Who Translated 'Heart Of A Dog' Into English?

2025-06-21 19:38:26 292

3 Answers

Samuel
Samuel
2025-06-25 02:16:46
I remember digging into this when I first read 'Heart of a Dog'. The most widely circulated English version was translated by Michael Glenny, who did a ton of Russian literature. His translation captures Bulgakov's sharp satire and dark humor perfectly. Glenny worked closely with the original text, preserving the weird medical jargon and political undertones that make the novella so special. If you're comparing translations, Glenny's stands out for its fluidity - it doesn't feel like you're reading something that was originally in Russian. The dialogue especially pops, from the dog's thoughts to the professor's rants. Some newer editions use his translation with updated footnotes explaining Soviet-era references that might confuse modern readers.
Brynn
Brynn
2025-06-25 05:02:34
As someone who collects translated literature, I've compared multiple versions of 'Heart of a Dog'. Michael Glenny's 1968 translation remains the gold standard, though Mirra Ginsburg did an interesting alternative version in the 1980s. Glenny had this uncanny ability to balance fidelity to Bulgakov's prose with readability in English. The scene where Sharik gets human vocal cords? Glenny turns those chaotic barks into this gradual, horrifying transformation that still gives me chills.

What many don't know is that Glenny translated this alongside other Bulgakov works during the Cold War when Soviet literature was heavily censored. His translations smuggled in political subtext that the original Russian editions couldn't always show. Later translators like Hugh Aplin (2007) opted for more literal approaches, but lose some of that sly humor. If you find an old Penguin Classics edition with Glenny's name on it, that's the one collectors fight over - it has these fantastic annotations about Moscow in the 1920s that add layers to the story.
Simone
Simone
2025-06-24 04:09:01
For fellow Bulgakov fans, the Glenny translation of 'Heart of a Dog' is like finding the director's cut of a film. His choices make the mad scientist's rants sound properly unhinged while keeping the dog's narration endearingly simple. I recently compared it to a newer translation by Boris Dralyuk (2020), which is good but leans too academic - Glenny's version has this energy, like the text is barely containing its own absurdity.

Fun detail: Glenny worked with theatre groups to test dialogue flow, so scenes like the final confrontation read like play scripts. His translation was actually banned in some countries initially for being 'too inflammatory' - which tells you how well he handled the political satire. If you see footnotes about Soviet housing policies or early endocrinology experiments, that's the Glenny edition doing what it does best - making the weirdness historically grounded.
View All Answers
Scan code to download App

