Whether, like his own Platonov--who may
be called to some extent an autobiographical figure, and many of
whose experiences are Kuprin's own--"came upon the brothel" and
gathered his material unconsciously, "without any ulterior
thoughts of writing, "we do not know, nor need we rummage in his
dirty linen, as he puts it. Suffice it to say here--to cite but
two instances--that almost anyone acquainted with Russia will tell
you the full name of the rich, gay, southern port city of K--;
that any Odessite will tell you that Treppel's is merely
transplanted, for fictional reasons, from his own city to K--...
Alexandre I. Kuprin was born in 1870; 1909 marked the twenty-fifth
anniversary of his literary activity. He attained his fame only
upon the publication of his amazing, epical novel, "The Duel"--
which, just like "YAMA," is an arraignment; an arraignment of
militaristic corruption. Russian criticism has styled him the poet
of life. If Chekhov was the Wunderkind of Russian letters, Kuprin
is its enfant terrible. His range of subjects is enormous; his
power of observation and his versatility extraordinary.
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