Review of Zubareva, V. (2018). ‘The Tale of Igor’s Campaign’: A new translation with comments. Moscow: Yazyki slavyanskoy kultury. 100 pages, ill. (Studia philologiña. Series minor).

Abstract

The reviewer raises the question of what should be the circumstances to make possible a translation of a canonical piece of ancient Russian literature. The review points out the novelty of the publication, in particular in its treatment of court poetry as the Tale’s most immediate context; of Bayan’s role among the court poets and his hypothetical use of pre-made genres, and of the book’s themes and hidden dialogue. The reviewer proves that the new translation actualizes and nuances our idea of medieval literature as a culture of ‘pre-made word’, in describing how pragmatic goals, polemic pathos, and intellectual aspirations called for an original cross-genre interaction. The reviewer discusses applicability of the author’s perception as a function to medieval literature. He demonstrates the author’s compelling interpretation of the complexity of Bayan’s position, acknowledged by the Tale’s author, and of the author’s stance, which caused the translator to reject any preexistent forms of eloquence.