In this engaging discussion, Mikhail Shishkin, a celebrated Russian novelist and a winner of all major literary prizes, shares his insights on Russia's complicated history. He examines the cycles of despotism and the deep-seated issues between the state and its citizens. Shishkin explores the dichotomy of the Russian populace, divided between the disenchanted and those embracing European values. He poses crucial questions about Russia's future, especially in light of current conflicts and the ongoing struggle for democracy.
41:17
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
question_answer ANECDOTE
Family Trauma Under Stalin
Mikhail Shishkin's grandfather was arrested for protesting collectivization and died in the Gulag.
His grandmother relived the trauma for the rest of her life, highlighting the lasting impact of oppression.
insights INSIGHT
Misunderstanding Russia
Western experts' lack of understanding about Russia contributed to the current war.
Shishkin aimed to write a book explaining Russia's history and the war.
question_answer ANECDOTE
False Hope After 1991
Shishkin celebrated the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991, hoping for a democratic Russia.
However, ex-KGB and Communist Party members led the new government, hindering democratic progress.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
The Taking of Izmail is a complex novel that delves into themes of mortality, suffering, and injustice, employing a wide range of narrative styles such as letters, diaries, and historical accounts. It is a postmodern exploration that challenges readers with its depth and complexity.
My Russia
War or Peace?
Gesche Ipsen
Mikhail Shishkin
In 'My Russia: War or Peace?', Mikhail Shishkin explores the roots of Russia's problems, tracing its history from the Kievan Rus to the modern Russian Federation. The book is both a critique of the current regime and a love letter to his conflicted homeland, offering insights into the country's relationship with democracy and European values.
Maidenhair
Mikhail Shishkin
Maidenhair by Mikhail Shishkin is a complex novel that delves into the eternal questions of truth and fiction, time and timelessness, love and war. It interweaves stories of Russian asylum-seekers, an interpreter's personal life, and historical narratives, creating a rich tapestry of human experience. The book is praised for its lyrical language and exploration of universal themes.
Mikhail Shishkin is one of the most celebrated living Russian novelists and the only author to have won all three major Russian literary prizes. All his books have been adapted for the stage in Russia and they have been translated into 30 languages. In conversation with historian Victor Sebastyen Shishkin traces the roots of Russia’s problems, from Kievan Rus via the Grand Duchy of Moscow, empire, revolution and the Cold War to the now thirty-year-old Russian Federation. He explores the uneasy relationship between the Russian state and its citizens, and set out his view that there are really two Russian peoples: the disillusioned and disaffected, who suffer from what he calls a slave mentality, and those who embrace so-called European values and try to stand up to oppression. And he addresses the most vital question of all: Will Russia continue its vicious circle of upheaval and autocracy, or will its people find a way out of history?
Intelligence Squared 
