Latest news with #Tolstoy
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Author Philippe Sands was told it is ‘unacceptable' to read Russian writer Tolstoy amid Ukraine war
British-French author Philippe Sands has said he was told it is 'unacceptable' to read the work of Russian writer Leo Tolstoy amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Sands is a lawyer and the author of bestselling books including The Ratline and The Last Colony. In 2016, his memoir East West Street: On the Origins of Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity won the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction. The 64-year-old appeared on a panel at the 2025 Hay Festival, which has partnered with The Independent for a second year. He was joined by Swedish philanthropist Sigrid Rausing, academic Adam Rutherford, and The Independent's chief international correspondent Bel Trew. Responding to Rausing's concerns over 'how far Ukraine is going to go' in retaliating against the Russian invasion, Sands said: 'I've got no objection to that. I've got no objection to them targeting Russian bridges.' He continued: 'The issue I've found in Kyiv, and in other places in Ukraine, is I want to read a short story by Tolstoy and I'm told I can't do that because it's unacceptable.' Russian novelist Tolstoy, who died in 1910, was the author of seminal books including War and Peace (1869) and Anna Karenina (1878). The latter has been the subject of numerous film adaptations, including a critically acclaimed version starring Greta Garbo in 1935, and Joe Wright's 2012 adaptation starring Keira Knightley. 'It's an issue right now because [Ukrainians] are feeling very beleaguered,' said Sands. 'On the other hand, there are people who say, 'No, absolutely there are many good Russian writers, and many good Russian people...' so that is complex.' He added: 'But in terms of going into the Russian side, absolutely. [Ukraine have] got to defend themselves.' The discussion came in light of the news that at least seven people had been killed and dozens more injured when bridges collapsed in separate incidents across Russia. Moscow Railways initially blamed the collapse in the Bryansk region, which borders Ukraine, on 'illegal interference in the operation of transport', in a likely reference to Ukrainian saboteurs, but its Telegram post was later removed. Prominent Russian military blogger Semyon Pegov, who uses the name War Gonzo, called it 'sabotage'. Neither report could be independently verified. There was no immediate comment from Ukraine. A second bridge collapsed hours later when a freight train was crossing a bridge in the Kursk region early on Sunday (1 June), according to a local governor, causing a similar derailment. Russia's Investigative Committee said on Sunday that the two bridges had collapsed following explosions. In a third, separate incident, a prominent Ukrainian partisan group claimed responsibility for an attack on relay systems in the occupied Donetsk province, which brought a new Russian rail line to a standstill. Russia has been hit by dozens of sabotage attacks since Moscow launched its offensive against Ukraine in 2022, with many targeting its vast rail network. Kyiv said railways are targeted because they are used to transport troops and weapons for deployment in the war. You can follow updates on the Ukraine-Russia war in The Independent's live blog. Elsewhere during the panel, Sands, a visiting professor of law at Harvard Law School, said that reports of 'rampant antisemitism' at the prestigious university are 'complete nonsense'.
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
How much money does a superstar need?
