Russia in the American Novel

The Russian-American relationship extends beyond politics into the literary traditions of both countries. What role has Russia played in the American novel, and how have Russian authors written about America? How have these mutual portrayals evolved over time—and to what extent have they shaped popular thought?

Please join the Center on Global Interests as we host Dmitry Bykov, one of Russia’s leading contemporary writers, for an evening of literary discussion. CGI President Nikolai Zlobin, author of a series of bestselling books for Russians about America, will moderate the talk.

A wine reception will follow.

About the Speakers:

Dmitry Bykov is a prolific novelist, poet, columnist, and radio personality. One of Russia’s leading public intellectuals, he is widely known for his projectCitizen Poet, a satirical criticism-in-verse of contemporary life in Russia. Mr. Bykov is a two-time recipient of the National Bestseller Prize, awarded yearly for the best book written in the Russian language, and received the country's top literary honor—the Big Book Award—for his biography of Boris Pasternak (2006). Most recently, Mr. Bykov was a visiting lecturer at Princeton University’s Graduate School and a Maya Brin Resident at the School of Languages, Literatures and Cultures at the University of Maryland.

Nikolai Zlobin is a political scientist, journalist and historian, who served as adviser to Presidents Mikhail Gorbachev and Boris Yeltsin before emigrating to the United States in 1993. Following a series of teaching positions at Georgetown, Stanford and Harvard Universities, he emerged as a leading commentator on U.S.-Russian relations. Dr. Zlobin developed a wide commercial following with the publication of his two volumes that sought to acquaint Russians with everyday life in the United States: America–What a Life! (2012) and America–Bane of Heaven (2013). He is a permanent member of the Valdai Discussion Club and frequently appears on prominent Russian political talk shows, including on the radio station Echo of Moscow.