Dostoevsky vs Bulgakov: literary debates with writers Yevgeny and Nikolai Zharinov to be held at the National Centre RUSSIA

On 29 May, the National Centre RUSSIA will host a meeting of the Literary Club "What to Read?!" in the format of an intellectual duel. The theme of the debates is "Battle of Talents: Dostoevsky vs Bulgakov". A father and son will stand on opposite sides of the literary barricades, adding particular tension and depth to the discussion.

The experts on the lives and work of the two recognised classics of Russian literature, whose destinies and legacy still provoke debate, will be Yevgeny Zharinov, Doctor of Philological Sciences and Professor at Moscow Pedagogical State University, and his son, philologist, cultural historian and writer Nikolai Zharinov. As tradition dictates, the moderator will be Alexei Chesnakov, Head of the Scientific Council of the Centre for Political Conjuncture, Professor at HSE University and author of the Telegram channel Chesnakov.Library.

"I invite you to literary debates with my father, Professor Yevgeny Zharinov, on 29 May. We will talk about the work of Bulgakov and Dostoevsky. We will try to determine which of these writers has had a greater influence on our present day. Where these geniuses shared the same views, and where they differed completely. And, ultimately, which of these authors’ work is of the greatest importance to us today. Do not miss it," Nikolai Zharinov invited guests to the discussion.

Fyodor Dostoevsky is one of the most republished authors in Russia. His novels became not just literature, but a true prophecy about the destinies of Russia and the world. The work of Mikhail Bulgakov is no less significant: this author’s legacy became one of the key codes to understanding Russian culture of the 20th century. Both writers came to literature from other professions: Dostoevsky was an engineer, while Bulgakov was a doctor. Both experienced poverty, struggled with their own vices and faced severe pressure from the authorities. What exactly made their texts prophetic: life experience, literary talent or something else?

The debates will be held in three thematic blocks. The first will be dedicated to the writers’ lives, temptations and muses. The speakers will discuss how much personal relationships shaped the fate of their texts, and whether Margarita can be considered a portrait of Yelena Shilovskaya, and Nastasya Filippovna a portrait of Apollinaria Suslova. The second block will address the authors’ relationships with power and how the trials they endured, penal servitude for Dostoevsky, and bans and Stalin’s famous telephone call for Bulgakov, changed their worldview. In the third block, the experts will offer reading recommendations for both writers to those who want to go beyond the usual school curriculum.

Each speaker will have exactly ten minutes to speak on each topic. After the first two blocks, rounds of cross-questions are planned. Each round will end with a sound signal similar to the one used in political debates. The third block will not include cross-questions, but both experts, speaking on opposite sides of the literary dispute, will have the opportunity to deliver a "closing speech" to sum up the debate and inspire the audience to vote, as well as to engage more deeply with the works of the classics.

The Literary Club "What to Read?!" is an original project of the National Centre RUSSIA. Its main goal is to popularise reading, reveal new meanings in well-known texts through the prism of cultural and historical context, and show that literature always remains a space for fascinating discoveries. Participation in the meetings is free, but advance registration on the russia.ru website is required.