> My own understanding is that American literature has at least three themes that are very distinctive and different from Europe... Another is ... relentless struggle

I feel like Russian literature touches on this.

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yanhangyhy 4 days ago | parent | next [-]

I think there is, but not as stark as in the U.S.—the worldly success versus the spiritual “lack” is less contrasted.

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normie3000 4 days ago | parent [-]

Sorry - I was messing around by selectively misquoting you. Giving more of your original context:

> where people achieve success through relentless struggle

In my limited experience of Russian literature, the struggle doesn't lead to success!

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yanhangyhy 4 days ago | parent [-]

> In my limited experience of Russian literature, the struggle doesn't lead to success!

There is a meme comparing different countries’ literature:

France: “I would die for love.” England: “I would die for honor.” America: “I would die for freedom.” Russia: “I will die.”

The harsh climate and scarce resources in Russia prevent it from producing something like the American Dream. People there seem to be more pessimistic.

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nosianu 4 days ago | parent [-]

> scarce resources

What now??? Russia is one of the most resource-rich countries on the planet! They are just very inefficient in doing anything with it. The country and all its people should all be among the wealthiest on the planet.

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4 days ago | parent | next [-]

[deleted]

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yanhangyhy 4 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

The impression of Russia as a resource-rich nation didn’t really take shape until after World War II. The widespread use of oil and natural gas only spans about a century, which hasn’t been enough time to fundamentally alter the literary essence of Russia.

And USSR is really not good at produce normal goods…

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nephihaha 3 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Maybe, but Russia's main problem is its climate. The coldest permanent settlement in the world is in Russia.

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thaumasiotes 4 days ago | parent | prev [-]

> The country and all its people should all be among the wealthiest on the planet.

...because natural resources make a country wealthy? It hasn't worked anywhere else.

	▲	krior 4 days ago \| parent [-]
		It can. Look at Norway.

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lostlogin 4 days ago | parent | prev [-]

> I feel like Russian literature touches on this.

I think that’s an understatement.