Envy by Yuri Olesha is a satirical novel that explores the tensions between the old and new Soviet society through the relationship between two main characters: Andrei Babichev, a successful and confident Soviet food industry manager, and Nikolai Kavalerov, a bitter and envious young man whom Babichev takes in. The novel contrasts Babichev’s embodiment of Soviet ideals—progress, collectivism, and industrial success—with Kavalerov’s disillusionment, individualism, and sense of alienation. Through Kavalerov’s envy and resentment, Olesha critiques the emotional and psychological costs of Soviet modernization and the loss of individual identity in a society driven by collective goals.

Translated by J. C. Butler
Designed by Mikhail Krakovsky

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