Mikhail Shishkin wins the Big Book Prize and the Readers' Choice
On 29 November, Mikhail Shishkin was awarded both the Big Book Prize and the Readers' Choice for his novel 'Pismovnik' (Letter-Book). 2nd place went to Vladmir Sorokin for 'Metel' (Snowstorm) and 3rd to Dmitry Bykov for 'Ostromov, ili uchenik Charodeia' (Ostrumov, or the Magician's Apprentice).
'Pismovnik' has been taking Russian literary circles by storm. In fact, it has even already been adapted for the stage, with performances at Moscow's MKHAT theatre (Moscow Art Theatre) selling out weeks in advance, while the English translation of the novel is already set. For a preview of the novel in English, see the extract translated by Andrew Bromfield in Rossica 22.
Renowned US publisher Peter Mayer, Overlook Press and Ardis, was also acknowledged by the Big Book Prize, receiving the special prize for Contribution to Russian Literature. Indeed, during his speech at the ceremony, he announced the plans for a 100 volume Russian Library series, published by Ardis, starting from the Russian classics and going up until novels from the present day.