TMR 12.11 “The Book of Anna” [THE BOOK OF ANNA]

Translator and Words Without Borders co-founder Samantha Schnee joined Chad and Brian this week to talk about Anna’s “opium-fueled” fairy tale that was referenced in passing in Anna Karenina, and a centerpiece of Boullosa’s “sequel.” A lively conversation about language, various Tolstoy translations, the book’s origin, ways to interpret the fairy tale, and much more.

This week’s musical Anna reference comes from Neutral Milk Hotel’s “In the Aeroplane Over the Sea.”

And again, if you want to help pick from the four finalists for season 13 (Zone, Vernon Subutex, Ada, or Ardor, Baron Wenckheim’s Homecoming), fill out this survey. Thanks in advance!

If you’d prefer to watch the conversation, you can find it on YouTube along with all our past episodes. Next week we’ll discuss part four, “Finale” (pgs 162-End) with Carmen Boullosa herself. You can watch it live next Wednesday, August 19th.

Follow Open Letter, Chad Post, and Brian Wood for random thoughts and information about upcoming guests.

Be sure to order Brian’s book, Joytime Killbox, which is now officially available at better bookstores everywhere thanks to BOA Editions.

You can also support this podcast and all of Open Letter’s activities by making a tax-deductible donation through the University of Rochester.