Russian novel effect

English

Etymology

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Proper noun

the Russian novel effect

1. (literature, rare) The difficulty experienced by English readers in distinguishing multiple people or characters with non-English names, leading to confusion.

   Foreign names were simplified by the author to mitigate the Russian novel effect.

   • 2010, Lesley Hazleton, “Note on Usage and Spelling”, in After the Prophet: The Epic Story of the Shia-Sunni Split in Islam‎^[1], Doubleday:

     Throughout this book, I have used first names for major figures rather than full names, in order to avoid the "Russian novel effect," where English readers suffer the confusion of multiple unfamiliar names. Thus, for instance, I have used Ali instead of Ali ibn Abu Talib, Aisha instead of Aisha bint Abu Bakr, Omar instead of Omar ibn al-Khattab, and so on.

   • 2013, Fiona Maddocks, “Preface”, in Hildegard of Bingen: The Woman of Her Age‎^[2], Faber & Faber:

     I have listed […] a glossary of key people and places. If only to avoid the Russian novel effect, I urge readers to glance at these at the start.

   • 2021, Jalal Moughania, “Arabic Spelling and Usage Note”, in Ali: The Elixir of Love, Mainstay Foundation:

     I have also limited the use of their full names, such as Ali ibn Abi Talib and Fatima bint Muhammad, to avoid the "Russian novel effect," keeping in mind the English reader who may be more easily confused with multiple unfamiliar names.