| Aside from the gentlemen who bring <to
Petersburg> a little sun and many sardines in exotic wrapping, I
believe we shall soon see the fecund, vital influence of the Russian
South, the Russian Odessa--perhaps (qui sait?), the only city
in Russia where a Russian Maupassant whom need so much may be born.
Small signs are tickling in already auguring the future: I have in
mind the Odessa singers (Iza Kremer in particular), with their small
voice but full of joy, beautifully expressed joy, with their vigor,
lightness of touch, and their charming--now melancholy, now
touching--feeling for life--good, mean and and extraordinarily--quand
même
et malgré
tout--interesting.... Isaac Babel, "Odessa. My Notes"
(1916) |
