A new book by Evgeny Sidorov, a distinguished Russian writer, professor of literature, and former Minister of Culture during the Yeltsin era, has recently been released in Moscow. Titled “Fragments of Soul and Memory,” this collection of notes and reflections provides a compelling lens through which to view Russia`s complex history and its contemporary challenges. The book, compiled over many years, offers a non-linear journey through personal observations and major historical shifts, prompting discussions that extend far beyond literature itself.
Sidorov describes the work not as a systematic diary but as a compilation of “shards, notes, fragments of inner life,” an attempt to capture fleeting moments and “precise words.” He notes that while some parts were published earlier, the current edition is significantly expanded. When asked about influences, he mentions Pascal and Montaigne`s “Essays,” seeing his own work as perhaps distantly related in spirit, aiming for brevity that invites lengthy commentary.
Perhaps the most striking point raised in connection with the book is Sidorov`s perspective on the present historical moment. Referencing a note about figures urging the removal of Lenin`s body from the Mausoleum years ago, Sidorov starkly observes that the opportunity has passed, and “Stalin is with us again.” This statement underscores a perceived shift in the historical narrative and public consciousness, suggesting a retreat from past efforts towards de-Stalinization, even as some forces advocate for de-Leninization. The former Minister expresses concern about the current political climate`s “benevolent” reaction to the rehabilitation of Stalin`s image, particularly highlighting recent actions by the Communist Party effectively nullifying the decisions of the 20th Congress (which initiated de-Stalinization).
The interview also delves into Sidorov`s rich past, including his early career in journalism at publications like “Literaturnaya Gazeta” and “Yunost,” and later, a prominent Moscow newspaper. He recalls a vibrant, young editorial team in the post-Stalin era, where even minor “ideological errors” could lead to party reprimands – a form of “order” in that complex time, he notes wryly. He remembers colleagues like the poet Alexander Aronov and the keen literary observer Alexander Asarkan, whose weekly column was widely read before being shut down for its “excessive freedom.”
Turning to the present, Sidorov remains skeptical about attempts to unify writers under state patronage, comparing it unfavorably to the “kolkhoz assembly” of the 1950s. He doubts such structures can produce meaningful results. Furthermore, he critiques the common division of the creative intelligentsia into “patriots” and “liberals,” arguing that this is often a simplistic label used to categorize people. In his view, most prominent cultural figures, regardless of their specific political leanings (like monarchist Nikita Mikhalkov or democrat Alexander Sokurov), are fundamentally “statists,” each with their own vision for Russia. True political liberalism, he suggests, lacks both ideology and a supporting party in contemporary Russia, rendering the label largely a tool for creating “us vs. them” distinctions.
On the enduring power of literature, Sidorov offers a memorable line: “Poetry is the soul of Russia and its lifelong diagnosis.” However, he qualifies this by noting that “verse doesn`t work in Russia, even if it strongly wants to.” He elaborates that a poet becomes “more than a poet” primarily during social crises or revolutions when they abandon their artistic calling for rhyming civic commentary or political journalism. In normal times, he believes, the poet`s role is simply to “sing as they sing” – about love, death, life, and God. When asked about his own literary touchstones, he names a volume of Alexander Blok`s poetry, which belonged to his mother, as the single most important book to him after the Bible.
Reflecting on key moments in Russian history, Sidorov identifies the XX Congress, Stalin, Khrushchev, Sakharov, Solzhenitsyn, and the “fateful” arrival of Gorbachev as truly epochal events. He views Yeltsin as a figure “in his place” until 1995 but not of historical magnitude. Interestingly, he explicitly states that Joseph Brodsky`s emigration, while significant, was “not an epochal event” and “should not be exaggerated.”
Through these fragmented notes and reflections, “Fragments of Soul and Memory” offers a personal yet insightful look at the currents that have shaped Russia and its intellectual life over decades. Sidorov continues to compile his “mosaic,” demonstrating that, even in old age, one can continue to learn and keenly feel the pulse of the times. The book serves as a reminder that history, particularly in Russia, is rarely a closed chapter, with past figures and ideologies casting long, often surprising, shadows over the present.
