Escape Artists

The Lounge at the End of the Universe => The Writing Forum => Topic started by: Listener on January 14, 2009, 04:56:53 PM

Title: Russian forms of address in writing
Post by: Listener on January 14, 2009, 04:56:53 PM

In "The Clockwork Russian", one of the main characters is Pyotr Leonovich Novotny. I'm pretty sure that the proper way to address someone in Russian back in the 20s (at least, according to what I've read) is name + patronymic, so Pyotr Leonovich. However, in the narrative, do I address him as Pyotr Leonovich, or by his last name? I'm leaning toward the former, though later on in the story we meet his brother, who I just address as Vasily in the narrative, and a couple other Russian characters.

I'm basically trying to be consistent. I've tried revising to change PL to just Novotny, and it just doesn't sound right to me for some reason.

Thoughts?

Title: Re: Russian forms of address in writing
Post by: Bdoomed on January 14, 2009, 11:34:42 PM

i forget, but try looking in A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich.  Thats all colloquial russian name addresses...