This NYRB Classics edition (and an accompanying second volume forthcoming in 2019) is the first complete English translation of Shalamov's stories, based on the definitive edition of his collected works, published in Russia in 2013.Shalamov spent six years as a slave in the gold mines of Kolyma, a far northeast region of the USSR and one of the coldest and most inhospitable places on Earth, before finding a less intolerable life as a paramedic in the prison camps. He began writing his account of life in Kolyma after Stalin's death in 1953 and continued until his own physical and mental decline in the late 1970s.In Kolyma Stories, the line between autobiography and fiction is indistinct: Everything in these stories was experienced or witnessed by Shalamov. His work records the real names of prisoners and their oppressors; he himself appears simply as "I" or "Shalamov," or at times under a pseudonym, such as Andreyev or Krist. These collected stories form the biography of a rare survivor, a historical record of the Gulag, and, because the stories have more than documentary value, a literary work of creative power and conviction. This new complete translation of Kolyma Stories will fill a significant gap in the English-language library of Russian literature.

    Prose briefly gained the high ground in the second half of the nineteenth century, but poetry again became dominant in the 'Silver Age' (the early twentieth century), when belief in reason and progress yielded once more to a more magical view of the world. During the Soviet era, poetry became a dangerous, subversive activity; nevertheless, poets such as Osip Mandelstam and Anna Akhmatova continued to defy the censors. This anthology traces Russian poetry from its Golden Age to the modern era, including work by several great poets - Georgy Ivanov and Varlam Shalamov among them - in captivating modern translations by Robert Chandler and others. The volume also includes a general introduction, chronology and individual introductions to each poet.For more than sixty-five years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,500 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

    At the time of his arrest, George Kitchin, a Finnish citizen, was working in Russia as a representative for an American firm. He was charged with violating an obscure regulation, held in prison, and then sent to a labor camp located in northern Russia where he describes the brutalities he endured and witnessed. The book also offers excellent insights into the running of the camps as Kitchin was able to work in the camp's administration offices (in addition to sometimes being sent to work on the timber-cutting and road-building labor crews). Included are 5 pages of illustrations.

    But what better way to discover Russian mentality than by reading Russian books? Considering the country’s controversial political image, it is strange that contemporary Russian literature is still in the shade compared to its classical and Soviet counterparts.So who are the modern Russian authors and what have they been writing about? This guide to new Russian books is the first concise encyclopaedia to cover post-Soviet Russian literature. Over a hundred authors and two hundred titles are reviewed. For the convenience of readers, the mentioned books are categorized in sixteen chapters according to their themes/genres:• Modern Russia: 1990s, Putin’s era and office prose• Debut (modern fiction by young authors)• The Soviet Period• Women and Love• Family Life• Psychological Novel• Religion• Humor• Prison Life• Biography• Military and War• Political Fiction• Utopia and Dystopia• Science Fiction and Fantasy• Mystery, Crime, Adventure• Postmodernism, Magic Realism, Philosophical and Metaphysical FictionAt the end of the book there is a table of all the titles together with their ISBN numbers so readers can search for them online (e.g. on Google or Amazon) or in libraries. Also, a list of additional useful online resources about Russian literature is included.This guide is primarily aimed at readers who are interested in learning about modern Russia and its literature. It will also be useful for students and scholars of Russian literature, publishers and translators.Now you can easily discover your new favorite authors in Russia.

    The volume encompasses broad, complex and diverse sources of literary material - from ideological and historical novels to experimental prose and poetry, from nonfiction to drama. Written by an international team of leading experts on contemporary Russian literature and culture, it presents a broad panorama of genres in post-Soviet literature such as postmodernism, magical historicism, hyper-naturalism (in drama), and the new lyricism. At the same time, it offers close readings of the most prominent works published in Russia since the end of the Soviet regime and elimination of censorship. The collection highlights the interdisciplinary context of twenty-first-century Russian literature and can be widely used both for research and teaching by specialists in and beyond Russian studies, including those in post-Cold War and post-communist world history, literary theory, comparative literature and cultural studies.

    The Chekhov represented here is by no means the confident, near-perfect craftsman who produced some of humanity's best short stories and plays. The artist presented here is a young man willing to experiment but searching for his style and voice. In a way, it can serve as inspiration for any aspiring writer that even the best are not born great, but rather achieve greatness through a relentless dedication to their craft.