Aleksey Alexandrovich Karnenin is consulting a lawyer. But there’s always time to notice stationery supplies:
Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina, translated by Constance Garnett, revised by Leonard J. Kent and Nina Berberova (New York: Modern Library, 2000).
The Garnett translation (1901) has cross for order. The revised translation explains order in a note: “decoration for service to the State.” Garnett has appurtenances for materials. So yes, stationery supplies, and not, say, the woods of which the tables are made.
Also from this novel
“The turning point of summer” : Theory of dairy farming : Toothache : Anna meta : “Brainless beef!”
Thursday, September 29, 2022
“He could not help observing this”
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comments: 3
This made me think of King Charles's annoyance at unwanted pens at a signing ceremony. I'd thought people were being silly to point it out, until I saw the video of him grimacing and gesturing for the offending pens to be taken away.
I'm sympathetic, insofar as he was under a lot of strain,
but it did seem an oddly ugly response to improper "materials at the writing table."
I wish I’d remembered that. I would guess he didn’t want to put the pen tray on a document. And maybe the floor felt disrespectful. But his grimace did mark him as something of a privileged twit. “Take these ... things ... away at once” (sniff).
Not that Karenin’s character is impressive. But at least he respects good supplies.
P.S.: I was making up those words. I have no idea what His Majesty said.
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