S. S. Koteliansky
Encyclopedia
S.S. Koteliansky, or Samuel Solomonovich Koteliansky, (February, 28, 1880–January 21, 1955) was born in the small Jewish shtetl (town) of Ostropol in the Ukraine
, where his first language almost certainly was Yiddish. He was educated and attended university in Russia.
, where he became a great friend of D. H. Lawrence
, and Leonard
and Virginia Woolf
. He also adored the short-story writer Katherine Mansfield
. Although his romantic affection for her was not reciprocated, the two maintained a close relationship in person and in letters until her untimely death in 1923. His friendship with her was also documented in a painting by Beatrice Elvery, Lady Glenavy
.
He was business manager of The Adelphi
, a prominent literary journal that published works of Lawrence, Mansfield, the young Dylan Thomas
, and many other leading lights of early- and mid-twentieth-century English letters after its founding in 1923. But Koteliansky eventually broke with the journal's founder (and Katherine Mansfield's husband) John Middleton Murry
. He was an early translator into English (often with the collaboration of Leonard or Virginia Woolf) of works of a number of Russian authors, such as Dostoevsky
and Chekhov
, and he helped those authors achieve prominence in the English-speaking world.
Koteliansky ('Kot') was a close friend of the artist, Mark Gertler, and they corresponded extensively from 1914 until Gertler's death in 1939.
Koteliansky was a fascinating figure, who made the transition from his origins in a small Jewish shtetl to distinction in the rarefied world of English letters. Although he was not a creative writer himself, he befriended, corresponded with, helped publish, and otherwise served as intermediary between some of the most prominent people in English literary life in the early twentieth century.
Cf.: Казнина О. С.С. Котелянский (1880–1955) и английские писатели // Русские евреи в Великобритании: Статьи, публикации, мемуары и эссе / Ред.- сост.: М. Пархомовский, А. Рогачевский. Иерусалим, 2000. (Русское еврейство в зарубежье. Т. 2[7]). С. 146–166.
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, where his first language almost certainly was Yiddish. He was educated and attended university in Russia.
Biography
By 1911, he had moved to LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, where he became a great friend of D. H. Lawrence
D. H. Lawrence
David Herbert Richards Lawrence was an English novelist, poet, playwright, essayist, literary critic and painter who published as D. H. Lawrence. His collected works represent an extended reflection upon the dehumanising effects of modernity and industrialisation...
, and Leonard
Leonard Woolf
Leonard Sidney Woolf was an English political theorist, author, publisher and civil servant, and husband of author Virginia Woolf.-Early life:...
and Virginia Woolf
Virginia Woolf
Adeline Virginia Woolf was an English author, essayist, publisher, and writer of short stories, regarded as one of the foremost modernist literary figures of the twentieth century....
. He also adored the short-story writer Katherine Mansfield
Katherine Mansfield
Kathleen Mansfield Beauchamp Murry was a prominent modernist writer of short fiction who was born and brought up in colonial New Zealand and wrote under the pen name of Katherine Mansfield. Mansfield left for Great Britain in 1908 where she encountered Modernist writers such as D.H. Lawrence and...
. Although his romantic affection for her was not reciprocated, the two maintained a close relationship in person and in letters until her untimely death in 1923. His friendship with her was also documented in a painting by Beatrice Elvery, Lady Glenavy
Beatrice Elvery
Beatrice Moss Elvery was an Irish stained-glass artist and painter.She was the second daughter of a Dublin businessman whose family had originated from Spain where they were silk merchants. Her family owned the original Elverys Sports store in Wicklow Street, Dublin...
.
He was business manager of The Adelphi
Adelphi (magazine)
The Adelphi or New Adelphi was an English literary journal published between 1923 and 1955.founded by John Middleton Murry. The first issue appeared in June 1922, with issues published monthly thereafter. Between August 1927 and September 1930 it was renamed the New Adelphi and issued quarterly...
, a prominent literary journal that published works of Lawrence, Mansfield, the young Dylan Thomas
Dylan Thomas
Dylan Marlais Thomas was a Welsh poet and writer, Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 11 January 2008. who wrote exclusively in English. In addition to poetry, he wrote short stories and scripts for film and radio, which he often performed himself...
, and many other leading lights of early- and mid-twentieth-century English letters after its founding in 1923. But Koteliansky eventually broke with the journal's founder (and Katherine Mansfield's husband) John Middleton Murry
John Middleton Murry
John Middleton Murry was an English writer. He was prolific, producing more than 60 books and thousands of essays and reviews on literature, social issues, politics, and religion during his lifetime...
. He was an early translator into English (often with the collaboration of Leonard or Virginia Woolf) of works of a number of Russian authors, such as Dostoevsky
Fyodor Dostoevsky
Fyodor Mikhaylovich Dostoyevsky was a Russian writer of novels, short stories and essays. He is best known for his novels Crime and Punishment, The Idiot and The Brothers Karamazov....
and Chekhov
Anton Chekhov
Anton Pavlovich Chekhov was a Russian physician, dramatist and author who is considered to be among the greatest writers of short stories in history. His career as a dramatist produced four classics and his best short stories are held in high esteem by writers and critics...
, and he helped those authors achieve prominence in the English-speaking world.
Koteliansky ('Kot') was a close friend of the artist, Mark Gertler, and they corresponded extensively from 1914 until Gertler's death in 1939.
Koteliansky was a fascinating figure, who made the transition from his origins in a small Jewish shtetl to distinction in the rarefied world of English letters. Although he was not a creative writer himself, he befriended, corresponded with, helped publish, and otherwise served as intermediary between some of the most prominent people in English literary life in the early twentieth century.
External links
- http://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/objectdetails.aspx?oid=244747Katherine Mansfield and S.S. Koteliansky in the garden, 1920, by Beatrice CampbellBeatrice ElveryBeatrice Moss Elvery was an Irish stained-glass artist and painter.She was the second daughter of a Dublin businessman whose family had originated from Spain where they were silk merchants. Her family owned the original Elverys Sports store in Wicklow Street, Dublin...
, oil on canvas]
Cf.: Казнина О. С.С. Котелянский (1880–1955) и английские писатели // Русские евреи в Великобритании: Статьи, публикации, мемуары и эссе / Ред.- сост.: М. Пархомовский, А. Рогачевский. Иерусалим, 2000. (Русское еврейство в зарубежье. Т. 2[7]). С. 146–166.