Remember Leo Tolstoy's famous short story where a greedy peasant could claim all the land he could walk in a day? Spoiler alert: his ambition wrote checks his body couldn't cash, and he collapsed at sunset—leaving him with just enough earth for his grave. If Tolstoy were alive today and writing about Indian cinema, his fable might ask: how much money does a superstar need? And it might go something like this: Once upon a time in Bollywood, a talented, struggling actor finally hits the jackpot. After years of eating instant noodles and taking the bus to auditions, he becomes box office gold. Suddenly, producers are throwing money at him, and as if to make up for all the struggles, he starts demanding more and more, sometimes accounting for even 80% of the film budget. "But I'm worth it!" he insists. "People come to see ME!" The desperate producer, seeing visions of houseful boards across theatres in the country, reluctantly agrees. What choice does he have, he thinks: in a star-obsessed industry, you need them to guarantee screen numbers and opening weekend earnings. But what happens next would make even Tolstoy rub his pearly white beard in thought. When Stars Eat The Sky: The remaining 20% of the budget now has to become elastic and stretch to cover everything else: the supporting cast (told to think of the "exposure"), the crew (promised future projects), action sequences (downgraded now), and visual effects meant to transport audiences to another world now looking worse than an audition reel. And I almost forgot: this 20% also has to budget for a star's vanity… I mean, vanity van, or vans, and the entourage that comes with the man, which can be a dozen or more people. The film releases. The audience, who apparently didn't get the WhatsApp forward that they should be amazed by star power alone regardless of film quality, collectively shrugs. "Meh," says social media. The producer loses his shirt, his pants, and possibly his beach house in Alibaug. Meanwhile, our star has already moved on to his next victim—I mean, project—leaving behind a path of cinematic destruction Godzilla could take notes from. The Steering Wheel Syndrome: Let's get real for a minute. A star claiming sole credit for a film's success is like a steering wheel, thinking it's the entire car. "Look at me, turning left and right! I am THE vehicle!" Sorry, dude, but without the engine, tyres, chassis, and thousands of nuts and bolts holding everything together, you're just a circular ornament. For proof, conduct this thought experiment: imagine your favourite megastar, leave them alone in a room with an iPhone and let them act their heart out for two hours. Release this 'masterpiece' in theatres nationwide. Would you pay 300 rupees to watch that? Would anyone? If your answer is "no," then perhaps we need to reconsider the notion that stars single-handedly "carry" films, that often by their stubborn insistence on more everything, they bury the films prospect. So what does a fair system of compensation look like? Hollywood's Money Math: Hollywood has figured out a more equitable formula. A-list Hollywood actors typically receive a base salary of 10-20% of a film's budget. For a $100 million blockbuster, that comes to $10-20 million—enough to buy a few islands, yet have change enough for a Ferrari ki sawari. But here's where Hollywood scores an ace: they've created a concept called "gross points," which is the percentage of a film's total revenue paid to participants, such as a star, director, or producer, from the very first dollar earned. In contrast, there is the concept of 'net points,' which is prevalent in Bollywood, where one waits for the film to reach profitability before doling out cash. Stars typically negotiate between 5-15% of the gross points on top of their fee, which can be substantial earnings if the film performs well. This creates what business types call "alignment of interests", which mere mortals like us call win-win. When a film succeeds, the producers pop champagne, the studio executives buy another flat, and the star buys another farmhouse in Beverly Hills. The Bigger Pie Philosophy: Think about it this way: should a star rather have 80% of a small, sad, underfunded pie or 20% of a spectacular, crowd-pleasing, critics-adoring, award-winning pie that keeps growing bigger with every box office record it smashes? Some stars have done the math and, guess what, have chosen Door Number Two. Take Aamir Khan, for instance—Bollywood's very own Professor of Economics. He says he doesn't charge upfront fees for his films. Instead, he takes a percentage of the gross revenue. When "Dangal" conquered China faster than the Brits could, Khan's bank account experienced escape velocity. He made significantly more than any fixed fee he'd have taken–by some estimates close to ₹300 crores–while ensuring the production itself had enough resources to tell its story properly. Marvel initially doubted casting Robert Downey Jr. Naturally, they were unwilling to pay him a substantial upfront fee. Instead, they spent time creating quality films in which stories became the main draw. Yet, by the time "Avengers: Endgame" finally rolled around, Downey Jr.