Short Takes

“The Main Enemy of Russia is Russia Itself”: A Conversation with Andrey Kurkov
Jan Wilm speaks to Andrey Kurkov about the war in Ukraine and the country’s linguistic landscape.
Jan WilmMay 10, 2022
“Voltaire, the Philosopher, to Empress Katerina”: A Poem from Ukraine by Boris Khersonsky
Konstantin Akinsha and Matthew Olshan translate a poem about Voltaire and Catherine the Great by Boris Khersonsky.
Boris Khersonsky, Konstantin Akinsha, Matthew OlshanMay 9, 2022
“Mixed Together, Fused”: On a Novel of Sports and War from Ukraine
Angela BrintlingerMay 5, 2022
“Where Is Humanity?”: A Conversation with Bedross Der Matossian
Aris JanigianApr 23, 2022
The Genocidal Logic of Putin’s War
Anton Tarasyuk, Michael MarderApr 22, 2022
The Night Inspection: Vladimir Nabokov at 123
Maxim D. ShrayerApr 22, 2022
“His Soul’s Nobility”: On Askold Melnyczuk’s “The Man Who Would Not Bow”
Olha PoliukhovychApr 18, 2022
Luck Will Still Smile on Us: Reconnecting with Ukraine from Minneapolis
Angela Ajayi, the daughter of a Nigerian father and Ukrainian mother, reconnects with her Ukrainian identity as Russia invades.
Angela AjayiApr 10, 2022
Their Own Voices: Dyanne Asimow’s “Canaries”
Susan BaskinApr 8, 2022
Intricately Purposeful: On Rachel Barenbaum’s “Atomic Anna”
Sara Shukla admires Barenbaum’s ambitious second novel, “Atomic Anna.”
Sara ShuklaApr 5, 2022
What You Know Good
Jervey TervalonApr 2, 2022
A Private Artifact of Public Madness: On Lora Lafayette’s “Possums Run Amok”
Robert FrombergApr 1, 2022
Over a River Strangely Rosy: Reading Poetry in Wartime
Historian Joan Neuberger turns to poetry at a time of war.
Joan NeubergerMar 31, 2022
Immigration All Over Again: Americans from the former Soviet Union Rally in support of Ukraine
Masha Rumer speaks émigrés from the former Soviet Union who are reckoning with the war in Ukraine.
Masha RumerMar 28, 2022
Chester, the Filmmaker
Jervey TervalonMar 26, 2022
Openness to Place: John O’Kane’s “A Venice Quintet”
Richard ModianoMar 25, 2022