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Acts of Logos examines the 19th-century foundations of St. Petersburg's famous literary tradition, with a focus on the unifying principle of material animation. Innovative interpretations of canonical texts by Pushkin and Gogol shed new light on the powerful, creative function of language in the Petersburg tradition.
List of contents
Prologue: In the Beginning Was Peter¿s Word Introduction: St. Petersburg Myth, Text, Word 1. Cursing at the Whirlwind The Book of Job according to Pushkin 2. Gambling Away the Petri-mony Rival Models of Social Advancement in Pushkin¿s ¿The Queen of Spades¿ 3. Body Parts, Puff Pastries, and the Devil Himself Nevsky Prospect as the Hellmouth of Gogol¿s Petersburg 4. Mertvye ushi The Annunciation Motif and Disorder of the Senses in ¿The Nose¿ 5.
Kako sdelan Akakii Letter as Hero in ¿The Overcoat¿ Conclusion: Beyond the Schism Works Cited
About the author
Kathleen Scollins is an assistant professor at the University of Vermont, where she teaches Russian language and literature in the Department of German and Russian.
Summary
Acts of Logos examines the 19th-century foundations of St. Petersburg’s famous literary tradition, with a focus on the unifying principle of material animation. Innovative interpretations of canonical texts by Pushkin and Gogol shed new light on the powerful, creative function of language in the Petersburg tradition.
Additional text
“This book is a very welcome addition to investigations of the Petersburg Text. … Scollins writes with admirable clarity. The chapters all offer their own lively and imaginative readings of classic texts. In each case the readings rest on a firm foundation, revealing a precise and detailed engagement with literary and historical scholarship, but never collapsing under their own weight. Having contributed to undergraduate courses on Petersburg literature, this reviewer would not hesitate to recommend the book to undergraduates. It also offers a good deal for readers already familiar with this particular and idiosyncratic corner of canonical Russian literature.” —Katharine Hodgson, University of Exeter, Modern Language Review, Vol. 115, No. 1
