The Shield is a remarkable testament to the power of literature as both mirror and weapon—a collection shaped in the crucible of history and imbued with the urgency of voices refusing to remain silent. Edited by the iconic writer and activist Maksim Gorky, with contributions from two of the most hauntingly original voices of Russian literature, Leonid Andreyev and Fyodor Sologub, this volume represents more than just prose: it is a rallying cry, an exploration of conscience, and an enduring meditation on the struggles of humanity in the face of moral, political, and spiritual upheaval.
What makes The Shield so compelling is not merely its historical significance, but the timelessness of its emotional depth and intellectual daring. Gorky, Andreyev, and Sologub each bring to the volume their distinct literary sensibilities: Gorky's vigorous realism and deep compassion for the downtrodden, Andreyev's psychological intensity and unflinching depiction of human despair, and Sologub's unique blend of dark lyricism and philosophical inquiry. Together, their voices create a symphonic meditation on resilience, solidarity, and the urgent necessity of protecting truth and justice against forces that threaten to obliterate them.
The prose contained here is both intimate and universal, personal and sweeping. Readers are invited into worlds where the struggle for identity collides with the demands of society, where individuals grapple with the moral weight of their choices, and where the collective human spirit—fragile, yet unyielding—asserts itself against the shadows of oppression. This is not simply classic literature preserved for the sake of posterity; it is a work alive with the psychological insight, emotional journeys, and human struggles that resonate across generations.
At its core, The Shield is about more than history, more than politics, more than art—it is about the human condition itself. The stories ask us to consider what it means to defend our humanity, to build a shield not only of steel but of ideas, empathy, and creative resilience. The resonance of these questions has not diminished with time. On the contrary, in today's fractured world, the insights of Gorky, Andreyev, and Sologub feel startlingly urgent, a reminder of literature's enduring power to inspire reflection and spark transformation.
Translated with care and clarity by Avrahm Yarmolinsky, this edition opens the doors of Russian literature to an English-speaking audience while retaining the lyric force, dramatic cadence, and intellectual weight of the original. Yarmolinsky's translation ensures that readers encounter not just words, but living voices—voices that rise from the past to speak to the present, offering guidance, warning, and hope.
For admirers of timeless literature, The Shield represents a rare convergence of literary excellence, emotional depth, and cultural resonance. It is both an artifact of its era and a testament to the enduring relevance of classic storytelling. Readers will be drawn into the psychological landscapes that Andreyev maps with startling precision, the symbolic and philosophical explorations that Sologub spins into poetic narrative, and the compassionate realism of Gorky, whose editorial vision lends the collection its unity and urgency.
This volume belongs not only on the shelves of scholars and students of Russian literature but also in the hands of anyone seeking works that illuminate the complexity of the human spirit. It is literature that transcends the boundaries of time and place, reaching into the deepest recesses of the heart while challenging the intellect. The Shield is a reminder that literature, at its finest, provides both sanctuary and sword—protection for the soul and provocation for the mind.
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What makes The Shield so compelling is not merely its historical significance, but the timelessness of its emotional depth and intellectual daring. Gorky, Andreyev, and Sologub each bring to the volume their distinct literary sensibilities: Gorky's vigorous realism and deep compassion for the downtrodden, Andreyev's psychological intensity and unflinching depiction of human despair, and Sologub's unique blend of dark lyricism and philosophical inquiry. Together, their voices create a symphonic meditation on resilience, solidarity, and the urgent necessity of protecting truth and justice against forces that threaten to obliterate them.
The prose contained here is both intimate and universal, personal and sweeping. Readers are invited into worlds where the struggle for identity collides with the demands of society, where individuals grapple with the moral weight of their choices, and where the collective human spirit—fragile, yet unyielding—asserts itself against the shadows of oppression. This is not simply classic literature preserved for the sake of posterity; it is a work alive with the psychological insight, emotional journeys, and human struggles that resonate across generations.
At its core, The Shield is about more than history, more than politics, more than art—it is about the human condition itself. The stories ask us to consider what it means to defend our humanity, to build a shield not only of steel but of ideas, empathy, and creative resilience. The resonance of these questions has not diminished with time. On the contrary, in today's fractured world, the insights of Gorky, Andreyev, and Sologub feel startlingly urgent, a reminder of literature's enduring power to inspire reflection and spark transformation.
Translated with care and clarity by Avrahm Yarmolinsky, this edition opens the doors of Russian literature to an English-speaking audience while retaining the lyric force, dramatic cadence, and intellectual weight of the original. Yarmolinsky's translation ensures that readers encounter not just words, but living voices—voices that rise from the past to speak to the present, offering guidance, warning, and hope.
For admirers of timeless literature, The Shield represents a rare convergence of literary excellence, emotional depth, and cultural resonance. It is both an artifact of its era and a testament to the enduring relevance of classic storytelling. Readers will be drawn into the psychological landscapes that Andreyev maps with startling precision, the symbolic and philosophical explorations that Sologub spins into poetic narrative, and the compassionate realism of Gorky, whose editorial vision lends the collection its unity and urgency.
This volume belongs not only on the shelves of scholars and students of Russian literature but also in the hands of anyone seeking works that illuminate the complexity of the human spirit. It is literature that transcends the boundaries of time and place, reaching into the deepest recesses of the heart while challenging the intellect. The Shield is a reminder that literature, at its finest, provides both sanctuary and sword—protection for the soul and provocation for the mind.
