by the author himself. But an eternal and unchangeably topical for XX century prose theme of memory is deployed according to all the rules of an epoch not without the help of Proust and Faulkner. And strange though it might sound, the “confession” of an author-hero-storyteller about his Second World War in SS troops, made Grass immediately a center of historical-ideological German polemics, where he already been since his “The tin dram” (1954).

However, the “Atonement” text is pretty well-made in a tradition of the best examples of just ended XX century and widely uses different achievements of that period, a contemporary novel of such type can, as it supposed to, give its readers new hits on various literal cobwebs again and again. Impressing by its novelty and courage for those who has never read something like Virginia Woolf, “Atonement’ doesn’t present just a cynicism of recognition for sophisticated British prose lovers: the novel has a keen emotional part, useless for university studying, but which, being rejected, leaves you with an inanity of pathetically scientific analysis done. McEwan is a juggler but tears and snivels of his viewers aren’t fake.

“Atonement” Ian McEwan, 2001

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The pre-last novel by Peter Hoeg continues the esthetic line of dignities set by his “Smilla’s Sense of Snow” and is really worth reading. The talent of this writer is certainly to stay on the world literature Olympus. The novel grows from the key sound metaphor - one more, not snowy in that case, feeling, it catches readers attention and gets them in the tension which leaves a hum- noise- acoustical zoom even when the book has already been read.

“The Quite Girl” Peter Hoeg, 1998

The film based on novel is quite worthy of the book, which is not typical. Coen Brothers undertook McCarthy when he became finally widely recognized in his motherland. Coens boosted writer’s international reputation a lot. Faulkner and Hemingway, two in one: such a somewhat cynical determination of the McCarthy provides time continuity at the same time, without that the author would be a temporary and local genius. If we take recent novels of Cormac McCarthy, this one is the most representative.

“No Country for Old Men” Cormac McCarthy, 2005

He is so popular that French academical critics wrinkle their noses when they hear his name and raise eyebrows in surprise when they hear how highly valued he is in Russia. Frédéric Beigbeder is a figure born by the already existing postmodernism, he didn’t make postmodern, he enjoyed its fruits. A yellow press journalist or a serious writer — where you can draw the line today, as well as any other lines? Especially, the appeal of the author of “99 franks” and others to the sacred theme of terroristic attack on 11 September of 2001 could be provocative in the West (at least in the USA). Beigbeder coped with that with honor: he wanted to provoke and provoked, he wanted to play and played, and sometimes quite cynically, but he didn’t make it vulgarized. This is his best novel.

"Windows on the World" Frederic Beigbeder, 2002

This is the last, meanwhile, short novel written in French by the one more classic of our time such as Grass or Umberto Eco, whose “The Prague Cemetery” (2010) is truly powerful motion, even without the Prague component. In the creativity of Kundera this component started to wane long ago. In contrast, the unbearable wisdom of the Czech writer provides the synthetic character of his latest texts, lying at the junction of the fiction and philosophical essay. In both genres separately Kundera established himself long ago, that’s why reading of his last novels is a double pleasure on the background of the previous ones. However, Phillip Roth could be in his place.

“Ignorance” Milan Kundera, 2000

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