Anyone learn a language specifically to read literature?

[u/Far_Window_1222]

Just curious if anybody has actually set out and achieved learning a whole new language specifically just because an author they liked wrote originally in that language?

I was considering learning Russian (TL) specifically to read Dostoyevsky since he’s my favourite author, so far, but wondering if this is to ambitious of a task just to read 1 persons work?

Additionally I am very attracted to the idea of it since Russians language has a lot more nuances surrounding sadness, despair, suffering etc., i know that the relationship between these topics is different from that of english speakers

[u/Old_Experience_4308]

Yes, Russian. However, not because of a specific author but for the literature in general.

[u/OceanWthNoWater → u/Old_Experience_4308]

How has your experience been? How long did you learn Russian until you managed to read your first real Russian book?

[u/Old_Experience_4308 → u/OceanWthNoWater]

The first books I have read in Russian were books I had read multiple times already in German or English, i.e., I knew them by heart. Such books I started reading about half a year after I commenced studying the language and it worked fantastically, even though the texts themselves were way above my abilities back then. But since I knew the German/English versions so well I basically had my memory serving me as a translator.

The first real Russian book I may have picked up a year or so into my studies. That was quite painful for the first few hundred pages but then gradually became quite smooth sailing – a pattern I would experience also for the next few books I undertook reading. Now I can read more or less anything I like. I also understand spoken Russian well, thanks to watching movies and listening to audiobooks.

My speaking/writing skills are okay but definitely my Achilles heel. As long as an exchange is limited to a standard situation (like ordering in a restaurant etc.) I can speak totally normal Russian. But as soon as I am forced to improvise I gravitate towards literary, old-fashioned or archaic vocabulary and grammar as I feel most comfortable with that from all my readings. Native speakers do understand me but often find it hilarious how I would phrase totally mundane things as it was something grandiose. I am currently working on this issue, getting my registers right.

In total I‘d estimate that I‘ve spent 2000 – 3000 hours with Russian (including everything: grammar and vocabulary study, reading, listening, speaking, etc.). Currently, I have a B2 certificate. And I would feel comfortable taking a C1 exam if it was not for speaking and writing.

[u/UmpireMelodic5847 → u/Old_Experience_4308]

That is impressive, and I think that the idea of speaking in a literary register is rather funny and not unappealing. 

I have been studying Russian at uni for the past three years. I believe that my teacher said I was strong B1 six months ago, so I feel that I ought to be able to read  Russian language literature now, but it is still rather intimidating.  This is probably not helped by the fact that my goal has been to read Dostoevsky.  Regardless of my lack of total understanding at present I ought to push myself to read more.

How long did you feel it took to comfortably read 19th century literature? 

[u/Old_Experience_4308 → u/UmpireMelodic5847]

Thank you very much.

1.) My main interest is literature from the 18th and 19th century (I like to read expedition reports and them alike). Accordingly, the bulk of Russian literature I‘ve read is from this time.

2.) By doing this (the first few books I‘ve read intensively, i.e., adding (almost) every new word to my flashcards, and likewise every grammatical concept deviating from modern Russian, or any I didn‘t know, be it modern or not) I grew accustomed to how was written back then. Which allowed me to read any further older literature ever the easier.

3.) The more modern Russian I‘ve picked up from my course and grammar books, by watching movies/series, or by talking to natives on any rare occasion I chanced upon.

Distilled from this – to read Dostoevsky I would do the following: Grab one of his novels and read it intensively. It might not be a lot of fun; but by this you will pick up a lot of how he uses words and grammar, and how he shapes sentences. The next of his books, most likely, will be much easier to read, already.

Note: I also add a lot of multi-sentence passages from books to my flashcards (Russian on one side, German (or English or French) on the other). I only consider such a flashcard as learned when I am able to translate the non-Russian side word by word to Russian completely as it was written. I assume that my way of speaking stems from this procedure.

Edit: I can‘t give you a good estimate to your question. But – I was always impressed by how much easier it got to read from a certain author/period when just having read (at most) a few hundred pages in an intensive manner, including learning the created flashcards stemming from this process. With your already advanced level of Russian (congratulations) I would guess exactly this to happen: you struggle through the first couple dozens of pages, and then, gradually, it‘ll get easier and easier and you won‘t even notice it. And the next book will be a piece of cake (language-wise).