This textbook by Stilman and Harkins is definitely my key resource for learning the Russian language. I have learned far more from this book than I did from the two conversationalist based texts that I used when studying Russian for two years at college. I'm convinced that any native speaker of English needs to learn Russian with a rigorous approach to learning the grammar, because the case differentiation is so crucial and difficult to master. This book is a first year Russian textbook, so it will be good for the introductory student as well as for someone who has some familiarity with the language. The lessons are clearly and logically presented with excellent explanations of Russian grammar, clear and concise declension charts, and extremely useful pattern sentences (in Russian and in English translation) that illustrate the principal grammatical objectives that are emphasized in each chapter. This allows the student to be cognizant of grammar while also developing an internal sensibility to the natural syntax and rhythm of the language. This textbook teaches you not only useful phrases, but also explains why, grammatically, they have to be in a particular form. This is essential for really learning the language. Stilman and Harkins also infuse the chapters with useful vocabulary words that can be learned quickly due to their organized approach to the lesson plans.

Even though this book needs to be revised and updated (this edition, even though it is still in print, is the edition originally published in 1972), this is by far the best textbook for learning the Russian language that exists. I hope instructors begin using this user-friendly text again, because it is ideal for classroom use as well as for students' independent studies. This book is so well planned that students can easily read ahead of their classroom lesson plans and not feel lost, because Stilman and Harkins teach the readers everything they will need to know in order to read and write correctly in Russian.

I find the Stilman book to be the finest college level treatise on the subject. It provides a detailed analysis of the language, the liguistics and rules which are all complex. Stilman et.al. presents the material in an orderly easy to understand but yet leaves out none of the complexities of the language. I recommend this text to all serious students of the russian language. I do not believe you will find a better explanation of the language.

Stillman et al have produced an excellent course book for studying Russian. I have used other books, the best of which emphasizes conversation and is geared toward the college and university classroom ("Russian Stage One"). Russian is a difficult language, especially for English speakers. It is not readily accessible like Spanish or French. The vocabulary is difficult and the declensions of nouns, adjectives, and pronouns make it as difficult as Latin or Greek. For this reason it is refreshing to find a text which attempts to teach the grammar first. This book is complete and comprehensible to anyone studying Russian, particularly if he or she knows English grammar well, or has already studied an inflected language. Other books might be better for those who are learning Russian as their first foreign language.

For a student of language and culture, aside from the scholarly comparisons, reading poetry and lyrics in Czech alongside the English translations can be pleasureable in itself.

From Chapter III, First Influences of Russian Folk Poetry in Czech Literature. The Poetry of Vaclav Banka:

(Unable to reproduce diacritical marks in this font, sorry. Also, this website defeats my attempts to layout the poetry in its proper verse sequence and arranges it into paragraphs. To je skoda!)

Vecer sedech dluho sedech do kuropenie sedech; nic dozdati nemozech vse drezky, lucky sezeh. Usmuch, sniese mi se ve sne, jako by mne nebosce na pravej ruce s prsta svlekl se zlaty kamenek. Kamenek nenadjidech zmilitka se nedozdech.

Last night I sat, long I sat, Till the cockcrow I sat; I waited for nothing, I burned all the kindling and embers I fell asleep and dreamed: As if from me, poor girl, From the finger of my right hand Someone took my golden ring, Pulled off the precious stone. The stone I did not find; My lover I was not to see.

Reviewed by zigourney@hotmail.com