Andrey Kurkov, Ukraine’s most acclaimed novelist, renowned for his absurdist works like "Death and the Penguin," discusses the profound impact of war on literature and identity. He reflects on how conflict shapes artistic expression, revealing personal narratives amid chaos. The conversation navigates themes of resilience, exploring the role of animals in storytelling and cultural differences between Ukraine and Russia. Kurkov emphasizes the importance of preserving Ukrainian heritage and celebrating its rich literary culture, even in dark times.
01:03:02
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
question_answer ANECDOTE
Ukrainian Resilience
Andrey Kurkov, a Ukrainian novelist, discusses Putin's nuclear threats and the war's impact.
He shares a joke about Ukrainians' preparedness for the end of the world and their plans for what comes after.
insights INSIGHT
Culture and Identity
The war highlights the importance of culture as part of identity.
Destroying culture severs the link between people and their land, making them feel displaced.
question_answer ANECDOTE
War's Impact on Publishing
Kurkov discusses the impact of the war on the publishing industry in Ukraine.
He recounts how his publisher's print works were bombed, forcing them to recover books and paper.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
On the Origins of Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity
Philippe Sands
This book by Philippe Sands delves into the lives and work of two Jewish lawyers, Hersch Lauterpacht and Raphael Lemkin, who were instrumental in creating the legal concepts of crimes against humanity and genocide. The narrative intertwines their personal and intellectual journeys with Sands' own family history, connecting the development of human rights law to the aftermath of the Second World War. It is a blend of history, human rights theory, and autobiographical elements, offering a profound and gripping account of the origins of international criminal law.
The Gates of Europe
Serhii Plokhy
In 'The Gates of Europe', Serhii Plokhy provides a detailed account of Ukraine's history, from the arrival of the Vikings to the present day. The book highlights Ukraine's role as a crossroads between empires and its ongoing quest for identity and independence. Plokhy examines major historical figures and events that have shaped Ukraine's past and continue to influence its present.
Death and the Penguin
None
Andrei Kirkov
Bloodlands
Europe Between Hitler and Stalin
Timothy Snyder
Sign up for Intelligence Squared Premium here: https://iq2premium.supercast.com/ for ad-free listening, bonus content, early access and much more. See below for details.
Ukraine’s best known novelist Andrey Kurkov joins us to speak about life, literature, and the war in Ukraine, as well as the complexities of the Ukrainian identity. Andrey Kurkov has been hailed as a latter-day Bulgakov and a Ukrainian Murakami, his works injected with an absurdist sense of the oddities of life. But with the unfolding of events in Ukraine this year, his fictional reflections on conflict in his nation have become even more pertinent. Our host for this episode is the BBC’s Chief International Correspondent, Lyse Doucet, who has been covering the conflict in Ukraine since it unfolded in February.
…
We are incredibly grateful for your support. To become an Intelligence Squared Premium subscriber, follow the link: https://iq2premium.supercast.com/
Here’s a reminder of the benefits you’ll receive as a subscriber:
Ad-free listening, because we know some of you would prefer to listen without interruption
One early episode per week
Two bonus episodes per month
A 25% discount on IQ2+, our exciting streaming service, where you can watch and take part in events live at home and enjoy watching past events on demand and without ads
A 15% discount and priority access to live, in-person events in London, so you won’t miss out on tickets
Intelligence Squared 
