Andreï Makine disinherited : The Russian reception of Le testament Français

Abstract

This dissertation examines the work of Andrei Makine from the perspective of its connections with Russian literature. Despite an overwhelmingly positive reception from French and English-language press and scholars focusing principally on his role as a francophone writer, we will see that there are strong connections between his work and contemporary Russian literary trends. Moreover, Makine's links to Russia's past literary heritage are revealed by an examination of the influence on in his work of that of his predecessor in exile in France, Ivan Bunin. Finally, given his wide appeal in France and the English-speaking world, and given his clear Russian connections, we have examined the reception of his work in Russia, and discovered a stark contrast in their negative approach to his work. This different critical perspective is important in determining the significance of Le testament franrcais within the range of Makine's work, which can then be more clearly seen as an attempt at what might be called cultural translation.