This book is a valuable, original and significant contribution to the history of Russian translation and takes up an entirely different, refreshing perspective ... Baer has created a convincing, well-researched, unique and engaging study ... undoubtedly interesting and inspiring not only to Slavic scholars but also to any reader who is interested in a different and innovative approach to the significance of translation.

Babel

The advantage of Baer's approach here is that it offers rereadings of canonical literary works and popular works in which the Romantic national framing of literary studies is exposed, deliberately mystifying its own origins in translational and intercultural exchange, and shown to be inadequate to the problems of multilingualism, subjectivity, and identity engaged by Russian literature, enabling a decentering of the usual narratives of national literary development … There are challenging and sophisticated interpretive insights at every turn, and a sustained engagement with the problematic Romantic national literary paradigm, particularly as it applies to the hierarchical binaries of original/translation and author/translator.

Slavic Review

“[Baer's] archly intelligent critical take makes a vital intervention at the heart of Russian literary studies, undermining any illusions of a stable national canon and simultaneously calling into sharp question what it is that we talk about when we talk about Russian literature. ... Baer's book makes an undeniable contribution to several fields; and its very division into micro-histories and case studies lends itself beautifully to the course syllabus. For teachers and scholars looking to address some of the many lacunae in Slavic literary studies, Translation and the Making of Modern Russian Literature offers a powerful tool and an excellent start.

Canadian Slavonic Papers

In an elegant series of micro-narratives, Brian Baer exposes the flash points of modern Russian literary history. Translation becomes a key to the misconnections and dissonances that mark Russia's changing literary relations with the West-from the passionate ideals of the 19th century Decembrists to the uncertainties of the post-Soviet era. It is a pleasure to be in Baer's company: he is an erudite and stylish guide, with a keen eye for paradox.

Sherry Simon, Professor of French Studies, Concordia University, Canada, and author of Cities in Translation: Intersections of Language and Memory

A very interesting and timely book that simultaneously addresses at least three overlapping but significantly different audiences: those who are interested in translation history in general and Russian translation history in particular, the siren call of Romantic nationalism, and sexuality and gender.

Douglas Robinson, Chair Professor of English, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong

Baer's book is a good bibliographical resource for scholars in Russian and translation studies, and his chapter on Wilde is an excellent commentary on the intersection of culture, sexuality, translation, and politics in contemporary Russia.

Modern Philology