Where Are We Coming From? Where Are We Going?
Russia and its Writers between West and East
Deutsche Fassung
Abstract
In Russia, the debate over the roots and evolution of national identity refuses to abate. Politicians, academics, and artists are seeking new perspectives for Russia’s frail, young democracy. Vasilii Aksenov and Viktor Pelevin, idols for the 1960s and 1990s generations respectively, have published two novels (neither of which has been translated into German) depicting completely contradictory concepts for a Russian way. Aksenov in Vol’ter’yantsy i vol’ter’yanki looks to the West. Pelevin in Svyashchnnaya kniga oborotnya to the tao-influenced East.
(Osteuropa 11/2005, pp. 107–167)