Questions tagged [andrey-kurkov]

Questions about the works of the Ukrainian author Andrey Kurkov (born 1961), who writes in Russian. Use with the tag [russian-literature].

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2 votes
0 answers
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What is Andrey Kurkov's view of writing in Russian vs. Ukrainian?

Follow-up to: Why does Andrey Kurkov write in Russian? In an interview with the New York Times, Andrey Kurkov defended the fact that he published novels in Russian and stated that it's reductionist to ...
EJoshuaS - Stand with Ukraine's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
190 views

Why does Wikipedia claim that "Death and the Penguin" was set in 1996 - 1997?

The Wikipedia article on Death and the Penguin claims that the story is set in 1996 - 1997. However, when Viktor was in the Chief's office, On the upper shelf lay a folder with several typed sheets ...
EJoshuaS - Stand with Ukraine's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
102 views

Is the "wall of solitude" a reference to Pink Floyd's "The Wall"?

Death and the Penguin contains the following quote: He thought suddenly of Nina and her saying that they had been seeing Sergey off at the station. So he had, after all, gone to Moscow, without so ...
EJoshuaS - Stand with Ukraine's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
110 views

Did it really cost $800 to fly from Kyiv to Rome in 1996?

At one point, the Chief needed to flee the country. He sent Viktor to retrieve his plane ticket, which cost "$750 at exchange rate or $800 in cash". His exact itinerary was Kyiv-Larnaca-Rome....
EJoshuaS - Stand with Ukraine's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
143 views

Were mines common in Ukraine?

In Death and the Penguin, Viktor and Sergey hear an explosion and go to investigate: "What's up, Vanya?" Sergey enquired. "The old story," said the caretaker... "Local man. ...
EJoshuaS - Stand with Ukraine's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
506 views

Why did Misha give Viktor and Sonya New Year's gifts?

In Death and the Penguin, Misha non-Penguin left New Year's Presents (from "Grandfather Frost") under their tree. I'm slightly confused by this; was Christmas not celebrated at this point? ...
EJoshuaS - Stand with Ukraine's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
51 views

What is a District Militiaman?

When Viktor had to leave town for a few days, he had no one to watch his penguin, so he called the "district militiaman" and asked him to check on him while he was gone. What, exactly, was a ...
EJoshuaS - Stand with Ukraine's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
35 views

Was "Fyodor in Crime" a reference to Dostoevsky?

In Death and the Penguin, the newspaper editor told Viktor to contact Fyodor from Crime for some information to help him with his writing. Is this a subtle reference to Crime and Punishment by Fyodor ...
EJoshuaS - Stand with Ukraine's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
27 views

Why would a government official boast to a reporter about illegal trips to Chernobyl?

Related: What is a State Duma Deputy? In Death and the Penguin, Viktor interviewed a politician who, among other things, boasted about his trips to Chernobyl (even knowing that he was a reporter). ...
EJoshuaS - Stand with Ukraine's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
82 views

What is a State Duma Deputy?

In Death and the Penguin, Viktor interviews the State Duma Deputy Aleksandr Yakornitsky. (He is also referred to simply as a "State Deputy"). I'm aware that the State Duma is the lower ...
EJoshuaS - Stand with Ukraine's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
85 views

Why does Andrey Kurkov write in Russian?

A recent article in the New York Times Magazine about the Ukrainian author Andrey Kurkov (The Pen and the Sword, May 26, 2022) discusses why the author writes in Russian (which some Ukrainians object ...
EJoshuaS - Stand with Ukraine's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
126 views

Which six languages does Andrey Kurkov speak?

A recent New York Times Magazine profile of the Ukrainian author Andrey Kurkov (The Pen and the Sword, May 26, 2022) mentioned that he speaks six languages (including Russian, which is his native ...
EJoshuaS - Stand with Ukraine's user avatar