April 7, 2011
On April 5th, one of the major Russian living writers Ludmila Ulitskaya came to Columbia University to introduce the translation of her latest novel that has been recently published by Overlook.
Though translated into English only now, the novel Daniel Stein, Translator was originally published in 2007 and become a huge success in Russia. It was awarded a prestigious Russian “Big Book” prize and short-listed for international Booker Prize. The novel focuses on the extraordinary life of a Polish Jew Daniel Stein. During the World War II he hid in a monastery for over a year to escape Nazi persecution. Living among the monks, he decided to convert from Zionism to Catholicism. He also helped to save hundreds of Jews in the Belarusian town Mir from deportation to concentration camps. After the war, he returned to Poland, where he converted, studied for the priesthood and later became a Carmelite monk. The book is based on a true life story of Oswald Rufeisen, known as Brother Daniel.
Though the presentation was mostly about Ulitskaya profound novel, her writer’s insights, philosophical and religious views, she also made a few comments about the current political situation in Russia. Ulitskaya was one of three Russian writers who corresponded with the imprisoned Russian former oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky (the other two are Boris Akunin and Boris Strugatsky), and a book based on some of that correspondence was published in Russian last month. According to Ulitskaya, the imprisonment itself, and especially the second trial of Khodorkovky is an incredible disgrace and farce. “If Khodorkovky was out of prison, I’m sure that he would be among the leaders of the country, but unfortunately, with the current government in power, it doesn’t seem possible at all. Now they are talking about the third trial. I wonder, are they just idiots or such skillful pretenders that everything they do is beyond our understanding?”, the writer added in conclusion.
Watch the video of Ludmila Ulitskaya presentation at Columbia University here >>>
