This course is dedicated to the newest Russian literature: the books that we will read and analyze were all published in the 2010s, half in the year 2015. Our focus will be on the writings of four authors, representing various generations (from age 48 to 29) and various trends in contemporary Russian literature. The authors have already received critical attention from readers and literary experts. Last year, Alexander Snegirev was awarded the Russian Booker Prize, Alisa Ganieva was selected as a Russian Booker finalist, and Anna Matveeva was a finalist for the «Большая книга». Special attention will be given to the work of Dmitry Bykov – famous writer, author of a cult-status biography of Boris Pasternak, poet, journalist and media personality, and winner of numerous literary awards («Большая книга», «Национальный бестселлер», Премия им. Братьев Стругацких, and others). Bykov will be a guest of the Russian School in 2016, so students will have the opportunity to engage with the author directly in discussions of his work and the situation in contemporary Russian literature.

Texts will include:
Александр Снегирев. Вера (2015).
Анна Матвеева. Девять девяностых (2014).
Дмитрий Быков. Прощай, кукушка (2012).
Алиса Ганиева. Жених и невеста (2015).