Russian Pulp

The Detektiv and the Russian Way of Crime

Anthony Olcott author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Rowman & Littlefield

Published:9th Oct '01

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

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Russian Pulp cover

The detektiv, Russia's version of the murder mystery, has conquered what in Soviet days loved to call itself 'the most reading nation on earth.' Most Russians don't read much Tolstoy, but they devour the lurid covers and cheap paper of the detektivs by the millions. Serials based on the works of two of the most popular authors (Andrei Kivinov and Aleksandra Marinina) have been hits of the last few TV seasons, their characters now a part of Russian everyday life. The ubiquity of the detektiv may puzzle Westerners, who may conclude that this is a post-Soviet import like McDonalds. Not so—Russia sprouted its own versions of 'penny dreadfuls' as soon as peasants came off the land and learned to read. The guardians of Russia's 'high culture,' however, were enraged by this pulpy popular genre and so contrived under the Soviets to supress it, making everyone read 'improving' and 'uplifting' literature instead. Russia's junk readers hung on, though, snatching up the few detektivs that made their way through censorship, until, in the Gorbachev era, the genre blossomed as the perfect vehicle for social criticism—the detektiv talked about social problems in a way that was exciting enough that people wanted to read it. When the Soviet Union finally collapsed, one of the few things left standing in the rubble was the detektiv—which now is sold on every street corner and read on every bus. The first full-length study of the genre, Russian Pulp demonstrates that the detektiv is no knock-off. Summarizing and quoting extensively from scores of novels, this study shows that Russians understand law-breaking and crime, policemen, and criminals in ways wholly different from those of the West. After explaining why solving a crime is always a social function in Russia, Russian Pulp examines the staples of crime fiction—sex, theft, and murder—to demonstrate that Russians see police officer and criminal, thief and victim, as part of a single continuum. To the Russians, both chased and chaser are products of human imperfection, separated from one another only by the imperfect laws of human creation. What both criminal and policeman seek—-but seldom find—-is the much rarer quality of justice. Russian Pulp is intended for all students of Russia, from those making first acquaintance to those who have worked...

Although his goal is to introduce the Western reader to Russian pulp fiction, Olcott accomplishes much more in this extraordinarily informative volume. . . . Throughout, the author explores concepts (the eternal themes of the 'Russian soul,' the 'Russian idea,' Russia’s attitudes toward the West) that transcend reading tastes. . . . This fascinating book has something for all readers. * CHOICE *
An admirable piece of detective work, solving mysteries that most readers of light fiction fail to notice, but whose answers are far weightier than the material that led to them. * Slavic Review *
Russian Pulp is an entertaining and... thought-provoking study that should appeal to literary scholars, sociologists and anyone interested in contemporary Russia. * Slavic and East European Journal *
A delightful read on a winning topic and an illuminating glimpse of Russian everyday culture, taste, and values..... -- Richard Stites, Georgetown University
A delightful read on a winning topic and an illuminating glimpse of Russian everyday culture, taste, and values. -- Richard Stites, Georgetown University

  • Winner of AATSEEL Best Book in Literary/Cultural Scholarship 2003

ISBN: 9780742511408

Dimensions: 228mm x 147mm x 12mm

Weight: 304g

240 pages