Victor Erofeyev
Encyclopedia
Victor Vladimirovich Erofeyev ' onMouseout='HidePop("63886")' href="/topics/Moscow">Moscow
) is a Russian
writer
. As son of a high-ranking Soviet
diplomat Vladimir Erofeyev, he spent some of his childhood in Paris
, which accounts for why much of his work has been translated from Russian into French, while comparatively little has reached English.
Erofeyev graduated from Moscow State University
in 1970, where he studied literature and languages. He then did post-graduate work at the Institute for World Literature in Moscow
, where he completed his post-graduate work in 1973 and received his kandidat
degree in 1975 for his thesis on Fyodor Dostoyevsky and French existentialism
. Erofeyev's work often contains pastiches of Dostoyevsky's work and themes.
He became a literary critic, publishing works on Lev Shestov
and the Marquis de Sade
. He later organised his own literary magazine, Metropol, in which many of the big names of Soviet literature participated, including Vasily Aksyonov
, Andrei Bitov
, Bella Akhmadulina, and others. The magazine was put into circulation via samizdat
, i.e., avoiding Soviet censorship. As a result, Erofeyev was expelled from the Union of Soviet Writers and was banned from being published until 1988, when Mikhail Gorbachev
came to power.
Victor Erofeyev currently resides in Moscow
and frequently appears on Russian television, where he has his own program on the channel «Kultura» ("culture"); he also has a program on Radio Liberty, Moscow.
Alfred Schnittke
's opera Life with an Idiot
is based on his story with the same name, which he made into a libretto for the composer.
Erofeyev also regularly contributes to The Times Literary Supplement
, The New Yorker
, The New York Review of Books
, and The International Herald Tribune.
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
) is a Russian
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
. As son of a high-ranking Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
diplomat Vladimir Erofeyev, he spent some of his childhood in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, which accounts for why much of his work has been translated from Russian into French, while comparatively little has reached English.
Erofeyev graduated from Moscow State University
Moscow State University
Lomonosov Moscow State University , previously known as Lomonosov University or MSU , is the largest university in Russia. Founded in 1755, it also claims to be one of the oldest university in Russia and to have the tallest educational building in the world. Its current rector is Viktor Sadovnichiy...
in 1970, where he studied literature and languages. He then did post-graduate work at the Institute for World Literature in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, where he completed his post-graduate work in 1973 and received his kandidat
Kandidat
The Candidate of Sciences degree is a first post-graduate scientific degree in some former Eastern Bloc countries, such as Russia and Ukraine, which is awarded for original research that constitutes a significant contribution to a scientific field. The degree was first introduced in the USSR on...
degree in 1975 for his thesis on Fyodor Dostoyevsky and French existentialism
Existentialism
Existentialism is a term applied to a school of 19th- and 20th-century philosophers who, despite profound doctrinal differences, shared the belief that philosophical thinking begins with the human subject—not merely the thinking subject, but the acting, feeling, living human individual...
. Erofeyev's work often contains pastiches of Dostoyevsky's work and themes.
He became a literary critic, publishing works on Lev Shestov
Lev Shestov
Lev Isaakovich Shestov , born Yehuda Leyb Schwarzmann , was a Ukrainian/Russian existentialist philosopher. Born in Kiev on , he emigrated to France in 1921, fleeing from the aftermath of the October Revolution. He lived in Paris until his death on November 19, 1938.- Life :Shestov was born Lev...
and the Marquis de Sade
Marquis de Sade
Donatien Alphonse François, Marquis de Sade was a French aristocrat, revolutionary politician, philosopher, and writer famous for his libertine sexuality and lifestyle...
. He later organised his own literary magazine, Metropol, in which many of the big names of Soviet literature participated, including Vasily Aksyonov
Vasily Aksyonov
Vasily Pavlovich Aksyonov was a Soviet and Russian novelist. He is known in the West as the author of The Burn and Generations of Winter , a family saga depicting three generations of the Gradov family between 1925 and 1953.-Early life:Vasily Aksyonov was...
, Andrei Bitov
Andrei Bitov
Andrei Georgiyevich Bitov is a prominent Russian writer. Many consider him among the foremost Russian writers of the late 20th century.Among the novels that solidified his reputation are: Flying-Away Monakhov, Life in Windy Weather, Pushkin House, Captive of the Caucasus, and The Monkey Link.Bitov...
, Bella Akhmadulina, and others. The magazine was put into circulation via samizdat
Samizdat
Samizdat was a key form of dissident activity across the Soviet bloc in which individuals reproduced censored publications by hand and passed the documents from reader to reader...
, i.e., avoiding Soviet censorship. As a result, Erofeyev was expelled from the Union of Soviet Writers and was banned from being published until 1988, when Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev is a former Soviet statesman, having served as General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1985 until 1991, and as the last head of state of the USSR, having served from 1988 until its dissolution in 1991...
came to power.
Victor Erofeyev currently resides in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
and frequently appears on Russian television, where he has his own program on the channel «Kultura» ("culture"); he also has a program on Radio Liberty, Moscow.
Alfred Schnittke
Alfred Schnittke
Alfred Schnittke ; November 24, 1934 – August 3, 1998) was a Russian and Soviet composer. Schnittke's early music shows the strong influence of Dmitri Shostakovich. He developed a polystylistic technique in works such as the epic First Symphony and First Concerto Grosso...
's opera Life with an Idiot
Life with an Idiot
Life with an Idiot is an opera by the Russian composer Alfred Schnittke. The libretto is by Viktor Erofeyev. It was first performed at Het Muziektheater, Amsterdam on 13 April 1992. The opera is an allegory of Soviet oppression.-Roles:-Act One:...
is based on his story with the same name, which he made into a libretto for the composer.
Major works
- Russian BeautyRussian beautyRussian Beauty - is a novel written by Victor Erofeyev, released in 1990 and translated into more than 20 languages. At first it was published in France under the name «La Belle de Moscou» ....
- The Good Stalin
- The Last Judgement
- Five Rivers of Life
- Encyclopaedia of the Russian Soul
- Men and God X
- Life with an Idiot (a collection of short stories)
- In the Labyrinth of Accursed Questions (a collection of essays)
Erofeyev also regularly contributes to The Times Literary Supplement
The Times Literary Supplement
The Times Literary Supplement is a weekly literary review published in London by News International, a subsidiary of News Corporation.-History:...
, The New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
, The New York Review of Books
The New York Review of Books
The New York Review of Books is a fortnightly magazine with articles on literature, culture and current affairs. Published in New York City, it takes as its point of departure that the discussion of important books is itself an indispensable literary activity...
, and The International Herald Tribune.
Article
- Viktor Jerofejew, "Putins Russland hat ein Image-Problem" (Die Welt, 13 February 2007)