Long-awaited novelty! We continue a unique series of audiobooks based on the works of Sergei Dovlatov.
“Sergei Dovlatov has developed his own handwriting, which can never be confused with anyone else’s. He writes simply and chastely. It seems that you cannot come up with a phrase that would be simpler than the one that he creates. Only the movement of the soul is worthy of the word, only this is worth doing with art. «
Fazil Iskander
This time we present to your attention the early stories of Dovlatov from the 1980s. A subtle play with genre canons, a unique and recognizable humor, a mixture of literary styles — all these characteristic features of Dovlatov’s prose are already very noticeable in his early texts.
Among the heroes of the stories are the Tambov wolf and Bunin, the lost and not very sober friends of Shapovalov and Chikvaidze, Captain Chudnovsky and Jean Mare … The world of Sergei Dovlatov’s prose is devoid of geographical boundaries and definitions. This is a space where it is difficult to separate fiction from reality, where everything is mixed and absurd, which the writer so accurately captured in his stories of the 80s, conveying the stifling and, for many, hopeless atmosphere of the Soviet era.
“The Tambov wolf was lying under the table, gnawing refined sugar and from time to time yelled: ‘Bitter!’
— “We want to send you on a business trip. There are two points — New York and Syktyvkar. The choice. What do you like best? «
“Syktyvkar,” John Smith replied without hesitation.
The director was slightly surprised.
“That is, I understand that Syktyvkar is closer to you ideologically, of course,” he said, “but, on the other hand, America, palm trees, parrots …”
“What I didn’t see there,” said the scout, “I’ll go to Syktyvkar.”
«A donkey must be thin» Sergei Dovlatov
“Look to the left,” Deboshirin said. Krasnoperov looked around absently. Nearby, almost opposite, literally ten paces away … (And how could he not notice it right away! ..) Over the tablecloth and over the crystal shine … Over the rustle of the dancers, over their breath, over the last, high, painful sound of the piano … Even higher than a dream and hope — Krasnoperov saw the artist Lauren!
«Another Life» Sergei Dovlatov
The sun rose reluctantly. It touched factory chimneys. Threw itself under the wheels of cars on the cold asphalt. Wandered in the thickets of television antennas. In a dirty little park, Chikvaidze and Shapovalov woke up at the same time. Oh, how nice it was yesterday! How loudly sung! What attempts were made to dance! How dynamic was the swing of the prosthesis! How intensively the routes of friendship and the lines of gaze were laid! How good was Chikvaidze, seized by a Lezginka! (Dimes jumped out of their pockets, refuting with a slight clink the primacy of matter over spirit.) And how they staggered at night, supporting houses, foundations, lanterns with their strong sides … And now they woke up on a pile of rubble …
«Emigrants» Sergei Dovlatov
1. «A donkey must be thin» (read by Efim Shifrin)
2. «Another Life» (read by Dmitry Kreminsky)
3. «Soldiers on Nevsky» (read by Alexey Kortnev)
4. «Emigrants» (read by Ivan Litvinov)
Read by: Efim Shifrin, Dmitry Kreminsky, Alexey Kortnev, Ivan Litvinov
Design, illustration: Yulia Stotskaya
© Sergey Dovlatov (heirs)
The recording was made by the production center «Vimbo»
© & ℗ «Vimbo» Production Center, 2017
Producers: Vadim Bukh, Mikhail Litvakov
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