Soviet Civilization: A Cultural History

by Andrei Sinyavsky, Abram Tertz (pseud.)

Looks at the development of modern Russia, describes politics, daily life, language, and culture under the Soviet bureaucracy, and compares Russia and the United States

Genres: History, Russia

304 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1989

About the author

Andrei Donatovich Sinyavsky was a Russian writer and a literary critic. He was a Soviet dissident known as a defendant in the Sinyavsky–Daniel trial of 1965.

Russian: Андрей Донатович Синявский
Pen name: Абрам Терц
Pen name in English: Abram Tertz

Reviews

[Lisajean]

Excellent book that I've recommended to many people. Insightful and a bit scary in its ties to present day.

[Daisy]

Try to find his short story "Tenants"

[Nina]

Brilliantly written history of the Communist empire and its civilization! Sinyavsky paid a special attention to literature of his time. A required book for anyone who wants to understand the Soviet empire.

[Derek]

A tough, brilliant attack on the Soviet Union and its historical legacy.

[Eric]

Fairly interesting examination of Soviet culture and civilization as told by some of its more prominent writers and poets. It does drag a bit here and there, but it's worth the effort.