(no subject)

[upthera44.livejournal.com]

There is a character in Joseph Conrad's novel "Under Western Eyes" (which is about Russian revolutionaries) named Nikita "Nekatur". Can someone tell me what the word "nekatur" might signify in Russian? It's something negative I assume, but beyond that don't know.

Comments

[upthera44.livejournal.com]

Ok, well, thanks for trying. Maybe it doesn't signify anything.

Also, does anyone know where I might find the text of this book online in Russian? It was originally written in English, but I would be curious to see the translation for a few sections of the book.

[wolk-off.livejournal.com]

It doesn't look like it was ever translated in Russian. This site (http://www.hot.ee/josephconrad/) seems to build a pretty extensive collection of Conrad's translations, but the book you mention doesn't seem to be there.

[upthera44.livejournal.com]

Hmm, that's surprising because according to the book's introduction it was very widely read in Russia in the early part of the 20th century because of its ideas about the uniqueness of Russian culture and history when compared to the West.

[oryx_and_crake]

I daresay that people in Russia in the early 20th century had plenty other troubles beside worrying about their image in the eyes of the Westerners.

[upthera44.livejournal.com]

My impression is that Russia has always worried about their image in the eyes of the West and in relation to the West. Whether its to reject the West or to emulate it, it's never really been a relationship of indifference. Still, this isn't my opinion, I was just referencing what was stated in the introduction to the book.

[wolk-off.livejournal.com]

Do you really think that an advertizing is a document and reflects the true image of reality? :)

On the other hand, those few educated people who, for sure, did read that Conrad's book in Russia at the time it was released, could as well read it in its original English. In Imperial times, "educated" meant that the person could effortlessly read in at least one foreign language, sometimes two or three; and if that person belonged to the ruling classes and successfully attended a Classical Gymnasium, it also meant that in addition to, say, French and German or English, that person could also read Greek and Latin. Educational standards at that time were slighly higher than after the revolution -- the only thing was that only a tiny minority had access to those standards.