Penguin is running a series of posters in the London Underground featuring quotes from classic literature. But the quote it's pulled from Ivan Turgenev's Fathers and Sons has led to accusations that the publishing house is provoking "anger and ethnic hatred."
There are also questions about the specific translation that was used, which makes this whole thing even more awkward.
The quote, spoken in the novel by nihilistic character Yevgeny Bazarov, is an obscure snippet of dialogue that reads, "Aristocracy, liberalism, progress, principles … Useless words! A Russian doesn't need them!"
London-based Russian blogger Tanya Solovyeva is furious about the ad, and has even claimed it is a misquote.
WORK SMARTER - LEARN, GROW AND BE INSPIRED.
Subscribe today!
To Read the Full Story Become an Adweek+ Subscriber
Already a member? Sign in