OPEN STACKS | #29 Back in the USSR: Masha Gessen, Julia Alekseyeva, Franz Nicolay & William Nickell
This week on Open Stacks, we consider the centenary of the Russian Revolution, the many facets of Soviet life, and the future of Russia and the rest of the former Eastern Bloc. We'll hear from Masha Gessen on The Future is History and Putin's Russia, Julia Alekseyeva on Soviet Daughter, and Franz Nicolay on The Humorless Ladies of Border Control. Plus, University of Chicago Professor William Nickell gives a crash course in the Russian Revolution and its legacy today.
Julia Alekseyeva / Microcosm Publishing
Nicolay made mention of Rebecca West's Black Lamb and Grey Falcon, as well as several punk bands including the Kiev-based MALOI. Here's "Runaway Fathers" from their album Late Night Calls Inc:
Masha Gessen joined us at the Co-op as part of CEERES of Voices, our series presented in partnership with the Center for Eastern European and Russian/Eurasian Studies. In the video below, Gessen is interviewed in store by Kostantin Sonin. Take a peek! Many thanks to CEERES for making the conversation possible.
... If you didn't know, our episode title has a tune. Here's Paul McCartney playing The Beatles' classic song, "Back in the U.S.S.R" in Kiev in 2008.
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