This series of 36 thirty minute lectures by renowned Professor Emeritus Irwin Weil in the Department of Languages and Literature at Northwestern University is extremely comprehensive, covering so much and in such a limited time frame. I was fully absorbed in Professor Weil's lectures from beginning to end. It was like being offered a ride on a magic carpet and whisked through a synopsis of the history of Rus, Russia and the Soviet Union; and its vast lands, people, Religion and Culture all of which played such a profound part in the development of the great Russian language, its amazingly talented authors and poets and the literature they were responsible for.

A summary of the greatest of Russian writers is given, along with a biography and in depth analysis of one of their profound works. There are a few recitations by Professor Weil of particularly poetic or profound excerpts that give us an example of the lyrical quality of the Russian language. Professor Weil also sings a few stanzas for us upon occasion. He has a beautiful deep and resounding voice that is perfect for showing us the beauty of the sound of the Russian language, as well as the songs.

I am so glad I listened to this audiobook version of this Great Courses book. Having always been fascinated by Russian classic literature, I soaked up every bit of information Professor Weil offered in this course and it was absolutely fascinating. I wish I had listened to these lectures years ago! To anyone interested in this subject, please do yourself a favor and listen to this audiobook! ( )

If you're not that well schooled on Russian literature, but interested in it, I can highly recommend this course. I had read a couple of novels by Dostoevsky and a few other odds and ends, such as Pushkin's "The Queen of Spades"--but how to even begin to comprehend the vast scope of the subject? This course proved to be a wonderful survey of Russian literature from its origins through the Soviet Area. There are omissions of course, such as Bulgakov, but the most famous writers, and a few not as familiar to me, are covered. I was spurred on to read Gogol's short stories and I'm currently enjoying an anthology of Russian literature. I also read Crime and Punishment, which wasn't one of the Dostoevsky novels I had read previously. Going back and listening to Professor Weil's lecture (actually a lecture and a half--45 minutes) on Crime and Punishment does point out a shortcoming of this course. If you're well-versed in the work, the lectures will lack the depth you're looking for to gain a deep understanding of the work. Professor Weil will still enlighten you with a few shrewd observations, however. And his enthusiasm when he quotes passages in Russian (with translations, of course) and when he sings Russian songs is truly infectious.

So, to sum it up, if you're looking for a course that will inspire an interest in Russian literature, look no further. ( )