I signed up to Matt Taibbi’s Substack recently and one of the first things that caught my eye was his paean to Nikolai Gogol — “my childhood hero,” as Matt described him. Well, Gogol is one of my favorite writers too. And I couldn’t believe how inane and lame Matt’s take was.
Thank you - I read with interest your sharp critique of Matt essay. I am not an expert on Gogol -- about censorships note that Russian tsar attended the first performance of Inspector General. I doubt that any of US presidents that Matt reviewed and criticized would do anything even remotely similar for such leading "controversial" society, cultural and political analyst.
I have been reading Matt Taibbi's writing for decades and deeply respect his courage, humor and lucid and unique and superb literary style. He was one of very few that from the start and relentlessly unmasked the scam of the century -- the still going on Russia-gate hoax.
Having read Sacha's previous and now your sharp criticism of Matt's writing and even his character (the "apology affair") I have impression that there are two undercurrents at play here. Forgive me for describing them -- I respect and like both your and Sacha's efforts and analyses.
1. There may be a bit of envy to Matt's success, recognition and his wide span of topics
2. You might also have known Matt or about Matt from mutual friends and acquaintances from his days and work in Russia, and perhaps believe that you know that beautiful country and its people better than he ever will. Perhaps this is so. Matt's focus has been on the US but in all his writings I detected only warmth and respect for Russia's people and culture.
I may be judging you incorrectly - in that case I apologize. Still look in your heart -- what is the source of certain and persistent antagonism toward a cultural phenomenon, Matt -- in the current US "cultural desert" and mediocrity.
Best wishes for the new addition in your family and my best regards, Boris
PS: Both you and Matt read the same book by Nabokov about Gogol that you have recommended. That is obvious from the details about Gogol's deathbed torment described by Matt.
You are not very familiar with Matt Taibbi's incredible literary opus. Did you read any of his numerous books, for example?
Evgenia's "letter" was unfair and misconstrued -- biased and emotional. Why such antagonism is difficult to understand. Are you now forming a club with Evgenia's husband Sasha -- who not that long ago attacked Matt's character which was even more offensive.
+1 for Evgenia via a good friend of mine from Sofia, Bulgaria 😉
"...I have to agree with Evgenia. Gogol’s work and characters are deeply rooted in the culture of this part of the world, including Bulgaria and all Slav nations. Gogol’s characters like Khlestakov are household names used in every day language and well known and understood by young and old etc etc..."
Dead Souls is at the top of my list for best stories ever. It’s heartbreaking and funny and focused and perfect. It’s beautiful. Ps there was a reference to ‘dead souls’ being used as collateral by the very wealthy Russian refugees in France when their oil wells back in Baku stopped producing oil.
"he was a mystical and religious writer" — Gogol also wrote "Meditations on the Divine Liturgy," a book still widely read by Orthodox Christians and still considered to be one of the best commentaries by a layman. From the description of the book's English translation: "Nikolai Gogol was one of the most prominent Russian writers of the 19th century. He was a leading voice of the school of Russian literary realism, and is well known for his short stories, satires, and plays. He was also a deeply religious man, who dedicated one of his last works to the Divine Liturgy of the Orthodox Church.
This book provides a commentary on the Divine Liturgy, that is at the same time both mystical and practical. Drawing from the early Church Fathers and his own experience, Gogol explains the sublime mystery of the Orthodox divine services, while at the same time providing a window into his own spiritual life."
I have a hard time believing that Matt Taibbi would feel any link to Gogol in this regard.
Thank you - I read with interest your sharp critique of Matt essay. I am not an expert on Gogol -- about censorships note that Russian tsar attended the first performance of Inspector General. I doubt that any of US presidents that Matt reviewed and criticized would do anything even remotely similar for such leading "controversial" society, cultural and political analyst.
I have been reading Matt Taibbi's writing for decades and deeply respect his courage, humor and lucid and unique and superb literary style. He was one of very few that from the start and relentlessly unmasked the scam of the century -- the still going on Russia-gate hoax.
Having read Sacha's previous and now your sharp criticism of Matt's writing and even his character (the "apology affair") I have impression that there are two undercurrents at play here. Forgive me for describing them -- I respect and like both your and Sacha's efforts and analyses.
1. There may be a bit of envy to Matt's success, recognition and his wide span of topics
2. You might also have known Matt or about Matt from mutual friends and acquaintances from his days and work in Russia, and perhaps believe that you know that beautiful country and its people better than he ever will. Perhaps this is so. Matt's focus has been on the US but in all his writings I detected only warmth and respect for Russia's people and culture.
I may be judging you incorrectly - in that case I apologize. Still look in your heart -- what is the source of certain and persistent antagonism toward a cultural phenomenon, Matt -- in the current US "cultural desert" and mediocrity.
Best wishes for the new addition in your family and my best regards, Boris
PS: I am of Slavic but not of Russian origin ;-))
PS: Both you and Matt read the same book by Nabokov about Gogol that you have recommended. That is obvious from the details about Gogol's deathbed torment described by Matt.
So great! I sincerely hope this serves as electric shock, dissuading Taibbi from ever attempting literary criticism in future.
You are not very familiar with Matt Taibbi's incredible literary opus. Did you read any of his numerous books, for example?
Evgenia's "letter" was unfair and misconstrued -- biased and emotional. Why such antagonism is difficult to understand. Are you now forming a club with Evgenia's husband Sasha -- who not that long ago attacked Matt's character which was even more offensive.
PS: Some of Matt's numerous masterpieces:
https://taibbi.substack.com/p/the-roots-of-passive-collusion
https://taibbi.substack.com/p/the-rise-and-fall-of-superhero-robert
https://taibbi.substack.com/p/the-rise-and-fall-of-superhero-robert?fbclid=IwAR2bc4SkFDSw539Uu59It9QZgQ_1FL2MUFAu43reeFwsgnZs2jxEceKyJms
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/political-commentary/horowitz-report-steele-dossier-collusion-news-media-924944/
Yes. Yes. Yes. Thank you.
I’m so… disappointed, I guess, with the direction Matt seems to have taken. Professionally and personally. Meh.
+1 for Evgenia via a good friend of mine from Sofia, Bulgaria 😉
"...I have to agree with Evgenia. Gogol’s work and characters are deeply rooted in the culture of this part of the world, including Bulgaria and all Slav nations. Gogol’s characters like Khlestakov are household names used in every day language and well known and understood by young and old etc etc..."
Dead Souls is at the top of my list for best stories ever. It’s heartbreaking and funny and focused and perfect. It’s beautiful. Ps there was a reference to ‘dead souls’ being used as collateral by the very wealthy Russian refugees in France when their oil wells back in Baku stopped producing oil.
See ‘The Orientalist’.
"he was a mystical and religious writer" — Gogol also wrote "Meditations on the Divine Liturgy," a book still widely read by Orthodox Christians and still considered to be one of the best commentaries by a layman. From the description of the book's English translation: "Nikolai Gogol was one of the most prominent Russian writers of the 19th century. He was a leading voice of the school of Russian literary realism, and is well known for his short stories, satires, and plays. He was also a deeply religious man, who dedicated one of his last works to the Divine Liturgy of the Orthodox Church.
This book provides a commentary on the Divine Liturgy, that is at the same time both mystical and practical. Drawing from the early Church Fathers and his own experience, Gogol explains the sublime mystery of the Orthodox divine services, while at the same time providing a window into his own spiritual life."
I have a hard time believing that Matt Taibbi would feel any link to Gogol in this regard.