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The book review discusses the edited volume "Revolutionary Aftereffects: Material, Social, and Cultural Legacies of 1917 in Russia Today" by Megan Swift. The book explores the impact of the Russian Revolution of 1917 on contemporary Russia, covering topics such as national parks, architecture, gender relations, and more. It takes an interdisciplinary approach, incorporating perspectives from various fields such as heritage studies, art history, cultural history, anthropology, sociology, literary studies, geography, gender studies, and film studies. The review highlights the diverse range of topics covered in the book and praises its stimulating content and inclusion of images and photographs. [Extracted from the article]

This book review discusses Anna Aydinyan's book "Formalists against imperialism: The Death of Vazir-Mukhtar and Russian orientalism." The review highlights Aydinyan's examination of the anti-imperialist and anti-orientalist themes in Iuri Tynianov's historical novel "The Death of Vazir-Mukhtar." Aydinyan argues that Tynianov's novel theorized Orientalism before Edward Said popularized the concept, and she analyzes the intertextual engagements in the novel that reveal the connection between textual Orientalism and Russian imperial policy. The review praises Aydinyan's inclusion of historical context and diverse perspectives, and suggests that her study will change the narrative of Russian Formalism in Western literary studies. [Extracted from the article]

This book review discusses "Writing rogues: the Soviet picaresque and identity formation, 1921– 1938" by Cassio de Oliveira. The author explores how the genre of the picaresque was used by Soviet writers to express ambivalence about the regime's efforts to construct new forms of social collectivity. The book is divided into three chronological phases: the civil war period, the NEP era of the 1920s, and the Stalin era of the 1930s. The review highlights specific works that represent each phase and discusses the themes and literary techniques employed by the authors. Overall, the review praises the book for its insights and detailed analysis. [Extracted from the article]

The book "Picturing the page: illustrated children’s literature and reading under Lenin and Stalin" by Megan Swift explores the world of Soviet children's literature illustrations. The book showcases a variety of illustrated editions of fairy tales, Russian classics, and martial-themed picture books from the 1920s to the 1940s. The author examines the ways in which the representation of key figures and imagery in these illustrations changed over time, often in relation to social and political campaigns pursued by the Soviet state. The book offers a unique insight into Soviet cultural production and the complexities of agency in the creation and consumption of Soviet art. [Extracted from the article]

Chloë Kitzinger's book, "Mimetic Lives: Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, and Character in the Novel," offers new insights into the works of Lev Tolstoi and Fedor Dostoevskii. Kitzinger examines the techniques of mimetic characterization used by these authors in four major novels. The book explores how these authors create a "narrative illusion" of reality through their representation of characters and their relationships. Kitzinger's analysis sheds light on the development of mimetic narratives in European literature, particularly in the context of nineteenth-century Russian realism. The book contributes to the interdisciplinary study of Russian realism and offers innovative readings of canonical texts. [Extracted from the article]

The book "In the shadow of the Holocaust. Poland, the United Nations War Crimes Commission, and the search for justice" by Michael Fleming explores the role of Poland in seeking justice for war crimes during and after World War II. The author argues that the prosecution of war criminals was not solely the result of the big powers, but also the tireless efforts of smaller states like Poland. The book examines the Polish government's multi-pronged approach, including disseminating information about atrocities, sharing knowledge about criminal responsibility, and documenting crimes. It also discusses the complex relationship between the Polish government and the Jewish community, highlighting both antisemitic actions and efforts to inform others about crimes against Jewish people. The book provides a comprehensive analysis of the pursuit of justice, including the challenges faced and the development of international criminal law. [Extracted from the article]