Tag: Russian Literature
-
The Long Read Pioneer: How Pelevin’s Russia Shaped 2025’s Moral Compass
Introduction: The Best of the Long Read in 2025 As readers hunt for essays that fuse literary craft with pressing reality, 2025’s standout long-form pieces reveal a shared ambition: to illuminate the hidden undercurrents of power, culture, and society. Among them, Sophie Pinkham’s examination of Victor Pelevin—”The mysterious novelist who foresaw Putin’s Russia – and…
-
He was just trying to earn a few kopecks: Chekhov’s silly side revealed by new translations
Chekhov’s Other Side: Humor Hidden in Plain Sight When the name Chekhov is spoken, readers often conjure the sober rooms, moral dilemmas, and the quiet, unanswerable questions that mark his best-known work. Yet, as a raft of newly translated stories demonstrates, the master of melancholy also possessed a mischievous, almost mischievous wit. These translations peel…
-
Chekhov’s Silly Side: New Translations Reveal His Whimsical Mastery
New translations, new light When we think of Anton Chekhov, a certain solemn gravity often comes to mind: the humane, austere observer of late‑imperial Russia, the author of masterful plays and short stories that feel heavier than their pages suggest. Yet a wave of newly translated stories is nudging readers toward a different portrait: Chekhov…
-
Eduard Topol: The Controversial Listing in the Foreign Agent Registry
Eduard Topol’s New Status as a Foreign Agent In a significant development, the Russian Ministry of Justice has officially listed renowned writer and filmmaker Eduard Topol (born Edmon Topelberg) as a foreign agent. This decision adds him to a growing list of individuals facing scrutiny under Russia’s controversial foreign agent law. Known for his literary…