Ludmila Ulitskaya (photo credit – Dmitry Rozhkov, via Wkimedia Commons)
The Soviet Union collapsed 22 years ago and we now have the whole generation of writers in Russia thinking about the recent Russian history and trying to understand and portray the Soviet phenomenon in their stories.… Read the rest
Red Primer for Children and Diplomats by Victor Vashi, 1967
Imagine a boy growing up in a totalitarian state where sexism, chauvinism, homophobia and general disrespect to human life and personal freedom were a norm. Imagine this boy growing up as a coward and a liar because he feared to tell others, even with his own parents and siblings, the only thing about himself he knew for sure: he was a girl on the inside.… Read the rest
Social climbing has always been a subject of speculation in fiction. People try to ascend in the society because they desire money, fame and a more interesting lifestyle. But many lose themselves on the way and instead of happiness find despair.… Read the rest