A unique contribution to women's studies and Russian literature, this collection of critical/biographical articles and translated excerpts focuses on the literary, cultural, and political contexts of the writings of 71 Russian women authors from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. In its exploration of culture and tradition, this two-volume set is the most ambitious representation of women's writing in Russian in this format, including diverse genres of writing and introducing authors previously neglected in scholarly studies. Most of the translations appear in English for the first time; some are published here for the first time in any language. This comprehensive work explores a number of issues of concern to the study of women's literature. What role does women's writing have in the canon of Russian literature, and how did it evolve? What has been its relationship to literature by male contemporaries? Why did many of these authors experience declines in popularity? Why have others enjoyed recognition among the greatest writers in the Russian tradition, despite the enigma of their lives? Is there a continuing tradition in the prose of Russian women writers?
In offering answers to these and other questions, this encyclopedic project supplies fresh new material for future research and analysis.