Talk:Yevgeny Zamyatin

editing Zamyatin article

I've done my best to edit this page, though the chronology is very tangled. I know it's not done to advertise one's own site, but in this case it's justified. I am the pioneer in unearthing the events of Zamyatin's stay in England 1916-17 and have published on the subject in the Slavonic and East European Review and elsewhere. On his return to Russia in 1917, Zamyatin became known as 'the Englishman', and his English experience had a strong influence on his masterpiece WE For those interested please access:

http://www.myersnorth.co.uk

where the full up-to-date story (with sources!) is displayed. Zamyatin is an important figure in Russia these days, and is increasingly familiar elsewhere. He deserves his stature. One difference between WE and 1984, incidentally, is that Zamyatin's hero is actually a fervent supporter of the Benefactor's regime and views his own hapless slide into heterodoxy with comic dismay. Bandalore 17:32 25.5.05

Very interesting. Zamyatin's experience in England was conducive to broadening his mind, his vision and creativity, helping him to see a bigger picture of Russian revolution and dictatorship that followed. We was available in Russian around 1920, when Zamyatin lectured Serapionovy Bratya. When We was published in English in 1924, it made news among intellectuals across the world, so Huxley in the mid 1920s could not possibly miss the English publication of We.Steveshelokhonov 19:42, 5 July 2007 (UTC)

I fail to see the relevance of the myers north link. It does not relate to Zamyatin. I also fail to see why in the first line of his death it mentions he died in poverty. I find it inappropriate---especially without any explanation of said poverty. Lastly, there is no Source or link to back-up either the claim he died of a heart attack or died in poverty. I will remove both the reference to his supposed poverty and supposed heart attack if these aren't backed-up with a Source/Link in the next 3 months. 92.20.166.28 (talk) 18:39, 21 September 2015 (UTC)NEWPORT

Influence on huxley?

According to the small authors bio in the beginning of the penguin classics printing of "WE".......

.....the other great english dystopia of our time, Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, was evidently written out of the same impulse, though without direct knowledge of Zamyatin's WE.

—The preceding unsigned comment was added by 67.185.217.34 (talk • contribs) 2006-03-10.

Interesting question. The article on We says this: Aldous Huxley reportedly claimed that he did not read We before writing Brave New World, although Orwell himself believed that Huxley was lying. Turning Orwell's opinion ito settled fact woul seem to be POV. On the other hand, not having read a book is not at all the same as not being influenced by it. O'RyanW (☺ ₪) 23:46, 27 September 2006 (UTC)

There is a footnote citing We translator Natasha Randall's radio interview. I have listened to it and have verified that she does say that O thought H was lying. AFAICT, NR is an acceptable source for WP. Personally, I would prefer to cite NR's own source for her statement, but I don't know what that is. --Jtir 12:11, 28 September 2006 (UTC)

“[Zamyatin’s] intuitive grasp of the irrational side of totalitarianism– human sacrifice, cruelty as an end in itself–makes [We] superior to Huxley’s [Brave New World].” –George Orwell (1946) [1] [2] --Jtir 16:36, 28 September 2006 (UTC)

(copied from User talk:Oryanw)

Actually, I didn't mean to question the notion that Orwell had the opinion that NR is cited to report. Rather, I meant to add mild support to the criticism of the wording in the lead paragraph on Yevgeny Zamyatin: "his novel, We, a story of dystopian future which influenced George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four and Aldous Huxley's Brave New World." (my underlines)

Actually, I only became aware of We a month ago after doing my first article translation for Wikipedia (on Kazohinia. I promptly ordered a copy which I will read soon, probably after reading Orwell's Coming Up for Air. --O'RyanW (☺ ₪) 21:55, 28 September 2006 (UTC)

I agree that the sentence about influence is too strongly worded given the evidence. Maybe it could be qualified this way: "... and possibly Aldous Huxley's Brave New World." Unfortunately, "possibly" is a weasel word. _:-( Maybe "... there is disagreement ...", with two footnotes sourcing the disagreement.--Jtir 22:58, 28 September 2006 (UTC)

Mmmm. Good point. The second solution above seems to make a claim and then back off. How about: "and — in some critics' view<ftnt> — Aldous Huxley's Brave New World. This was denied by Huxley<ftnt>". Or (my weasel word goes here:-)): "— in Orwell's view<ftnt> —", if he is alone in this. Is the second footnote a source on Huxley's denial? Shouldn't the article on We get the second footnote too, or did I miss it? O'RyanW (☺ ₪) 20:54, 29 September 2006 (UTC) p.s. Lost me on the referent of "WP".

