Showing results by author "William Alexander Gerhardi" in All Categories

From the preface written by Edith Wharton: Then I fell upon Futility. Some one said: “It's another new novel about Russia” –and every one of my eager feelers curled up in a tight knot of refusal. But . . . I read on, amused, moved, absorbed, till the tale and the journey ended together. This, it seems to me, is the most striking quality of Mr. Gerhardi's book: that he has (even in this, his first venture) enough of the true novelist's “objectivity” to focus the two so utterly alien races to whom he belongs almost equally, by birth and bringing-up – the English and the Russian – ...

In her captivating preface, Edith Wharton reflects on discovering Futility and her initial reluctance to engage with another Russian-themed novel. Yet, as she delves deeper into the narrative, she finds herself amused, moved, and absorbed until the story reaches its poignant conclusion. Wharton praises Mr. Gerhardis remarkable ability to portray two vastly different cultures—the English and the Russian—with a sense of genuine objectivity. He captures their mutual perceptions and reactions, bringing to life a rich tapestry of empathy and understanding that resonates throughout the book.