Captain Ribnikov
"Captain Ribnikov" | |
---|---|
Mir Bozhy | |
Publication date | 1906 |
Published in English | 1916 |
"Staff Captain Rybnikov" (Shtabs-Kapitan Rybnikov, Штабс-капитан Рыбников) is a short story by
Background
Kuprin had for a long time been intrigued by the notion of a spy carrying out his lone mission in the heart of an enemy nation, according to biographer Nicholas Luker. In his dreams Romashov (
History
The story, written in 1905 in Balaklava, was lauded by Maxim Gorky who rated it as one Kuprin's finest ones. He included it in several compilations (Russian Writers Series, 1919; Gosizdat's Russian Classics, 1928; Academia Publishers, 1935).[4] Kuprin himself in 1909 referred to "Junior Captain Rybnikov" as his best story ever written.[5][1]
Plot
Excited by his discovery, he takes Rybnikov with himself on a binge. As his admiration for this man's audacity, self-control and artistry grows, the journalist promises the Captain never to give him away to the authorities, but Rybnikov remains unfazed. Equally impressed with her unusual visitor, so unlike her common clientele, is Nastya, a prostitute in a brothel which the Shchavinsky-led company visits. Ironically, it's this woman, stricken by Rybnikov's tenderness, noble manners and passion, proves to be his undoing. Motivated by petty vanity, she boasts to a local thief (and, apparently, a secret police agent) who rests in a nearby room, about a strange visitor she's just had, mentioning the latter pronouncing some Japanese words as he was falling asleep. The thief calls for the police and ventures an assault. Trying to escape, Rybnikov jumps out of the window, breaks his leg and gets caught.[3]
Themes
The story, set in Saint Petersburg, provided Kuprin with an opportunity to comment on the
Through Rybnikov's talk of the war Kuprin reveals the incompetence of the Russian army in the field. Those in command fail to adapt to the terrain, their men are supplied with shells of the wrong caliber and obliged to fight for days without food, while their officers play cards and take mistresses. All the while the Japanese fight with the efficiency of machines. Morale is disastrously low in the Russian ranks, and mutiny increasingly apparent. More ferment still is to be seen in the navy, where officers are afraid to meet their sailors ashore.[3]
Through the military bureaucrats whom Rybnikov visits, Kuprin points ironically to the reasons for Russia's defeat in the Far East. "And that's what Russian officers are like!" they exclaim. "Just look at that fellow [Rybnikov]. Isn't it clear why we're losing one battle after another? Dullness, stupidity, complete absence of any self-respect... Poor Russia!" [6][3]
External links
References
- ^ a b Koretskaya, I. Commentaries to Staff-Captain Rybnikov. The Complete A.I.Kuprin, in 9 volumes. Vol. 4. Pravda Publishers. Ogonyok magazine library. Moscow. 1964. Pp. 488-489.
- ^ D. S. Mirsky. Contemporary Russian Literature
- ^ a b c d Luker, Nicholas J.T. "1905 and After". kuprin.gatchina3000. Retrieved 2014-01-13.
- ^ The Archives of A.M.Gorky. Sovetskoye Iskusstvo, 1936, No.29, June 23.
- ^ Talking to A.I.Kuprin. Odesskye Novosti, 1909, No.7934, October 8.
- ^ Staff-Captain Rybnikov. The Complete A.I.Kuprin, in 9 volumes. Vol. 4. Pravda Publishers. Ogonyok magazine library. Moscow. 1964. P. 234