–who dies in the film–reportedly made up to $600 million for his roles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movies. His 'gross points' compensation didn't prevent the movie from having spectacular effects, an ensemble cast, and enough marketing to make sure even a Rohtak grandmother knew who Thanos was. Beyond Megastars–The Forgotten Film Family: There's a cinematic family tree that gets overshadowed when just one branch takes all the sunlight. There's the screenwriter fighting monsters in her head to craft the story that'll become the blockbuster; a salt and pepper, bearded director who keeps the vision together; a sunburnt director of photography turning ordinary locations into visual poetry; a costume designer with the magic to turn dull cloth into fairy tales; music composers blessed by the muse to create tunes that'll stay stuck in peoples whistles for decades; the stuntmen and stuntwomen who literally break their back so the stars don't have to; and let's not forget the humble spot boys running around in the scorching heat to make sure everyone stays hydrated. These aren't just "film crew"—they're artists, craftspeople, who've spent years and decades honing their craft and how to keep the beating heart of cinema alive. When a star's paycheck devours a film's budget, these essential contributors get the financial equivalent of table scraps. Over my 15 years of active work in the industry, I've seen many talented professionals leave the industry altogether, frustrated, because, you know, they have this weird desire to pay rent and feed their families. The irony in all this? When stars insist on astronomical fees that handicap the production quality of their own films, they're ultimately shooting themselves right in their foot under the expensive sneaker. A string of mediocre films damages their brand. Audiences naturally wise up, eventually, and the very stardom they're cashing in on begins to fade. Finding the Sweet Spot: No one's suggesting stars should work for peanuts, even if their acting chops remind us of monkeys. If you can command audiences, create cultural moments, and make people forget their troubles even for a few hours in a dark theatre, you deserve substantial rewards. But perhaps there's a sweeter spot: a system where the star shines brightly without eclipsing everyone else. Where the grip, the gaffer, the costume designer, and the composer can all earn dignified livings. Where there is enough budget to actually realise the filmmaker's vision. In Tolstoy's tale, the greedy peasant ends up with just six feet of earth—exactly what we all ultimately need, regardless of our Instagram follower count or how many times our face has appeared on a movie poster. However, the question of "How much money does a superstar need?" is one each performer must answer personally. But perhaps the wisest stars understand that their legacy will be measured by the quality of stories they help tell, not by what they leave behind for their children. And if they want to leave something for their children, they must remember that every paisa wrongfully earned will be squandered by their children or grandchildren. There is no other way. It is the Circe of life. Yes, Circe, not circle, the sorceress from Greek mythology who turns men into swine. Six feet; that's how much land a man needs. How much money does a superstar need? Perhaps this nursery rhyme can answer. Twinkle Twinkle Greedy Star, Bleeding budgets near and far, Up above Tinsel Town, so bright, Dimming others' creative light.
The Guardian
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘I dropped a C-bomb into Tolstoy': one man's quest to translate War and Peace into ‘bogan Australian'
'Bloody hell, Prince Vasíli, Genoa and Luca are pretty much just Napoleon's holiday homes now,' reads the opening line of Leo Tolstoy's seminal epic, War and Peace. It goes on to depict a 19th century St Petersburg populated by 'posh wankers', 'complete drongos', 'gorgeous sheilas' and 'massive pissheads'. They 'talk shit', give 'zero fucks' and drink 'cuppas', and before long, soldiers start 'fanging about'. Astute readers may twig that this is not Tolstoy's original Russian prose, published in 1869, or any of the widely available English translations now in the public domain. This is the 'bogan Australian' edition by Ander Louis, the pen name of a 39-year-old IT analyst and father of two based in Victoria. 'In 2019 I had no kids and no job, so a lot of time to pursue silly things,' Louis explains over Zoom from his family home in Melbourne's outer north. Louis had first read War and Peace just a few years earlier. He had always loved literature, self-publishing several novels and teaching creative writing to school groups – where he would jokingly tell kids that every aspiring writer needed to read Tolstoy's 150-year-old classic. 