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Two articles

Russian literature is featuring more than usual in The Guardian this week. First, sadly, the obituary of the poet Elena Shvarts, one of the great heirs to the Petersburg tradition of Russian literature. Second, an article about Vasily Grossman to mark the British publication of Robert Chandler’s translation of Everything Flows (read it — it’s extraordinary!). Neither is particularly well known in the English-speaking world, even though both had works that were not acceptable in the USSR published in the West. In the case of Grossman at least, his profile is rising, largely due to Chandler’s efforts, and next year’s Radio 4 dramatization of Life and Fate should certainly put him on the map. Whether it will do much for his reputation in Russia, where he still seems to be viewed with a great deal of scepticism, is another matter.

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