The Eternal Husband (Russian: Вечный муж, Vechny muzh) is a novel by Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky that was first published in 1870 in Zarya magazine.[1] The novel's plot revolves around the complicated relationship between the nobleman Velchaninov and the widower Trusotsky, whose deceased wife was Velchaninov's former lover.
Alexei Ivanovich Velchaninov is a land owner who stays in Saint Petersburg for a trial about a piece of land. He receives a visit from Pavel Pavlovich Trusotsky, an old acquaintance who recently became a widower. Velchaninov had an affair with Trusotsky's wife Natalia, and he realizes that he is the biological father of Liza, Trusotsky's eight-year-old daughter. Velchaninov, who doesn't want Liza to be raised by an alcoholic, brings Liza to a foster family. Liza dies there.
Trusotsky now wants to marry Nadia, the fifteen-year-old daughter of civil servant Zakhlyobinin. She's the sixth daughter of eight. Trusotsky takes Velchaninov with him to visit his fiancée, and buys her a bracelet. Trusotsky is ridiculed by Zakhlyobinin's daughters and locked up during a game of hide-and-seek. Nadia gives the bracelet to Velchaninov, asking him to return it to Trusotsky and tell him she doesn't want to marry him. Nadia is secretly engaged to Alexander Lobov, a nineteen-year-old boy.
Trusotsky spends the night in Velchaninov's room and tries to kill him with a razor knife. Velchaninov manages to defend himself, injuring his left hand.
Sometime later, when Velchaninov has won his trial, the two meet again at a railway station. Trusotsky is remarried, but a young army officer is travelling with him and his wife. Trusotsky's new wife invites Velchaninov to visit them, but Trusotsky asks him to ignore this invitation.
Analysisedit
The story starts in medias res. Details about Velchaninov's adulterous past are revealed gradually.
The novel is comparable to a tragicomedy. The main tragic event is Liza's death. The comical element is the character of Trusotsky, who seems to be predestined to repeat the role of the cuckold.
Critical receptionedit
The Eternal Husband is one of Dostoevsky's lesser-known novels.[2] The subject of a deceived husband is lighter than in his other novels, but some critics say this novel ranks among his best works because of its style and structure. Alfred Bem calls it "one of the most complete works by Dostoevsky in regards to its composition and development."[3]
Referencesedit
^Г.М.Фридлендер. Комментарии: Ф.М.Достоевский. Вечный муж (in Russian). Retrieved 9 June 2011.
^Fitzpatrick, Sean (August 28, 2014). "Dostoevsky's The Eternal Husband: Adultery, Butchery, and Prophecy". Crisis. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
^Parts, L. (2006). "Polyphonic Plot Structure in Dostoevsky's "The Eternal Husband"". The Slavic and East European Journal. 50 (4): 607. doi:10.2307/20459367. JSTOR 20459367.
External linksedit
The Permanent Husband public domain audiobook at LibriVox
Book information at Random House
Book information at Internet Book List
January 01, 1970
eternal, husband, 1946, french, film, film, russian, Вечный, муж, vechny, muzh, novel, russian, author, fyodor, dostoevsky, that, first, published, 1870, zarya, magazine, novel, plot, revolves, around, complicated, relationship, between, nobleman, velchaninov,. For the 1946 French film see The Eternal Husband film The Eternal Husband Russian Vechnyj muzh Vechny muzh is a novel by Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky that was first published in 1870 in Zarya magazine 1 The novel s plot revolves around the complicated relationship between the nobleman Velchaninov and the widower Trusotsky whose deceased wife was Velchaninov s former lover The Eternal HusbandAuthorFyodor DostoevskyOriginal titleVechnyj muzh Vechny Muzh TranslatorsConstance Garnett Richard PevearLanguageRussianGenrenovelPublisherThe Russian Messenger series Publication date1870Media typePrint Hardback amp Paperback amp Audio book Contents 1 Plot summary 2 Analysis 3 Critical reception 4 References 5 External linksPlot summary editAlexei Ivanovich Velchaninov is a land owner who stays in Saint Petersburg for a trial about a piece of land He receives a visit from Pavel Pavlovich Trusotsky an old acquaintance who recently became a widower Velchaninov had an affair with Trusotsky s wife Natalia and he realizes that he is the biological father of Liza Trusotsky s eight year old daughter Velchaninov who doesn t want Liza to be raised by an alcoholic brings Liza to a foster family Liza dies there Trusotsky now wants to marry Nadia the fifteen year old daughter of civil servant Zakhlyobinin She s the sixth daughter of eight Trusotsky takes Velchaninov with him to visit his fiancee and buys her a bracelet Trusotsky is ridiculed by Zakhlyobinin s daughters and locked up during a game of hide and seek Nadia gives the bracelet to Velchaninov asking him to return it to Trusotsky and tell him she doesn t want to marry him Nadia is secretly engaged to Alexander Lobov a nineteen year old boy Trusotsky spends the night in Velchaninov s room and tries to kill him with a razor knife Velchaninov manages to defend himself injuring his left hand Sometime later when Velchaninov has won his trial the two meet again at a railway station Trusotsky is remarried but a young army officer is travelling with him and his wife Trusotsky s new wife invites Velchaninov to visit them but Trusotsky asks him to ignore this invitation Analysis editThe story starts in medias res Details about Velchaninov s adulterous past are revealed gradually The novel is comparable to a tragicomedy The main tragic event is Liza s death The comical element is the character of Trusotsky who seems to be predestined to repeat the role of the cuckold Critical reception editThe Eternal Husband is one of Dostoevsky s lesser known novels 2 The subject of a deceived husband is lighter than in his other novels but some critics say this novel ranks among his best works because of its style and structure Alfred Bem calls it one of the most complete works by Dostoevsky in regards to its composition and development 3 References edit G M Fridlender Kommentarii F M Dostoevskij Vechnyj muzh in Russian Retrieved 9 June 2011 Fitzpatrick Sean August 28 2014 Dostoevsky s The Eternal Husband Adultery Butchery and Prophecy Crisis Retrieved September 6 2017 Parts L 2006 Polyphonic Plot Structure in Dostoevsky s The Eternal Husband The Slavic and East European Journal 50 4 607 doi 10 2307 20459367 JSTOR 20459367 External links edit nbsp The Permanent Husband public domain audiobook at LibriVox Book information at Random House Book information at Internet Book List Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Eternal Husband amp oldid 1216761699, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
