Wednesday 15 June 2011

The No. 1 Book on this blog has to be Victor Dragunsky's "The Adventures of Dennis"

Victor Dragunsky's "The Adventures of Dennis" published by Progress Publishers in Moscow in 1981!!!

I have read this book and re-read it and re-read it a 1000 TIMES and that may just be an under estimation! I really wanted to grow up and be an author like Dragunsky and write about everyday things from the point of a 4 year old.

A lazy Google search  revealed that I'm not the only mad fan; look at all this:

1. Fans who took the effort of typing out a few stories from this wonderful delight of a book: http://www.koryagin.newmail.ru/doc/denis.htm
and here. http://decayingechoes.blogspot.com/2006/02/victor-dragunsky-adventures-of-dennis.html
2. Facebook fan page of a Marathi version!!! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dennis-chya-goshti/131015890275222?sk=wall
3. http://wrecktangle.blogspot.com/2004/10/from-russia-with-love_109748075277926645.html who writes, "Of all those beautiful Russian books, my absolute favourite is ‘The Adventures of Dennis’ by Victor Dragunsky. The sheer magic, with which all the simple complications of Dennis’ (and all our) childhoods are captured in this book, is beyond anyone but the author’s words"
4. http://cartoonwale.blogspot.com/2009/01/adventures-of-dennis.html who laments, "It is the greatest children's book ever written and I had a copy of it which I read and read and in the disaster of growing up and changing homes lost it. Now I have come across it online for free reading but not on any site to buy. I would have paid any price for the book."


Thinking about this book always makes me smile. Thank you Victor Dragunsky for many many many happy moments! 

15 comments:

  1. Is it still 'available' in bookshops? You just got me so curious about it...i so wanna read it! :)

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  2. @sheen: frankly, I do not know! And I doubt if it is still available like most other Russian books of our times! But you can always take a look at it at my place! isi bahane- you can visit me!

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  3. Hello. I fumbled at your blog because i googled Adventures of Dennis. I am also from Maharashtra and am in Bangalore. May I also come and have a look at the book?

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  4. Hi,

    This is the same cartoonwale who laments in point 4 above. I just checked on Amazon and only 2 ppl selling it at @ 80 USD.
    I wish I could find my copy would be a great read for my nephew.

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  5. I was trying to recall the name of the author, and the first relevant link was your blog. I have re-read this book countless times; though I always though it ended on a sad note with 'The girl in the circus'. Is there a sequel?

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    1. even more poignant was the story where his dad breaks his hand and he is given a ride back home by a Truck driver who lets him toot the horn. remember? I don't know if there is a sequel to it. I will ask a Russian friend for you who runs a library and the link can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/Hannarivka

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    2. My favourite has to be 'Heavy Traffic on Savodaya Street'. The story broke my heart for some reason. Did I get the name of the chapter right? It has been a while since I went back to the book. Life is all about office and home now, you know. But all thanks to Victor Dragunsky for making school and college so much bearable.

      I was recently told by someone in a book store with whom I, incidentally happened to chat up on The Adventures of Dennis that the book is quite a rare find these days and if I have a copy, which I do, I must guard it with all I have.

      Thank you, Pallavi for this post. You are helping many children hidden in 30-year-olds stay alive. Cheers.

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    3. Wow. I think i'll cherish my copy even more now. Thankyou for making me realise that.

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  6. I love this book I have a copy of it in marathi

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  8. I have an extra copy of "The Adventures of Dennis" (Raduga, 1989) in fine condition. I will sell it for Rs. 3000 since the title is incredibly rare and the book itself is in such excellent condition. I also have a copy of "When Daddy Was a Little Boy" by Alexander Raskin (Raduga, 1989) in excellent condition. I don't mind selling it for Rs. 2000.

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    1. I m interested in buying the adventures ofdennis...still available?

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    2. Sorry, the book is no longer available.

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  9. The book Dennis chya Gosthi Part 1 & 2 is available in marathi by Urja Prakashan. Cost INR 70 each.Recently brought it from akshardhara

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