September 29, 2021

Pelevin Perplexes


Pelevin Perplexes
Is it really Pelevin or just the funky dark glasses? The world may never know.  Photo via Merciless PR Man on Telegram

The mysterious and reclusive Russian author Victor Pelevin has not been seen in public for the past twenty years; that is, until this past week when photos surfaced online of him wearing a pair of dark sunglasses signing autographs in Moscow. However, as a writer who gained his fame from works that focused on the mystic and strange, this out-of-the-blue public appearance isn't without some mystery as well. 

Many online suspect that this was all a gimmick developed by someone who figured out that they could make a decent amount of cash if they hired an actor to pretend to be the famous author and sign books for a fee. Neither the writer's publishing house nor his close friends could confirm that Pelevin had any intention of holding a book signing in Moscow.

But it is nearly impossible to contact the author himself and ask either, given his notorious level of secrecy; nobody knows his home address, he uses no social media accounts, and he keeps his mobile phone number a top-secret. Some conspiracy theorists even suspect that the author died several years ago or that his books are not written by him alone but by a group of several authors collectively.

 

You Might Also Like

The Tambourine of the Upper World

The Tambourine of the Upper World

With his early stories and novels, Pelevin established himself as one of Russia’s leading contemporary writers. “The Tambourine of the Upper World” showcases many of his usual themes and interests: social satire, mysticism, metaphysical border crossings, and upturned expectations.
Genius Temporis
  • November 01, 2004

Genius Temporis

Victor Pelevin may well be the greatest Russian writer of his generation. Not as he seems to care, though.
Reflecting on Shishkin
  • May 01, 2013

Reflecting on Shishkin

A reflection on the place of writers in Putin's Russia, through the lens of writer Mikhail Shishkin's refusal to take part in further government literary junkets.
Socialist Realism and Potatoes: The Dmitry Furmanov Story
  • March 15, 2016

Socialist Realism and Potatoes: The Dmitry Furmanov Story

Writer and commissar Dmitry Furmanov died 90 years ago. If you don’t recognize his name, it may be because he’s better known for his character Vasily Ivanovich Chapayev, a Red Army commander who achieved victory via potatoes. 
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals
[INVALID]
[INVALID]

Some of our Books

Bears in the Caviar
May 01, 2015

Bears in the Caviar

Bears in the Caviar is a hilarious and insightful memoir by a diplomat who was “present at the creation” of US-Soviet relations. Charles Thayer headed off to Russia in 1933, calculating that if he could just learn Russian and be on the spot when the US and USSR established relations, he could make himself indispensable and start a career in the foreign service. Remarkably, he pulled it of.

Faith & Humor
December 01, 2011

Faith & Humor

A book that dares to explore the humanity of priests and pilgrims, saints and sinners, Faith & Humor has been both a runaway bestseller in Russia and the focus of heated controversy – as often happens when a thoughtful writer takes on sacred cows. The stories, aphorisms, anecdotes, dialogues and adventures in this volume comprise an encyclopedia of modern Russian Orthodoxy, and thereby of Russian life.

A Taste of Chekhov
December 24, 2022

A Taste of Chekhov

This compact volume is an introduction to the works of Chekhov the master storyteller, via nine stories spanning the last twenty years of his life.

Fearful Majesty
July 01, 2014

Fearful Majesty

This acclaimed biography of one of Russia’s most important and tyrannical rulers is not only a rich, readable biography, it is also surprisingly timely, revealing how many of the issues Russia faces today have their roots in Ivan’s reign.

The Moscow Eccentric
December 01, 2016

The Moscow Eccentric

Advance reviewers are calling this new translation "a coup" and "a remarkable achievement." This rediscovered gem of a novel by one of Russia's finest writers explores some of the thorniest issues of the early twentieth century.

Driving Down Russia's Spine
June 01, 2016

Driving Down Russia's Spine

The story of the epic Spine of Russia trip, intertwining fascinating subject profiles with digressions into historical and cultural themes relevant to understanding modern Russia. 

Russian Rules
November 16, 2011

Russian Rules

From the shores of the White Sea to Moscow and the Northern Caucasus, Russian Rules is a high-speed thriller based on actual events, terrifying possibilities, and some really stupid decisions.

Steppe
July 15, 2022

Steppe

This is the work that made Chekhov, launching his career as a writer and playwright of national and international renown. Retranslated and updated, this new bilingual edition is a super way to improve your Russian.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955