The Project Gutenberg EBook of Yama (The Pit), by Alexandra Kuprin

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Title: Yama (The Pit)

Author: Alexandra Kuprin

Translator: Bernard Guilbert Guerney

Posting Date: March 3, 2010 [EBook #4706]
Release Date: December, 2003
First Posted: March 5, 2002

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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YAMA [THE PIT]

Of this edition, intended for private circulation only, and printed
from type on Berkeley Antique laid paper, 950 copies have been printed
for America, and 550 for Great Britain. Also, 55 unnumbered copies, for
the press.

This copy is Number 223

YAMA [THE PIT]

A NOVEL IN THREE PARTS

BY ALEXANDRA KUPRIN

TRANSLATED FROM THE RUSSIAN

BY BERNARD GUILBERT GUERNEY

"All the horror is in just this, that there is no horror ..."

AUTHOR'S DEDICATION

I know that many will find this novel immoral and indecent;
nevertheless, I dedicate it with all my heart to MOTHERS AND YOUTHS--A.
K.

TRANSLATOR'S DEDICATION

I dedicate the labour of translation, in all humility and sincerity, to
K. ANDRAE. B. G. G.

JTABLE 2 2 1

JTABLE 6 12 1

JTABLE 6 17 1

JTABLE 6 9 1

INTRODUCTION

"With us, you see," Kuprin makes the reporter Platonov, his mouthpiece,
say in Yama, "they write about detectives, about lawyers, about
inspectors of the revenue, about pedagogues, about attorneys, about the
police, about officers, about sensual ladies, about engineers, about
baritones--and really, by God, altogether well--cleverly, with finesse
and talent. But, after all, all these people are rubbish, and their
life is not life, but some sort of conjured up, spectral, unnecessary
delirium of world culture. But there are two singular
realities--ancient as humanity itself: the prostitute and the moujik.
And about them we know nothing, save some tinsel, gingerbread,
debauched depictions in literature..."

Tinsel, gingerbread, debauched depictions... Let us consider some of
the ways in which this monstrous reality has been