Vladimir Sorokin: Day of the Oprichnik

The scene in Day of the Oprichnik is set in a Russia of the near future, a period of political restoration in which the monarchy has been re-established. Its pillars are self-determination, Orthodoxy, and tradition. Passports are being burned on the Red Square and diplomats are being driven out of the country. The only country with which Russia is maintaining contact is China. Futuristic technology is merged with the torture techniques of Ivan the Terrible; the world seems like a horrifying dystopia, while being simultaneously more real than ever. Welcome to Russia of 2028: leave any hope behind, all who enter. The novel is considered to be a modern classic and has been translated into over thirty languages.

The novel was translated by Andreja Kalc.

Vladimir Sorokin is one of the finest and most celebrated contemporary Russian writers. His works fuse postmodernist fiction with elements of dystopia, satire, and Soviet motifs. He has received every major Russian literary prize and has also been shortlisted for the Man Booker International Prize.

Due to the pandemic and measures against the spread of COVID-19, the literary event with Vladimir Sorokin will take place virtually. The recording of the live conversation with the author, prepared for Fabula in Berlin by Slovenian correspondent Polona Fijavž, cameraman Gregory Gan and Manca Filak, will be hosted by Russian journalist, producer and writer Julia Efremenkova. The recording will have Slovenian subtitles and will premiere on Cankarjev dom's website, www.cd-cc.si, and Cankarjev dom's social media channels.