Friday, July 20, 2007

Compromised Art

Here is note 9 to Part Two, Chapter One of Richard Pevear's and Larrisa Volokhonsky's translation of Fyodor Dostoevsky's Demons:

"Charmeur was a well-known Petersburg tailor. According to his wife's memoirs, Dostoevsky had his own suits made by Charmeur, whom he also advertised in Crime and Punishment."

Do you consider Dostoevsky's masterpiece novels compromised becasue he slipped in advertisements for a preferred tailor? Because I don't.

1 comment:

  1. Anonymous7:53 AM

    dostoevsky didn't get an envelope of money to put that in did he?

    still, that maybe the greatest innovation of all--corporate sponsored novels and product placement. why no one picked up on this great scheme before i have no idea. why are writers and publishers so dumb about making money?

    rk

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