About the book: 2009 / In the review of “Modern Notes” Nikolai Andreev wrote: “Only relatively successful “Happiness” by Gaito Gazdanov. Well started, excellent in many of its parts, revealing the depth and strength of the author's breath, as always with Gazdanov, full of psychological originality, this story turned out to be drawn out, lacking unity, overloaded with problems and rhetoric. Gazdanov abandoned this time the continuous narration, so successful in the smooth leisurely nature of the story. He, however, did not move on to any constructiveness. The blow turned out to be too weakened.” G. Adamovich reveals another drawback: “G. Gazdanov writes about the French. This is a very capable fiction writer, in terms of brilliance and some kind of constant success of his writing, standing next to Sirin or immediately after him. His story “Happiness” is charming in places. But... a touch of “Esperantism” is still felt. Andre Dorain, his father, Madeleine - they are all a little touched by that schematicism that no amount of art can hide. It is characteristic, by the way, that Gazdanov now and then introduces French phrases into the dialogue. For what? - it would seem. After all, his heroes are French, they only speak French, therefore, all their conversations are given as translated.” For the first time - Modern Notes. 1932. No. 49. Published from this publication.