Bad changes

Somebody seems to have purposely messed up this entry today. (A quick look will make this clear. For instance, Zamyatin's mother is now identified as a "jizz mopper," rather than a "musician." And Zamyatin is said to be "created" rather than "born." And the word "molested" is misused repeatedly.) I'm new to editing (did my first edit today). Is there an easy way to revert to the version before today, and perhaps bar the person who defaced the entry? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Jeffsalamon (talk • contribs) 03:03, 14 October 2009 (UTC)

Typical tacky vandalism. I reverted to the last non-vandalized version and put warning messages on the talk pages of the two IP addresses that caused it. It's probably one user with a non-fixed IP address, so the warnings are probably meaningless, but it doesn't hurt. --RL0919 (talk) 03:41, 14 October 2009 (UTC)

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chronology in regards to "We"

ref.: "The subsequent outrage this sparked within the Party and the Union of Soviet Writers led directly to Zamyatin's successful request for exile from his homeland."

According to its Wikipedia article, the Union of Soviet Writers was founded 1934. "We" was published in English in 1924, ie. 10 years earlier. So, what was going on, was the Union founded with just the purpose of being "officially outraged", ie. to make the outrage more impactful? And why did that take 10 years, if the outrage was that big? Or is the founding date wrong, because the publication date of the novel is for certain, there are scans of the original publication in the public domain, eg. at Open Library.

If the founding date is correct, I think the circumstances are calling for elaboration, the confusing points from above should be addressed. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 109.167.106.168 (talk) 15:45, 18 October 2020 (UTC)

It is correct that the Union of Soviet Writers was founded in 1934. Before it, several different writers organisations existed. They were all folded by the Soviet state preceding its inauguration. Russian language Wikipedia has a page on an earlier organisation, translated as the All-Russian Union of Writers, with Zamyatin as a member. That existed between 1920 and 1932. Although I believe it's another writer's organisation, the Russian Association of Proletarian Writers (RAPP), that's intended in this quote. The RAPP feuded with the All-Russian Union of Writers, and leading RAPP members critizised Zamyatin for his works. Sources are lacking, and I'm no Russian speaker, but hopefully someone can shed some definitive light on this. Zamyatin was, according to RU Wikipedia, granted membership in the Union of Soviet Writers by Stalin after his 1934 exile (also granted by Stalin). Logjohn (talk) 11:30, 13 March 2021 (UTC)

Furthermore

This is presently the last sentence of the lead.

Furthermore, during a 2018 debate in Toronto, English actor Stephen Fry, an activist and vocal public speaker in Leftist and LGBT causes, paraphrased from Zamyatin's 1923 denunciation of Censorship in the Soviet Union in order to also denounce the idea that political correctness and online cancel culture represent social progress.

No citation given, but see Political Correctness Debate ft. Stephen Fry, Jordan Peterson, Michael Dyson, Michelle Goldberg (uploaded 18 May 2018) toward the end of Fry's opening remarks around the 35:30 mark.

As cool as it might be to be referenced by Stephen Fry, surely this small tip of a large hat does not warrant inclusion in the article lead. — MaxEnt 04:01, 26 November 2020 (UTC)

I agree with this statement. Zamyatin has been referenced by many notable people and a minor quote at a debate should not warrant inclusion in this article. –Suhacker256 (talk) 17:12, 18 October 2021 (UTC)

Excessive linking to Mirra Ginsburg

Mirra Ginsburg's name appears over 30 times in the article and is linked something like 28 times. Per MOS:LINKONCE, I've removed most of them.  —lensovet–talk – 22:58, 21 April 2023 (UTC)

His wife?

She is just mentioned twice as “his wife”. Do we know at least her name, year of birth, and what was her life after his death?

Ceplm (talk) 20:44, 19 April 2024 (UTC)