Envy

Title: Envy

Author: Yuri Olesha

Pages: 128

Genre: Socialist Fiction

Letter Grade: B

Synopsis: The main character, Nikolai Kavalerov, is taken in by Andrei Babichev - who is a very important person in the food industry of their city. Kavalerov is an aimless drifter and is often drunk. Babichev tries to help Kavalerov make a better life for himself but Kavalerov is so self-centered and deluded about his own worth that he even begins to hate Babichev. Kavalerov dreams of being important and envies Babichev to no end. Kavalerov gets himself kicked out of Babichev's apartment and he teams up with Andrei Babichev's brother, Ivan. Together they plot to kill Andrei but this comes to nothing. Eventually Ivan and Kavalerov end up living a life of indifference.

My Review: I had to read this book for a class but I was lucky because this book was very interesting. It was actually banned from being published in the Soviet Union for many years because the main character (Kavalerov) was not a good example of the 'new Communist man'. Another problem that they had with the book was that the reader would sympathize with Kavalerov. You do begin to like Kavalerov but you also begin to feel sorry for him and it's very easy to see how worthless he has become. The book reads very quickly and is almost humorous at times.

Favorite Passage: Forthcoming...