The Shades

By Vladimir Korolenko and Thomas Seltzer

What would you give for a conversation with Socrates? Vladimir Korolenko's short story 'The Shades' is as close as it gets. It follows a conversation between Socrates and Eldipias as they discuss themes such as the truth, the nature of the one, true God, as well as the eternal topics of life and death. A masterful exploration of how the fear of changing one's beliefs can lead to the loss of truth, this is an essential read for anyone interested in philosophy. Korolenko's intimate manner of discussing 'big topics' is similar to the lighthearted nature of NBC's 'The Good Place'. -

• Language: English
• Publisher: SAGA Egmont
• Release date: Jun 8, 2021
• ISBN: 9788726501827

Vladimir Korolenko

Короленко Владимир Галактионович (1853 - 1921), прозаик. Родился 15 июля (27 н.с.) в Житомире в семье уездного судьи, честного и неподкупного человека, потому и не сделавшего карьеры. Детские годы Короленко прошли в Житомире, где он начал учиться в гимназии, но закончил гимназический курс уже в Ровно, куда отец был переведен по службе. В 1871 окончил гимназию с серебряной медалью и поступил в Петербургский технологический институт, но тяжелое материальное положение заставляет его уйти из института и искать себе средства к существованию. Работает корректором, чертежником. В 1874 переезжает в Москву и поступает в Петровскую земледельческую и лесную академию. За отказ присягать Александру III был в 1881 сослан в Якутию, где провел три года. Первые рассказы были опубликованы в 1879 - 80 - "Эпизоды из жизни искателя", "Яшка", "Чудная". В 1882 - рассказ "Убивец", в 1883 - рассказ "Сон Макара". Впечатления сибирской жизни легли в основу многих рассказов, посвященных бродягам, каторжникам, "гулящим людям": "Соколинец" (1885), "Черкес" (1888) и др. В 1885 написан рассказ "В дурном обществе". Сибирская тема будет продолжена и в рассказах 1890-х годов: "Ат-Даван" (1892), "Марусина заимка" (1899). В 1893 писатель побывал в Америке на Всемирной выставке, а в 1895 написал рассказ "Без языка" о жизни украинского крестьянина-эмигранта в Америке. В 1896 переехал в Петербург, где вместе с Н.Михайловским стал издавать народнический журнал "Русское богатство". В течение последних шестнадцати лет (1905 - 21) Короленко работал над мемуарами "История моего современника", опубликованными в 1922. Смерть наступила от воспаления легких 25 февраля 1921 в Полтаве.

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Vladimir Korolenko

The Shades

SAGA Egmont

The Shades

Translated by Thomas Seltzer

Original title: Тени

Original language: Russian

The characters and use of language in the work do not express the views of the publisher. The work is published as a historical document that describes its contemporary human perception.

Cover image: Shutterstock

Copyright © 1890, 2021 SAGA Egmont

All rights reserved

ISBN: 9788726501827

1st ebook edition

Format: EPUB 2.0

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This work is republished as a historical document. It contains contemporary use of language.

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I

A month and two days had elapsed since the judges, amid the loud acclaim of the Athenian people, had pronounced the death sentence against the philosopher Socrates because he had sought to destroy faith in the gods. What the gadfly is to the horse Socrates was to Athens. The gadfly stings the horse in order to prevent it from dozing off and to keep it moving briskly on its course. The philosopher said to the people of Athens:

I am your gadfly. My sting pricks your conscience and arouses you when you are caught napping. Sleep not, sleep not, people of Athens; awake and seek the truth!

The people arose in their exasperation and cruelly demanded to be rid of their gadfly.

Perchance both of his accusers, Meletus and Anytus, are wrong, said the citizens, on leaving the court after sentence had been pronounced.

But after all whither do his doctrines tend? What would he do? He has wrought confusion, he overthrows beliefs that have existed since the beginning, he speaks of new virtues which must be recognised and sought for, he speaks of a Divinity hitherto unknown to us. The blasphemer, he deems himself wiser than the gods! No, ‘twere better we remain true to the old gods whom we know. They may not always be just, sometimes they may flare up in unjust wrath, and they may also be seized with a wanton lust for the wives of mortals; but did not our ancestors live with them in the peace of their souls, did not our forefathers accomplish their heroic deeds with the help of these very gods? And now the faces of the Olympians have paled and the old virtue is out of joint. What does it all lead to? Should not an end be put to this impious wisdom once for all?

Thus the citizens of Athens spoke to one another as they left the place, and the blue twilight was falling. They had