Literary Biographies in the Lives of Remarkable People Series in Russia - (Crosscurrents: Russia's Literature in Context) (Paperback)

About the Book

This book examines the Russian biography series, The Lives of Remarkable People, and its role in Russian culture. The contributors examine the interplay of research and imagination in biographical narratives, the changing perceptions of what constitutes literary greatness, and...

Book Synopsis

The legendary Russian biography series, The Lives of Remarkable People, has played a significant role in Russian culture from its inception in 1890 until today. The longest running biography series in world literature, it spans three centuries and widely divergent political and cultural epochs: Imperial, Soviet, and Post-Soviet Russia. The authors argue that the treatment of biographical figures in the series is a case study for continuities and changes in Russian national identity over time. Biography in Russia and elsewhere remains a most influential literary genre and the distinctive approach and branding of the series has made it the economic engine of its publisher, Molodaia gvardiia. The centrality of biographies of major literary figures in the series reflects their heightened importance in Russian culture. The contributors examine the ways that biographies of Russia's foremost writers shaped the literary canon while mirroring the political and social realities of both the subjects' and their biographers' times. Starting with Alexander Pushkin and ending with Joseph Brodsky, the authors analyze the interplay of research and imagination in biographical narrative, the changing perceptions of what constitutes literary greatness, and the subversive possibilities of biography during eras of political censorship.

Review Quotes

"This trailblazing book examines two enduring and tightly intertwined trends in modern Russian culture: the central importance of writers in the national imagination and the perennial popularity of The Lives of Remarkable People series and of biography more generally. The first ever comparison of the imperial, Soviet, and post-Soviet iterations of this best-selling biographical series, this volume fascinatingly shows how stories of writers' lives--and literary biography as a genre--have transformed in Russia from the nineteenth century to the twenty-first century. A tour de force of 'comparative biography, ' it balances historical breadth with meticulous case studies by leading scholars of Pushkin, Dostoevsky, Bulgakov, Brodsky, and many other authors. This rich and revealing collection is a major addition to Russian literature and culture scholarship and to biography studies." --Polly Jones, University of Oxford

"From its inception in the 1890s up to the present day, the Lives of Remarkable People biography series has been a ubiquitous presence on the bookshelves of Russian readers, a marker of education, cultural refinement, and social status. Literary Biographies is the first comprehensive scholarly examination of this series, tracing its origins, its transformations in response to Russia's turbulent history, and its enduring cultural significance. In the process, the volume opens the door to a deep and nuanced consideration of biography as a genre and maps out the shifting legacies of major figures in Russian culture. This book will be of lively interest to intellectual historians, literary scholars, and readers of Russian biography." --Nathaniel Knight, Seton Hall University

"This fascinating collection documents the enduring importance and popularity of literary biography in Russia from the era of Nicholas II to Vladimir Putin. Interpretations of the lives of Russia's 'remarkable' writers, the authors show, have changed to meet political imperatives, changing social conditions, and new cultural norms; yet iconic writers from Pushkin to Brodsky retain their exalted stature and fascination for the Russian public. This volume will interest scholars of literature, biography, and cultural history." --Adele Lindenmeyr, Villanova University

"Like a finely crafted set of Russian nesting dolls, Literary Biographies in The Lives of Remarkable People Series in Russia offers multiple layers of original insight into a range of subject areas, including biography, literature, and the intersections of culture and politics in modern Russia. Its strengths are many. Each chapter is richly detailed. The contributors are scholars well versed in Slavic languages, Russian literature, and literary biography as a genre of writing. Their discussions provide sharp and in-depth critical analysis of each biography selected. The contributors analyze the basic content, writing style, sources used, political and ideological context, and individual biographer's background, expertise, and the specific approach they take to the writing of biography. They expertly point out areas of ideologization, obfuscation, and oversight. What also enlivens the narratives is the added insight each contributor brings to the lives and legacies of the Russian writers themselves. Readers interested in the writers profiled in this volume will find much to savor." --H-Net: Humanities and Social Science Reviews Online

"The collection is rewarding, abundant in factual material on a large number of both classic and lesser-known biographies. It is also conceptually rich. This collection is also timely: although most of the writing was presumably complete before Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, several of the chapters examine the ideological work evident in what Putin-era biographies emphasize, omit, and sometimes distort in the lives of their subjects." --The Russian Review

About the Author

Ludmilla A. Trigos is an independent scholar.

Carol Ueland is professor emerita of Russian at Drew University.