Related Books

My Heart Is Beating (English)
My Heart Is Beating (English)
>>THIS BOOK IS IN INDEFINITE HIATUS<< Aurelie Mistal, called by her nickname Aurie is a simple, average girl with hidden talents who had experienced working for a very long time being a cast member from a famous amusement park from the Philippines. After leaving the path of a fairytale-like life, she decided to join the real world of music wherein she found herself joining the infamous MBS Asia Inc. - an international talent agency where youths were scouted and trained to be future artists as they grow up. Upon exploring, Aurie continually experiences good and bad situations, and even encounters deep secrets with unbelievable revelations within the hallways of a musically inclined building, hiding from the shining and sparkling gold furniture and pure white walls. She is also slowly becoming part of every artists' lives, mostly her most admired artist, Ryota Morii who doesn't acknowledge her presence and becomes irritated by just seeing her around. Until, more ideal guys started invading her life which eventually ended up trying to steal her from Ryota, with all having the same reason: LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT. Will Aurie be able to hold her feelings just for Ryota or will she give chance to others who won't seem to stop pursuing her?
Not enough ratings
16 Chapters
The  CANIS’s heart (English Version)
The CANIS’s heart (English Version)
Love is unpredictable, and often comes when we least expect it. Love can be felt for any number of reasons, and it’s those unexpected qualities that make someone stand out from the crowd. But what if that someone can’t be your mate, and loving her is against the rule? Would you still go for her and follow the whisper of your heart, or forget her and embrace your responsibility?
10
23 Chapters
The Man Who Breaks My Heart (English )
The Man Who Breaks My Heart (English )
In order to survive her daily needs, Aubree Lyn Corpez has to work for a company that pays high wages but is far away from her twin children who are five years old. But in an unexpected turn of events, her boss will be her ex-boyfriend, whom she has been trying to forget for several years because of a wrong relationship and the reason why she took her children away from their real father. Can she stand up for herself that she will not give a second chance to the person who hurt her but will take revenge? Ryker Matt Sullivaño is known as the ruthless, arrogant CEO/boss of one of the most famous real estate in the country. With the reunion of his ex-girlfriend, is there still hope for him to right the wrongs of the past? What if it's too late and he is already in love with someone else?
10
72 Chapters
That Stranger Got my Heart(ENGLISH VERSION)
That Stranger Got my Heart(ENGLISH VERSION)
Brittany Laxamana is the kind of woman who doesn't believe in love. Moreover, she is also irritated with her twin because she is not interested in to whom it was introduced to her and she especially dislikes conversations because she knows every man is very good but only at first. But that fate changed when the man she had not expected arrived. nor did she expect to fall in love with that man when they first met THAT STRANGER GOT MY HEART !! -Britanny Will She believe in love? Will her beliefs change because of this man? ENGLISH VERSION
Not enough ratings
6 Chapters
Who Let the Dog Out?
Who Let the Dog Out?
I don't inform Hunter Nabb when I'm bitten by a rabid dog in the late stages of my pregnancy. Instead, I call the police. Why? Because he got into an accident when he hurried to me in my past life. It killed his junior. He was depressed for a day but quickly bounced back. He cared for me until I recovered. I thought the rumors of amorosity between him and his junior was just a figment of my imagination. However, the day I gave birth, he locked me in a cage, allowing a rabid dog to attack me and the baby. He looked down at me imperiously, his tone cold and ruthless. "You can trick everyone, but not me. Would a dog have bitten you if you hadn't provoked it? Do you know you killed Willow with your dirty tricks? She was pregnant with my child when she died!" When I open my eyes again, I'm taken back to when the rabid dog bites me.
10 Chapters
HELIOS (English)
HELIOS (English)
Amara Louisse Lexecavriah's heart broke into pieces when her three year boyfriend decided to broke up with her. She was badly hurt that she thought of something to do in order to forget her ex-boyfriend and that includes climbing the mountain of Destora which is located in Riverious. She was too eager to reach the top of the mountain and when she finally did, she screamed everything she wanted to say to ex. She cursed him to death not knowing that someone is watching her. That 'someone' is no other than Helios, the dangerous vampire living at the top of the mountain. He has been locked inside the mountain for a long time already and it alarmed him when he felt another presence inside his turf. A witch told him that the key to his freedom is a woman. Who is that woman? Is it possible that Amara Louisse is the woman the witch is talking about?
7
41 Chapters

Related Questions

Why Was 'Heart Of A Dog' Banned In The USSR?

3 Answers2025-06-21 12:51:40
I've studied Soviet censorship extensively, and 'Heart of a Dog' got banned for its brutal satire of communist ideology. Bulgakov wasn't just mocking the new Soviet man - he created a grotesque experiment where a dog turns into a human through surgery, only to become the worst possible embodiment of proletarian values. The authorities recognized themselves in the violent, drunken Sharikov who demands equal rights while contributing nothing. The story exposes the absurdity of forced social engineering, showing how attempts to create an ideal society often produce monsters instead. What really terrified the censors was Bulgakov's prediction that the revolution would create a class of empowered but utterly barbaric people who'd destroy culture while claiming to serve it. The novel was way ahead of its time in predicting Stalin's purges and the general degradation of Soviet society under communist rule.

What Is The Moral Lesson Of 'Heart Of A Dog'?

