This is the only book, Russian or Western, that provides a comprehensive survey of developments in Russian prose over the last fifteen years of the Soviet regime. Deming Brown examines the work of established writers, such as Fazil Iskander and Andrei Bitov, together with many new figures who emerged during this period. Special attention is given to the evolving patterns of publication during the period: the rehabilitation of suppressed writers and the first publication of writings that had formerly belonged to the literary underground. This is an excellent introduction, of interest to scholars and students alike, to the varied writings of some eighty contemporary Russian authors, and to trends in literary criticism and publication.

‘Concise, gracefully written, and thoroughly researched, this book is indispensable for anybody at all interested in modern Russian writing, or, for that matter, the recent history of Russia.’

Maurice Friedberg - University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

‘Teachers, students, journalists, general readers, all others who might want to learn the basic facts of the lives and works of authors from Abramov to Zolotusskii and from Petrushevskaya to Tolstaya will find what they need in this book. There is also a most valuable bibliography of Russian works translated into English. Professor Brown is judicious, level-headed, and thoroughly informative. This is a model of encylopedic coverage and concise description.’

George Gibian - Goldwin Smith Professor of Russian and Comparative Literature, Cornell University

‘This is a work which distills comprehensive knowledge of the recent Russian literary scene into a few succinct and well chosen chapters. … the best introduction I can imagine to recent Russian prose fiction’.

Geoffrey Hosking - University of London

'Professor Brown has carefully digested an impressive number of primary and secondary texts. His critical comments combine a mature scholar's detachment with the informed sympathy of one who has lived with his subject for many years. This survey leaves no doubt that Russian literature is producing writers of interest and stature as ever before.'

Victor Terras - Brown University