{"product_id":"9781618119827","title":"The Irony of the Ideal","description":"Author: Mikhail Epstein\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 9781618119827\u003cbr\u003ePublisher: Academic Studies Press\u003cbr\u003eYear first published: 04 Jan 2019\u003cbr\u003ePages: 440 \u003cbr\u003eFormat: Paperback \/ softback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis book explores the major paradoxes of Russian literature as a manifestation of both tragic and ironic contradictions of human nature and national character. Russian literature, from Pushkin and Gogol to Chekhov, Nabokov and to postmodernist writers, is studied as a holistic text that plays on the reversal of such opposites as being and nothingness, reality and simulation, and rationality and absurdity. The glorification of Mother Russia exposes her character as a witch; a little man is transformed into a Christ figure; consistent rationality betrays its inherent madness, and extreme verbosity produces the effect of silence. The greatest Russian writers were masters of spiritual selfdenial and artistic selfdestruction, which explains many paradoxes and unpredictable twists of Russian history up to our time.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ships in 10 to 15 days","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47920662642846,"sku":"ING-9781618119827","price":60.78,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0400\/9043\/5742\/files\/9781618119827.jpg?v=1782827305","url":"https:\/\/classicbargains.com.au\/products\/9781618119827","provider":"Classic Bargains Australia","version":"1.0","type":"link"}