On 28 September 2015, the National Library of Luxembourg and the Russian Centre of Culture and Science will be holding a conference entitled "New Realism in Modern Russian Literature and the Decay of Liberal Ideas" by renowned Russian author Andrei Gelasimov.
The Irkutsk-born author will tackle key concepts in present-day Russian literature in order to illustrate how Russian postmodernism is making way for a new realism through its liberal concepts.
Even without direct involvement in social and political issues, contemporary Russian literature can often be seen to reflecting major shifts in Russian life. However, nowadays the absurd and destructive power is often not enough to attract the attention of a reader, with writers increasingly forced to return to realism in order to deliver a compelling story that will keep readers engaged.
Andrei Gelasimov studied foreign languages at Yakutsk State University and directing at the Theatre Institute and literature at the Pedagogical Institute of Moscow. In 2001 he became a literary sensation overnight with critically-acclaimed story A Tender Age and has since regularly enjoyed critical acclaim and popular success in Russia and throughout Europe with his novels.
He has had four novels published in English, including Thirst, The Lying Year, Gods of the Steppe and, most recently, Rachel. Gods of the Steppe won Gelasimov Russia's National Bestseller Prize in 2009, whilst the screen adaptation of Thirst went on to win the Jury Prize at the Sochi Open Russian Film Festival.
The conference will be held in English. For more details, contact info@bnl.etat.lu or visit www.bnl.lu .
