Stalin's Ghosts: Gothic Themes in Early Soviet Literature

Stalins Ghosts explores how early Soviet-era authors used the Gothic-fantastic genre to respond to the traumas of revolution and civil war, propagate propaganda, and challenge Socialist Realism.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 332 pages
Publication date: 28 April 2023
Publisher: Peter Lang UK

Stalins Ghosts delves into the profound influence of the Gothic-fantastic genre on Russian literature during the transformative years of 1920 to 1940. Through a comprehensive exploration, the book reveals how a diverse range of Soviet-era authors, including renowned figures such as Fedor Gladkov, Mikhail Bulgakov, Andrei Platonov, and Evgenii Zamiatin, alongside lesser-known names like Sigizmund Krzhizhanovskii and Aleksandr Beliaev, skillfully employed traditional archetypes of this genre. These archetypes encompassed haunting castles, deformed bodies, vampires, villains, madness, and unnatural deaths, serving as powerful tools to convey profound themes and emotions. By complementing recent studies of Soviet culture by Eric Naiman and Lilya Kaganovsky, Stalins Ghosts argues that Gothic-fantastic tropes served multiple purposes. They acted as a response to the traumas inflicted by the revolution and civil war, serving as a means of propaganda to promote the ideals of the Soviet regime. At the same time, these tropes employed a subtle yet powerful mode of subversion, challenging the rigid cultural monolith of Socialist Realism and offering alternative perspectives and narratives. Through its meticulous analysis, Stalins Ghosts sheds light on the intricate interplay between literature, politics, and societal dynamics, providing a fresh and insightful perspective on the rich literary heritage of the Soviet era.

Weight: 485g
Dimension: 225 x 150 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781803742205
Edition number: New ed