3 Answers2025-06-21 20:48:23
The moral lesson of 'Heart of a Dog' hits hard about playing god. It shows how dangerous it is to mess with nature when a scientist transplants human organs into a dog, creating a monstrous hybrid. The creature ends up embodying the worst of humanity—greed, arrogance, and cruelty. It’s a brutal critique of the Soviet obsession with reshaping society and individuals through force. The story warns that forcing change without understanding consequences leads to chaos. The dog-turned-man becomes a mirror of societal decay, proving some things shouldn’t be tampered with. It’s a timeless reminder that progress without ethics is just destruction in disguise.

Where Can I Buy 'Heart Of A Dog' Online?

3 Answers2025-06-21 17:12:05
I just grabbed a copy of 'Heart of a Dog' from Amazon last week, and it arrived in perfect condition. The paperback edition was super affordable, and Prime shipping got it to me in two days. If you prefer e-books, Kindle has it for even cheaper, and you can start reading instantly. For collectors, AbeBooks usually has some cool vintage copies with that old-book smell I love. Check out independent sellers there for first editions if you're into rare finds. Book Depository is another solid option with free worldwide shipping, which is great if you're outside the US like some of my reading buddies.

How Does 'Heart Of A Dog' Critique Soviet Society?

3 Answers2025-06-21 07:26:16
As someone who's read 'Heart of a Dog' multiple times, Mikhail Bulgakov's satire cuts deep into Soviet society's obsession with control and transformation. The story of Sharik, a dog turned into a man through bizarre science, mirrors the Bolsheviks' attempt to forcibly reshape humanity. The new Soviet man emerges as a drunken, vulgar lout instead of the idealized communist citizen, showing how artificial social engineering fails spectacularly. The housing committee's petty bureaucracy reflects how revolutionaries became just another oppressive authority. Bulgakov particularly mocks the pseudoscientific jargon used to justify societal experiments, making it clear that dressing cruelty in progressive language doesn't change its nature. The professor's horror at his creation parallels intellectuals' disillusionment with the revolution's outcomes.

Is 'Heart Of A Dog' Based On A True Story?

3 Answers2025-06-21 05:06:32
I've read 'Heart of a Dog' multiple times, and while it feels eerily real, it's not based on a true story. Mikhail Bulgakov crafted this satirical masterpiece in 1925, blending absurdity with sharp social commentary. The story follows a stray dog transformed into a human by a mad scientist, exposing the flaws of Soviet society. Bulgakov drew inspiration from the chaotic post-revolutionary era, but the characters and events are entirely fictional. His background as a medical doctor influenced the scientific elements, but the plot is pure imagination. The novel's power lies in how it mirrors real societal issues through its bizarre premise, making readers question human nature and political systems.

Where To Watch Dog

3 Answers2025-01-08 13:14:33
Sled Dog Soldiers' live on Netflix is a not-to-miss for someone who wants to immerse themselves in the adrenaline-charged world of dog sledding.And for those who like a sweet tearjerker, the "Dog's Purpose" series drug on Prime Videos is perfect.ISeeAs well as on Amazon Prime and Netflix, there are droves of other aptly engaging shows whose main characters are our favorite four-legged friends to be found.

What Is Dog Days

5 Answers2025-01-08 13:48:22
Dog Days is a lighter-colored anime. In a fantasy world where kingdoms contest in healthy sports, it is set. Cinque is the protagonist and comes to help in these battles from Earth. There are all kinds of condition-lifelines and adventures with animal-inhabitants that are fuzzy like people too. It's a series anyone interested in such things might watch for fun. What's more, there are three seasons!

Who Is Sparky The Dog Fnaf

3 Answers2025-01-17 21:01:39
Nothing short of exciting with a dark twist underneath, the Five Nights at Freddy's stories are beloved by many fans. An animatronic fan-made character, Sparky the Dog has become well-known among its large audience of fans. While some fans are generally led to believe it is one of the game's secret characters, a faked image circulating on the internet is partly responsible for this misconception. This image depicts Sparky in the right hand doorway of the first game's security office.Whilst imaginative it is important to note for fans that this is not official content but only a fan-art cosmology.
Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on GoodNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP
DMCA.com Protection Status