Description

‘The Gazdanov revival … is nothing short of a literary event’ TLS

‘Gazdanov is a modernist master’ Mary O’Donoghue Irish Times

‘The Flight is a suave, cosmopolitan human comedy with a twist … All of Gazdanov’s work demonstrates his great gift for characterization. He simply knew human nature, at its best and worst.’ Eileen Battersby L.A. Review of Books

A young man’s passion for his father’s mistress tips into tragedy. The debut novel of the author of modernist classic The Spectre of Alexander Wolf.

While summering on the French Riviera, the young Seryozha secretly becomes the lover of the much older Liza – who is also his father’s mistress. As autumn approaches, they reluctantly part: Liza to return to Paris, Seryozha to take up his studies at university in London. When he finds out about their affair, Seryozha’s father attempts to convince Liza to leave his son, for the sake of the boy’s own happiness. She finally gives in – but a sudden, fatal catastrophe changes everything.

Gazdanov’s third novel is proof of his wide-ranging talents: originally written before his celebrated noir experiments The Spectre of Alexander Wolf and The Buddha’s Return, The Flight blends psychological drama, illicit romance and moments of both comedy and lyricism. It is a modernist take on the traditional Russian nineteenth-century realist novel epitomised by Tolstoy, and a devastating, sun-soaked romance.

Part of the Pushkin Press Classics series: timeless storytelling by icons of literature, hand-picked from around the globe.

Translated by Bryan Karetnyk

Gaito Gazdanov (1903-1971) joined the White Army aged just sixteen and fought in the Russian Civil War. Exiled in Paris from the 1920s onwards, he earned a living as a nocturnal taxi-driver and quickly gained prominence on the literary scene as a novelist, essayist, critic and short-story writer, and was greatly admired by Maxim Gorky, among others. Pushkin Press also publishes the celebrated The Spectre of Alexander Wolf and The Buddha’s Return.

Bryan Karetnyk is a British writer and translator. His translations for Pushkin Press include works by Ichiyo Higuchi, Irina Odoevtseva, Jun’ichiro Tanizaki and Ryunosuke Akutagawa. He is also the editor of the Penguin Classics anthology Russian Emigre Short Stories from Bunin to Yanovsky.

Publisher Review

His writing has been described as “if Nabokov wrote thrillers”. I’m hooked — Charlotte Mendelson * Observer, Best Books of 2016 * The Gazdanov revival … is nothing short of a literary event * TLS * Pushkin Press is to be congratulated on reviving an author who is as relevant now as ever * Spectator * A fascinating writer — Eileen Battersby * Irish Times * Gazdanov is a modernist master — Mary O’Donoghue * Irish Times * One of my stand-out reads of the year so far… it’s a wonderful book and highly recommended! * Shiny New Books * Gazdanov’s writing and plotting are magnificent… beautifully translated… one of my stand-out reads of the year so far * Kaggsy’s Bookish Ramblings * Praise for The Spectreof Alexander Wolf: ‘A masterpiece… it will stay with you for the rest ofyour life’ Guardian; ‘Mesmerising’Antony Beevor; ‘Devastatingly atmospheric’ IrishTimes; ‘Irresistible’ Daily Mail;’As if the roman policier has been filtered through Dostoevsky… just waiting tobe discovered by a filmmaker’ * TLS * Beautifully crafted gem… moments of cynical glee worthy of Oscar Wilde… Gazdanov skilfully creates moments – a marital arm wrestle, an open dressing gown – that are at once convincingly real and astutely symbolic * Russia Beyond the Headlines * Graceful, languidly ironic prose, which Karetnyk has once again captured with impeccable mastery… Gazdanov was exploring spiritual malaise and the search for meaning as early as 1936. … The Flight is a suave, cosmopolitan human comedy with a twist. … All of Gazdanov’s work demonstrates his great gift for characterization. He simply knew human nature, at its best and worst. — Eileen Battersby * LA Review of Books (LARB) *