Vera Milchina. How the cat looked at kings, and other senile reminiscences

Abstract

The review discusses the latest book by the Russian translator of French literature V. Milchina, who chooses the form of a memoir. The author calls her memoirs memuarazmy. This curious portmanteau (a blend of memuary [memoirs] and marazm [senility]) highlights the book’s biggest merit — Milchina’s flair for distancing herself from events of the past and writing a vibrant and engaging account that appeals to everybody. Her reminiscences cover a broad range of topics, from stories about favourite books, childhood memories, and journeys to literary meccas in Russia and France to life-changing encounters that shaped the author’s professional interests and specifc translation projects. Each of the reminiscences bears the mark of its respective historic period as the author creates a generous narrative about publishing and philology in the Soviet and post-Soviet eras.