'But none of them do, myself included,' he laughs. The 1,200-page tome had always seemed 'unapproachable'. Then, in 2017, he joined a Reddit group that pledged to crack it in a year, communally reading one of its 361 chapters per day. What started as a challenge became a revelation, and soon Louis set out to translate his new favourite book into a more familiar lexicon, line by line. Sign up for the fun stuff with our rundown of must-reads, pop culture and tips for the weekend, every Saturday morning Louis had grown up between Lilydale in the Yarra Valley and the coastal town of Wonthaggi, raised on a 90s diet of TISM, Full Frontal, meat pies and footy clubs, where Strine was like a first language among his extended family. 'It's a huge family tree, and there's a lot of bogans in there, all different types and shapes, which is a beautiful thing,' he says. 'It's a very specific and very informal vernacular [to use] as a lens to filter through this, like, aristocratic Russian novel. It's just kind of inherently funny.' Using an out-of-copyright 1922 translation as a source, he found Australia's earthy slang and class signifiers were strangely well-suited to Tolstoy's world. 'There is a spectrum of bogan, they're not all alike. There's a whole bunch of different types of bogan, so I wanted to have different characters roughly line up with different types of bogans. 'Tolstoy wrote the book 60 years after it's set, so the narrator in the book is actually anachronistic – he is able to refer to things that happened after the events of the book. So [my] narrator will refer in his analogies to, you know, a Four'N Twenty pie or a Ford Falcon – things that did not exist in 1800s Russia.' Neither did terms like 'strewth', 'a shit tonne' or the uniquely Australian usage of 'cunt'. Louis saved the latter's first appearance for Prince Anatole – a character hated by many readers, who Louis calls a 'total dipshit'. Sign up to Saved for Later Catch up on the fun stuff with Guardian Australia's culture and lifestyle rundown of pop culture, trends and tips after newsletter promotion 'There was a weird sense of pride when I dropped a C-bomb into Tolstoy's War and Peace,' he laughs. At times the 347 pages he has translated so far recall the glut of remixed classics that flooded bookshops after the success of 2009's Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. But Louis clearly isn't doing this for the money – the first two books were completed largely for the amusement of himself and a few strangers online, before he essentially abandoned it after becoming a parent. Then, in April, the American tech writer Leah Reich stumbled across Louis' work on Reddit, calling it a 'wormhole back to a different Internet. A better, more human Internet.' She posted an excerpt on Bluesky, and overnight he saw more ebook sales than in the previous six years. 'I think it's a beautiful thing to imagine that maybe some people that would have never read this book might now,' he reflects, still surprised by the sudden interest after Reich's widely shared post. 'I actually wanted it to be a real translation – that when you read my copy, you've still read War and Peace. The difference is now it's got an Aussie accent, and a little bit of humour injected into it, which breaks down that barrier.' Now Louis hopes to revive the once-dead project – he only has 14 books left to go. 'A lot of my favourite scenes in the book are yet to come,' he says. 'And then there are chapters that I remember finishing and going, 'What the hell was that?' 'I don't know what I'm gonna do when I get to those … but I've got a long time to figure that out.' Follow War and Peace: a new bogan translation on Ander Louis' Instagram and website
Washington Post
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
What we get wrong about Mark Twain
It's said that when 'War and Peace' was finished and about to be published, Tolstoy looked at the huge book and suddenly exclaimed, 'The yacht race! I forgot to put in the yacht race!' At 1,174 pages, Ron Chernow's 'Mark Twain' is essentially the same length as 'War and Peace,' but seemingly nothing has been overlooked or left out. Normally, this would be a signal weakness in a biography — shape and form do matter — but Chernow writes with such ease and clarity that even long sections on, say, Twain's business ventures prove horribly fascinating as the would-be tycoon descends, with Sophoclean inexorability, into financial collapse and bankruptcy.
Times
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
The Times Daily Quiz: Thursday May 8, 2025
1 Former Bank of England governor Mark Carney is the prime minister of which country? 2 Anna Oblonsky is the maiden name of which Tolstoy title character? 3 The malt type of which condiment is an ingredient in HP Sauce? 4 In 1568, Mary, Queen of Scots became which monarch's prisoner? 5 The feldspar mineral, albite, derives its name from the Latin for which colour? 6 Who was the most recent British prime minister to lead a coalition government? 7 Which sitcom character opened a shop called Grot, where he sold useless products? 8 What song title is shared by hits for Chris Montez, David Bowie, Chris Rea and Five? 9 Which British bath and haircare products retailer sells Honey I Washed the Kids and
