“Life is not given for happiness, but for the struggle for it.” Chapter 1: Moscow’s Dream The novel opens with Moscow Chestnova, a young orphan raised in Soviet […]
French literature
Death on Credit
“Life is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” — (Paraphrasing Shakespeare, often echoed in Céline’s tone) Part One: The Doctor’s Descent […]
English literature
Keep the Aspidistra Flying
“The aspidistra is the true middle-class emblem, because it is the kind of plant that you can’t kill even if you want to.” Chapter 1: Gordon Comstock’s Rebellion […]