If Moscow had starved 7–8 million of your compatriots, as the Ukraine experienced with the Holodomor, a Nazi invasion might have seemed a good thing to you also. That did not make the Ukrainians Nazis. The Ukraine was battered, starved, slaughtered and overrun by Moscow, then Berlin.
Lenin gave Ukraine authonomy it never had before, so yes, it was singled out... You are pretending that Russian Christians didnt suffer under communism?
Russian Orthodoxy that were not NKVB/KGB suffered. Some profited quite nicely. As many RO patriarchs are under Vova.
It was not Lenin that gave Ukraine more autonomy (That was Khrushchev). Lenin gave lip service to self-determination for many subjugated peoples and states, but he lied. Between Lenin and Stalin, about 10 million Ukrainians were starved and slaughtered.
Russian lit serves to understand the Russian mind. I can appreciate it without agreeing that the Russian empire should be re-constructed. Heck, I do do not want England to have another empire. Ever.
I will forever support Ukraine, the Baltic States and Poland against Putin's invasions and war crimes.
Щоправда, він народився на Полтавщині, на території сучасної України, і його дитинство та виховання були занурені в українську культуру та мову. Це відображається в кількох його творах українською мовою, проте твір, про який я говорю, «Мертві душі», він написав російською мовою.
True, he was born in the Poltava region, in present-day Ukraine, and his childhood and upbringing were immersed in Ukrainian culture and language. This is reflected in several works he wrote in Ukrainian, however, the work I am referring to, "Dead Souls," he wrote in Russian.
Are you not aware of the war Russia started against Ukraine? Why promote Russian literature when it openly glorifies imperialism? As a Ukrainian, I find it disgusting to see Westerners celebrate Russian culture while Russians are killing my people simply because of our ethnicity. I slept in a shelter today, because Russians were bombing my city today, for God’s sake.
I wish I could make that stop. Putin is pure evil—without doubt. The false Russian "honor" Putin seeks to restore by attacking Ukraine is forever tarnished by what he is doing to the people and country of Ukraine.
Genuine honor is with Ukraine in its noble fight against its imperialistic, evil neighbor. Please know that even if I listen to Rachmaninov, or read Russian poetry, my heart is firmly with Ukraine.
Thank you for your support. But there are so many incredible Ukrainian artists to discover, support, and celebrate instead. For example, you could listen to Mykola Leontovych, the composer of Carol of the Bells. Or read the poetry of Vasyl Stus, a true stoic who continued to write even after the Soviet Union sent him to a labor camp. His artistry embodies the unbreakable spirit of the Ukrainian people.
Yes! But it’s a book about his artistry and life. His poems are actually available online and I found a list of translations on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasyl_Stus
You can also read his short biography there—it’s a very dramatic and tragic story. Perhaps he could still be alive today if not for the Soviet repressive machine.
Very much appreciated. I have read as much as I could find over the past six decades about those who survived the gulags—enough to know how cruel and brutal the USSR was—and previously the Romanovs were—and how Putin's regime is merely more of the same. There were merely a few technological differences between the Okhrana and the Checkists cum KGB. It was always the cruelty and subjugation amid propaganda and extraction of resources.
I hope you’ll enjoy it. He is one of my favorite poets, and I’ve rarely encountered a voice so strong and perseverant. I only wish he had lived longer to create even more poetry, and I deeply hope that more of his work will be translated into different languages.
So you decided to promote and reinforce culture of a country which has been waging war for the past four years, killed thousands and displaced millions? An "Idiot" indeed
Chekhov is excellent! I’ve read many of his short stories and deeply appreciate his work. The rest I’ve actually never heard of, but I’m curious about them now. Amazing piece as per usual.
Russia, as a country, is highly controversial, given that its literature, art, and sports are among the highest levels globally; yet, at the same time, events have been unfolding over the last three years.
It is deeply disappointing you would choose to promote Russian literature at a time when Russian imperialism is waging a genocidal war of aggression on Ukraine.
All of the authors mentioned above are products of this imperialist culture and their works are steeped in this attitude.
Any contemporary treatment of Russian literature should be handled with a critical lense and not simply for the sake of “celebration”.
I would swap Pasternak’s Zhivago for Bulgakov’s White Guard. The latter takes place in Kiev in 1918 (Bulgakov’s home town) and shows experience of the civil war. Pasternak was born with silver spoon in his mouth and Zhivago reflects his idiosyncrasies.