The shield
The Shield is a remarkable testament to the power of literature as both mirror and weapon—a collection shaped in the crucible of history and imbued with the urgency of voices refusing to remain silent. Edited by the iconic writer and activist Maksim Gorky, with contributions from two of the most hauntingly original voices of Russian literature, Leonid Andreyev and Fyodor Sologub, this volume represents more than just prose: it is a rallying cry, an exploration of conscience, and an enduring meditation on the struggles of humanity in the face of moral, political, and spiritual upheaval.
What makes The Shield so compelling is not merely its historical significance, but the timelessness of its emotional depth and intellectual daring. Gorky, Andreyev, and Sologub each bring to the volume their distinct literary sensibilities: Gorky's vigorous realism and deep compassion for the downtrodden, Andreyev's psychological intensity and unflinching depiction of human despair, and Sologub's unique blend of dark lyricism and philosophical inquiry. Together, their voices create a symphonic meditation on resilience, solidarity, and the urgent necessity of protecting truth and justice against forces that threaten to obliterate them.
The prose contained here is both intimate and universal, personal and sweeping. Readers are invited into worlds where the struggle for identity collides with the demands of society, where individuals grapple with the moral weight of their choices, and where the collective human spirit—fragile, yet unyielding—asserts itself against the shadows of oppression. This is not simply classic literature preserved for the sake of posterity; it is a work alive with the psychological insight, emotional journeys, and human struggles that resonate across generations.
At its core, The Shield is about more than history, more than politics, more than art—it is about the human condition itself. The stories ask us to consider what it means to defend our humanity, to build a shield not only of steel but of ideas, empathy, and creative resilience. The resonance of these questions has not diminished with time. On the contrary, in today's fractured world, the insights of Gorky, Andreyev, and Sologub feel startlingly urgent, a reminder of literature's enduring power to inspire reflection and spark transformation.
Translated with care and clarity by Avrahm Yarmolinsky, this edition opens the doors of Russian literature to an English-speaking audience while retaining the lyric force, dramatic cadence, and intellectual weight of the original. Yarmolinsky's translation ensures that readers encounter not just words, but living voices—voices that rise from the past to speak to the present, offering guidance, warning, and hope.
For admirers of timeless literature, The Shield represents a rare convergence of literary excellence, emotional depth, and cultural resonance. It is both an artifact of its era and a testament to the enduring relevance of classic storytelling. Readers will be drawn into the psychological landscapes that Andreyev maps with startling precision, the symbolic and philosophical explorations that Sologub spins into poetic narrative, and the compassionate realism of Gorky, whose editorial vision lends the collection its unity and urgency.
This volume belongs not only on the shelves of scholars and students of Russian literature but also in the hands of anyone seeking works that illuminate the complexity of the human spirit. It is literature that transcends the boundaries of time and place, reaching into the deepest recesses of the heart while challenging the intellect. The Shield is a reminder that literature, at its finest, provides both sanctuary and sword—protection for the soul and provocation for the mind.
What makes The Shield so compelling is not merely its historical significance, but the timelessness of its emotional depth and intellectual daring. Gorky, Andreyev, and Sologub each bring to the volume their distinct literary sensibilities: Gorky's vigorous realism and deep compassion for the downtrodden, Andreyev's psychological intensity and unflinching depiction of human despair, and Sologub's unique blend of dark lyricism and philosophical inquiry. Together, their voices create a symphonic meditation on resilience, solidarity, and the urgent necessity of protecting truth and justice against forces that threaten to obliterate them.
The prose contained here is both intimate and universal, personal and sweeping. Readers are invited into worlds where the struggle for identity collides with the demands of society, where individuals grapple with the moral weight of their choices, and where the collective human spirit—fragile, yet unyielding—asserts itself against the shadows of oppression. This is not simply classic literature preserved for the sake of posterity; it is a work alive with the psychological insight, emotional journeys, and human struggles that resonate across generations.
At its core, The Shield is about more than history, more than politics, more than art—it is about the human condition itself. The stories ask us to consider what it means to defend our humanity, to build a shield not only of steel but of ideas, empathy, and creative resilience. The resonance of these questions has not diminished with time. On the contrary, in today's fractured world, the insights of Gorky, Andreyev, and Sologub feel startlingly urgent, a reminder of literature's enduring power to inspire reflection and spark transformation.
Translated with care and clarity by Avrahm Yarmolinsky, this edition opens the doors of Russian literature to an English-speaking audience while retaining the lyric force, dramatic cadence, and intellectual weight of the original. Yarmolinsky's translation ensures that readers encounter not just words, but living voices—voices that rise from the past to speak to the present, offering guidance, warning, and hope.
For admirers of timeless literature, The Shield represents a rare convergence of literary excellence, emotional depth, and cultural resonance. It is both an artifact of its era and a testament to the enduring relevance of classic storytelling. Readers will be drawn into the psychological landscapes that Andreyev maps with startling precision, the symbolic and philosophical explorations that Sologub spins into poetic narrative, and the compassionate realism of Gorky, whose editorial vision lends the collection its unity and urgency.
This volume belongs not only on the shelves of scholars and students of Russian literature but also in the hands of anyone seeking works that illuminate the complexity of the human spirit. It is literature that transcends the boundaries of time and place, reaching into the deepest recesses of the heart while challenging the intellect. The Shield is a reminder that literature, at its finest, provides both sanctuary and sword—protection for the soul and provocation for the mind.
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Product Details
| BN ID: | 2940184712048 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Maksim Gorky |
| Publication date: | 09/25/2025 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| File size: | 456 KB |
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