November 09, 2023

The George Orwell Library


The George Orwell Library
"1984 is now." Markus Spiske, Unsplash.

In Ivanovo, an industrial city located five-hours from Moscow, a beacon of intellectual freedom and resistance to propaganda has emerged. The George Orwell Library, established in 2022, has become a symbol of hope in the face of growing censorship and government control.

Situated in the modest confines of a ground-floor space in a dilapidated building, the George Orwell Library is a sanctuary for free thought. It houses a computer, several hundred books, and its librarian, Alexandra Karaseva. Speaking passionately about the transformative power of literature, the 67-year-old librarian said, "Books help us to see what is human, even in an enemy, and reject any form of dehumanization.”

The library owes its existence to Dmitry Silin, a local businessman and vocal critic of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Fearing potential imprisonment for his outspoken views, Silin fled Russia soon after the library's opening.

Karaseva proudly displayed the library's collection of books, encompassing works on dystopias, the Soviet prison system, writings by contemporary authors critical of the Kremlin, and a selection of lighter novels designed to "lift spirits."

The George Orwell Library stands as a testament to the enduring power of literature in the face of adversity, offering Ivanovo residents a refuge for independent thought, intellectual growth, and resistance against encroaching propaganda and censorship.

Dmitry Shestopalov, an 18-year-old activist from the Yabloko opposition party, frequents the library to watch films and connect with other young people. He highlights the library's role in providing a space for personal growth: "You can develop yourself here despite everything that is happening in our country. You can forget fear, feel free, feel comfort, feel that you are not alone in the enormous system that is devouring us."

The books at the George Orwell Library are readily available for loan, following the traditional lending practices of any standard library. This collection includes the works of authors who have been designated as "foreign agents" under Russian law, a classification that necessitates their sale in bookshops with concealed covers.

You Might Also Like

Last Words
  • April 28, 2023

Last Words

Some poignant and brave “last words” of dissenters, and some notes about the resurgence of denunciations.
Unwritten Resolution
  • July 14, 2023

Unwritten Resolution

Nizhny Novgorod court shuts "LGBT Propaganda" case on local bookstore.
Standing the Test of Time
  • January 31, 2023

Standing the Test of Time

A conservative State Duma deputy called for the removal of The Gulag Archipelago from the Russian school curriculum.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of Our Books

Chekhov Bilingual

Chekhov Bilingual

Some of Chekhov's most beloved stories, with English and accented Russian on facing pages throughout. 
Dostoyevsky Bilingual

Dostoyevsky Bilingual

Bilingual series of short, lesser known, but highly significant works that show the traditional view of Dostoyevsky as a dour, intense, philosophical writer to be unnecessarily one-sided. 
Tolstoy Bilingual

Tolstoy Bilingual

This compact, yet surprisingly broad look at the life and work of Tolstoy spans from one of his earliest stories to one of his last, looking at works that made him famous and others that made him notorious. 
The Latchkey Murders

The Latchkey Murders

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin is back on the case in this prequel to the popular mystery Murder at the Dacha, in which a serial killer is on the loose in Khrushchev’s Moscow...
Driving Down Russia's Spine

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. 
A Taste of Russia

A Taste of Russia

The definitive modern cookbook on Russian cuisine has been totally updated and redesigned in a 30th Anniversary Edition. Layering superbly researched recipes with informative essays on the dishes' rich historical and cultural context, A Taste of Russia includes over 200 recipes on everything from borshch to blini, from Salmon Coulibiac to Beef Stew with Rum, from Marinated Mushrooms to Walnut-honey Filled Pies. A Taste of Russia shows off the best that Russian cooking has to offer. Full of great quotes from Russian literature about Russian food and designed in a convenient wide format that stays open during use.
Woe From Wit (bilingual)

Woe From Wit (bilingual)

One of the most famous works of Russian literature, the four-act comedy in verse Woe from Wit skewers staid, nineteenth century Russian society, and it positively teems with “winged phrases” that are essential colloquialisms for students of Russian and Russian culture.
A Taste of Chekhov

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.
The Samovar Murders

The Samovar Murders

The murder of a poet is always more than a murder. When a famous writer is brutally stabbed on the campus of Moscow’s Lumumba University, the son of a recently deposed African president confesses, and the case assumes political implications that no one wants any part of.
Fearful Majesty

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.
Maria's War: A Soldier's Autobiography

Maria's War: A Soldier's Autobiography

This astonishingly gripping autobiography by the founder of the Russian Women’s Death Battallion in World War I is an eye-opening documentary of life before, during and after the Bolshevik Revolution.

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