Laurus (Лавр) is relatively unknown in Russia, and compared to Pelevin, Vodolazkin is not of the same calibre.
Victor Pelevin or Eduard Limonov - they reflect 1990s and early 2000 much better.
Cancer Ward, Solzhenitsyn, First Love, Turgenev,
The Idiot, Dostoevsky
Those three are ones I was blown away by that I never see on lists. Master and Margarita is surely really widely known.
i would add Roadside Picnic by Boris and Arkady Strugatsky, one of the greatest sci fi novels ever written. the basis for the excellent film Stalker
I am reminded of this gem, that never ceases to make me laugh: https://www.reddit.com/r/trippinthroughtime/comments/j38zbq/guess_ill_die_then/
I read them all except Laurus.
promoting ukrainophobic russian authors in 2025 is wild
Being a banderite in 2025 is wild
If Moscow had starved 7–8 million of your compatriots, as the Ukraine experienced with the Holodomor, a Nazi invasion might have seemed a good thing to you also. That did not make the Ukrainians Nazis. The Ukraine was battered, starved, slaughtered and overrun by Moscow, then Berlin.
How DARE you!
I am not a fan of vommunism, neither is Putin. People starved, Russian people, everywhere. There were also political abd religious prosecutions.
Nope, Vova is a straight up dictator surrounded by kleptocratic oligarchs. He does not even pretend to be "for the masses."
The Ukraine was singled out by Moscow INTENTIONALLY and far more intensely that the remainder of Russia during the 1932-1934 starvations.
After a dozen or more czars forced its Jewish populations westward, friction was indeed present. But WHO caused that? The Russians.
This conversation is over if you continue to defend Russian aggression and abuses, present or past.
Lenin gave Ukraine authonomy it never had before, so yes, it was singled out... You are pretending that Russian Christians didnt suffer under communism?
Russian Orthodoxy that were not NKVB/KGB suffered. Some profited quite nicely. As many RO patriarchs are under Vova.
It was not Lenin that gave Ukraine more autonomy (That was Khrushchev). Lenin gave lip service to self-determination for many subjugated peoples and states, but he lied. Between Lenin and Stalin, about 10 million Ukrainians were starved and slaughtered.
Dude, I know my history, so just fucking stop with the Russian faux-history propaganda.
Nobody knows what bandsrite is.
Supporters of Stephen Bandera, a ww2 nazi.
Russian lit serves to understand the Russian mind. I can appreciate it without agreeing that the Russian empire should be re-constructed. Heck, I do do not want England to have another empire. Ever.
I will forever support Ukraine, the Baltic States and Poland against Putin's invasions and war crimes.
Who asked you to agree on politics whatsoever, when offering a glimpse into great literature?
Nobody knows what ukrainophobic is?
Unless you live under a rock 🪨
Dead Souls by Nikolai Gogol.
Mykola Hohol is Ukrainian. Born and raised in Poltava. Unmistakably Ukrainian.
Щоправда, він народився на Полтавщині, на території сучасної України, і його дитинство та виховання були занурені в українську культуру та мову. Це відображається в кількох його творах українською мовою, проте твір, про який я говорю, «Мертві душі», він написав російською мовою.
True, he was born in the Poltava region, in present-day Ukraine, and his childhood and upbringing were immersed in Ukrainian culture and language. This is reflected in several works he wrote in Ukrainian, however, the work I am referring to, "Dead Souls," he wrote in Russian.
Are you not aware of the war Russia started against Ukraine? Why promote Russian literature when it openly glorifies imperialism? As a Ukrainian, I find it disgusting to see Westerners celebrate Russian culture while Russians are killing my people simply because of our ethnicity. I slept in a shelter today, because Russians were bombing my city today, for God’s sake.
I wish I could make that stop. Putin is pure evil—without doubt. The false Russian "honor" Putin seeks to restore by attacking Ukraine is forever tarnished by what he is doing to the people and country of Ukraine.
Genuine honor is with Ukraine in its noble fight against its imperialistic, evil neighbor. Please know that even if I listen to Rachmaninov, or read Russian poetry, my heart is firmly with Ukraine.
