Writing in ... Russia

       One of my favorite recent headlines: in The Moscow Times Elizabeth Kaplunov reports that Russian Authors Say Literature Refutes Time and Space. So they're apparently not lacking for ambition. (Just for readers abroad, and translations .....)
       She writes about a recent discussion by authors Zakhar Prilepin and Yevgeny Vodolazkin, where:

Vodolazkin agreed with Prilepin's statement defining the purpose of the modern Russian novel as "moving away from traditional norms in order to solve the main issues of humanity such as evil, militarism and xenophobia." Vodolazkin similarly noted that the essence of the modern Russian novel lies in "not being afraid of pathos, grand gestures or metaphysics." Both authors agreed that this was a far cry from the literary decline of the 1990s, when Russian writers generally avoided grand metaphysical issues.

       Ah, well that'll do it -- you know how American publishers, 'literary' agents, and readers immediately leap up all excited to get their hands on those translated novels offering: "pathos, grand gestures or metaphysics" (or preferably all three in one !).
       (Sigh ... I guess I won't be seeing much more new Russian fiction in translation any time soon .....)