Undergrowth: plays, prose

There was nothing offensive in the word "undergrowth" in Russia of the eighteenth century - the minor noblemen who had not yet received the sovereign service were called. But then Denis Ivanovich Fonvizin (1745-1792) wrote his famous comedy, and since then, and now a short -lived, a dumb arrears, who does not recognize his inferiority. "I do not want to study - I want to marry" - funny. But the phrase of Starodum is not at all funny, but very relevant: "cash is not cash." There is a legend that after the first performance of the “undergrowth” Prince Potemkin-Tauride, leaving the theater, called the author to him and said: “Die now, Denis, or write nothing else. Your name will be immortal for this one pies. ” The prince was perspicacious.

The accompanying article by Mikhail Yasnut

Mikhail Davidovich Yasnov (b. 1946) - Russian poet and translator. He graduated from the philological faculty of Leningrad University. The author of several books of lyrics, recognized master of poetic translation (G. Apolliner, P. Verlaine, P. Valeri and others) and poetry for children. Laureate of numerous literary awards, including the prize to them. Maurice Vaxmamer, which is awarded by the French government and the French Embassy in Moscow for the best translation of French fiction