- Sergey Rosedkin -

 

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History of the drunk

In an interior of our time

 

In Moscow there was a novel of Tambov writer Sergey Rosedkina "Drunk" — weighty 600-page volume in a firm colourful cover. And circulation at present decent — 10 thousand copies. The novel in the form of a confession of the protagonist is written. Confessions is frank-rigid, I even would tell — severe. And bravadnoj.

So who he is Vadim Neustroyev? The native of Siberia, the native of a family of rural intellectuals — school teachers. The graduate of the Moscow State University. The journalist, the prose writer, the poet... The Person who has been not deprived of talent, possessing quick-wittedness, doubtless erudition, erudirovannostju, gift for speaking and thinking — quite often deep, original. And for all that type cynical, embittered, fallen, dissolute, the drunkard. The author of a confession does not regret neither paints, nor words-expressions, is frank to impropriety in a reversing directly inside out sincere, and not only, an interior.

All this continuous train of drunk-loose parties and adventures — with blevotinoj, a dirt, the shamelessly-chaotic copulation-intercourses, all this naked, pushing away fiziologizm and naturalism in the image of actions-quirks of characters do not leave a channel chernushnoj the literature-paper for recycling which have captivated counters last decade. And Vadim Neustroyev does not open here any America, goes blazed already by. Treatment for an alcoholism in "Optimaliste" and leaving then in a monastery — in bolshej to a measure a tribute to a present fashion, naive hope that the church will help to pray for forgiveness all saved up sins and will open a way in potustoronnee a kingdom Divine. The novel-confession ending in general has turned out as though torn off from the previous maintenance. But about it I will tell more low.

And at first we will try to find out the relation of the author of the novel to the author of excessively frank confession. In particular, how much it divides sights and Vadim Neustroyev's views, its estimation of many facts and the phenomena of the life, surrounding validity. To the reader it is, of course, clear, that a narration in the form of Neustroyev's confession which it has passed the author for publication, — only an artistic touch taken in a basis of creation of the novel. And one of the main motives of use of such reception — desire of the author extremely frankly and raskovanno to state the sights, principles, life vision. Especially convinces of it one more — I will directly tell, interesting and curious — the literary reception which has been thought up by it. It «the Epilogue and the comment», books occupying the sixth part, that is without small 100 pages. They give the chance to express NRosedkinu already on its own behalf — under cover of these comments, times deliberately in detail explaining concepts, words simple and well-known, but along with it bearing and weight of data useful, interesting.

The novel in a certain measure is autobiographical. N.Rosedkin in an epilogue does not deny it:

«... It (that is Neustroyev. — Century G) has borrowed from my biography separate episodes and even strokes of my character, having appropriated-having attributed their novelistic"I". Means, the hero of a confession is to some extent and the author of the novel. The attitude, Neustroyev's outlook are not indifferent to the author. Naturally, parallels are especially conditional, purely art. And nevertheless...

Here I approach to the most painful point of product. Though in the note «From the author» also it is told, that all written — a fruit of author's imagination, and «any coincidence to the validity — events, dates, names, surnames and so forth — mere chance», however an excessive transparency of many names, surnames, posts, trades etc . Speaks just about the return. Actually, kriminala in it is not present. The material for any work of art undertakes from the validity, many types, characters are written from live people, have the prototypes. But the subtlety and delicacy of the moment consists in that, how much writing is objective, impartial and fair thus. The hero of a confession Neustroyev is ruthless to itself in estimations of the personal qualities, character traits, a way of life though does not hide thus love to, beloved, much tries to excuse to itself (and excuses!) To explain the failures, a hardship, failures, disorder of a life influence of certain circumstances, forces, influences from the outside. In a word, it concerns itself(himself) vseproshchencheski.

