Contemporary Russian Literature
Russia is a country famous for its literature. Russian classics such as Leo Tolstoy and Fyodor Dostoevsky, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn and Joseph Brodsky, are well-known all over the world. But what do you know about the modern writers living in Russia today, about their works and problems they raise in it?
The course is designed by Andrey Dmitrievich Stepanov, a leading professor of SPbU. It introduces students to the Russian literature of 1990-2010s within its historical and social context, highlights the significance of this period and demonstrates the complex dynamics of the literary development process.
Taught in English, the language of international communication, the programme fosters a truly diverse and global student community.
The programme is dedicated to the modern literary process, and may be interesting to not only an international student or professional philologist, but also to everyone who is interested in the Russian literature and culture.
During the course you will learn about the main trends in prose of the 2000s-2010s, the works of the most famous contemporary writers such as Zakhar Prilepin, Roman Senchin, Vladimir Sorokin, Viktor Pelevin, Boris Akunin, Tatiana Tolstaya and many others; you will acquire skills in literary analysis. Through literature you will get acquainted with modern Russian culture: you will better understand the everyday joys and sorrows of Russians, you will find it easier to find common ground with them, you will be able to compare the culture and literature trends of your home country and Russia.
- Our experienced educators are world‑renowned scientists and winners of prestigious international awards
- We offer over 800 educational programmes, ranging from popular and introductory to niche and advanced
- With us, you can benefit from and become a part of the 300‑year tradition and history of Russia’s first university
- SPbU boasts a unique cultural environment that has shaped many famous Russian scientists, politicians, entrepreneurs and cultural figures
- Upon completion of the course, you will receive an official SPbU standart certificate
- You will have access to the University’s unique resources, including its extensive research library and many museums
Andrei Stepanov, Developer and Academic Supervisor of the programme, Doctor of Philology, PhD, Professor in the Department of the History of Russian Literature of the Faculty of Philology at St Petersburg University, translator, novelist.
He is the author of the monograph "Problems of Communication in Chekhov’s Works" (2005), more than 170 scholarly papers, two novels and a collection of short stories, and 20 books of literary and scholarly translations from English, including by: Daniel Defoe, Elizabeth Gaskell, Alice Munro, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Daphne du Maurier, Andreas Schönle, and Sebastian Konrad.
Professor Stepanov is a finalist of the New Literature Prize (2009), and a laureate of the Nikolai Gogol Prize (2011).
Studying at St Petersburg University, students get access to the unique University’s resources: from a rich scientific library to its many museums.
To enrol on the programme, please contact us by phone or email — we will get back to you within one working day.
You will need to sign a contract and make payment before you can start the course. If you have any questions, feel free to reach us at: +7 (812) 363-68-95 or email: rlci@spbu.ru.