Thank you for your support. But there are so many incredible Ukrainian artists to discover, support, and celebrate instead. For example, you could listen to Mykola Leontovych, the composer of Carol of the Bells. Or read the poetry of Vasyl Stus, a true stoic who continued to write even after the Soviet Union sent him to a labor camp. His artistry embodies the unbreakable spirit of the Ukrainian people.
I found this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09MDDCDRV?binding=paperback&qid=1757527426&sr=8-1&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tpbk
Ukranian Voices in books, Vasyl Stus is featured there!
Yes! But it’s a book about his artistry and life. His poems are actually available online and I found a list of translations on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasyl_Stus
You can also read his short biography there—it’s a very dramatic and tragic story. Perhaps he could still be alive today if not for the Soviet repressive machine.
Very much appreciated. I have read as much as I could find over the past six decades about those who survived the gulags—enough to know how cruel and brutal the USSR was—and previously the Romanovs were—and how Putin's regime is merely more of the same. There were merely a few technological differences between the Okhrana and the Checkists cum KGB. It was always the cruelty and subjugation amid propaganda and extraction of resources.
Always.
And thank you again. Reading now…
I hope you’ll enjoy it. He is one of my favorite poets, and I’ve rarely encountered a voice so strong and perseverant. I only wish he had lived longer to create even more poetry, and I deeply hope that more of his work will be translated into different languages.
Дякую.
I will read/listen to every one of these. Vasyl Stus will be an inspiration, methinks. Дякую.
Don't forget to checkout Taras Shevchenko, Ukraine's national poet.
So you decided to promote and reinforce culture of a country which has been waging war for the past four years, killed thousands and displaced millions? An "Idiot" indeed
Chekhov is excellent! I’ve read many of his short stories and deeply appreciate his work. The rest I’ve actually never heard of, but I’m curious about them now. Amazing piece as per usual.
Thank you so much for this information, I really need more similar
I adore Russian literature and music. Especially the Russian Gipsy music -- considered by many to be the finest in the word.
I agree completely about the music, although Andalusia has wonderful Roma music and fado in Portugal is as emotive.
Do you have any recommendations for Russian Roma music? Artists? Pieces?
Oh thanks for your response, Terre! Absolutely, Andalusian flamenco is well known, and I adore fado too.
Russian and Slavic Gipsy music is much less known and it's such a treasure.
As for artists, the French-Russian band Loyko is very good. Some beautiful songs there.
There's a multi cd collection with many different artists called Russian Gipsy Soul. It's on youtube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3IeaKTCZzKBwbtJOxpAdWtCg3CKFeBoY&si=MTRiyfxUVssqCS4o
Also, there's a soundtrack to a cult film from the 70's called "The Gipsy Camp vanishes into the blue", which is absolutely stunning: https://youtu.be/4X1PJYqYB58?si=SIMnpu0ZkNuXpOB4
If I were you, I'd also just browse "Russian Gipsy music" on youtube and spotify. You will find some incredible stuff!
Thank you! I will be seeking these out later today. :)
Russia, as a country, is highly controversial, given that its literature, art, and sports are among the highest levels globally; yet, at the same time, events have been unfolding over the last three years.
Am I the first commenting, lol?
There are definitely a lot of hidden gems in Russian literature. I'll definitely take a look at them.
It is deeply disappointing you would choose to promote Russian literature at a time when Russian imperialism is waging a genocidal war of aggression on Ukraine.
All of the authors mentioned above are products of this imperialist culture and their works are steeped in this attitude.
Any contemporary treatment of Russian literature should be handled with a critical lense and not simply for the sake of “celebration”.
Please educate yourself:
https://olesia-filipenko.medium.com/why-great-russian-literature-is-fake-f04630fe61c4
Chekov I mostly remember due to the "Tale Of A Horse" (that was the title in German). I kept weeping for hours at his fate. Nevermore.
Regarding the reading suggestions.
I would swap Pasternak’s Zhivago for Bulgakov’s White Guard. The latter takes place in Kiev in 1918 (Bulgakov’s home town) and shows experience of the civil war. Pasternak was born with silver spoon in his mouth and Zhivago reflects his idiosyncrasies.
Laurus (Лавр) is relatively unknown in Russia, and compared to Pelevin, Vodolazkin is not of the same calibre.
Victor Pelevin or Eduard Limonov - they reflect 1990s and early 2000 much better.