Another matter — associates. Already the city name with which its destiny — Rams has connected, about something speaks. Also guards. The description of its appearance, streets, a rhythm of a life, the characteristic of inhabitants, zhitejsko-household pictures of customs do not leave doubt in how Neustroyev concerns a city and townspeople who with pleasure are called by it baranovtsami or baranovichami, and the city characterises, as «strange, foolish, dense, spiteful, dirty». The relation this is haughty-contemptious, lordly such, patronising-scornful. And is pejorative-offensive, insulting epithets and definitions "child prodigy" Vadim does not regret. It is Even more ruthless to separate representatives-individuals of creative, scientific intelligency — to journalists, writers, high school teachers. At once I will tell, that there are estimations and the characteristics beating that is called, the cap fits: neatly-malicious, terrible, opening essence of the person. In thin observation, ability one or several strokes to create an exact portrait to the author you will not give up.

But... Again there is this ill-starred "but". The impression, that Neustroyev is quite often made, giving a portrait, a picture, is very biassed and subjective — simply settles personal scores, okarikaturivaet-sharzhiruet unpleasant to it or something salted, not pleased, in its opinion, people. And considering, that for Neustroyev there is an author of the novel, that these people are very recognised more often, even at slightly changed surnames that the city where the basic events are developed is easily recognised also, considering all it... In a word, the reader let does conclusions itself. Though, for the sake of justice, I will notice, there are characters — them, the truth is, not enough, — which has carried in sense of their novelistic characteristics, at some even in inviolability surnames are saved. It already approaches to bytopisatelskoj ocherkovosti more. Also I will in passing blame: ocherkovyj style is not present-is not present and sticks out from a solid novelistic cover. And after all that such art prose? For private, concrete, individual in it sees, should see, generalised. N.Rosedkina's to novel of it places obviously does not get. And here the people offended on it for certain will increase.

Thereupon attracts attention and such, I would tell, not so clear motive as Neustroyev's hatred, other word I do not find, to recent our past — to Soviet time. And this dislike-hatred is especially not clear, that it from that power has received very many, including higher education at the most prestigious Moscow university. He is a person from far Siberian remote places. Everything, as to last life that was in it — disgustingly, pakostno. In such permanent zlobstvovanii something is traced already "shizodebilnoe" (one of Neustroyev's liked words-definitions). It is sad. And, frankly speaking, it becomes a pity the author of a confession, and not only it. Such people would like to remind words of Russian publicist I.Solonevicha : «each generation of last and this century (19-20 centuries mean. — Century G) Broke or tried to break all ideological and moral buildings of the previous generation, put feet on a table of the fathers, not expecting that inevitability, that someone will put the feet on its table ». You will not tell better.

I will add nevertheless, that customs, usages, disgraces of the last decade which were introduced during our life and consciousness by false democrats, the hero of a confession too does not favour. On these pages the social orientation of the novel — a theme of the broken destinies, deceits especially brightly looks through, impoverishments, degradations of one, impudent, unscrupulous enrichment of others etc . Rigid frameworks of the lines released to me, unfortunately, do not give possibility to develop this theme, as well as some other, sounded in the novel. It after all multiplans, is extremely topical. Here and a theme of love, its sense on what it would be possible to talk and argue. Both creative searches-throwings. And criminal zakruchennost a plot. The ending of a criminal line, and all novel unexpectedly drops out of its general internal course and logic. There is suddenly a dashing style of an abrupt western. All kartinno, is beautiful and... Improbably. The present insurgent. Well, and in all beauty — its irresistible hero. Naturally, it is the author of a confession hotly liked and admiring self Vadim Neustroyev. And final a central board «Instead of an epilogue» — is directly happy-tearful idyll. Meanwhile questions as at the reader remain with me...

As a whole the novel is read and testifies to doubtless talent of the author — even at sometimes undemanding relation to language. I think, "Drunk" will not be ignored reading public.

Vitaly GARMASH.

The deserved art worker

The Russian Federation.

 

«The Tambov life»,

On July, 7th, 2001

 

 

 

 

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© Rosedkin Sergey Nikolaevich, 2001

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