Between the author and the muse: the National Centre RUSSIA to host a discussion on the role of women in literature across different eras

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In the world of literature, there are many individual books — and even authors — that are commonly labelled as "women’s". What actually lies behind these stereotypes will be discussed on 20 March at the National Centre RUSSIA during the next meeting of the author’s Literary Club "What to Read?!".

Participants of the evening titled "Women in Literature and Around It" invite audiences to reflect on what stood on the bookshelves of female readers in different eras — sentimental novels or detective stories, psychological prose or confessional lyric poetry — and what modern women look for in literature today. The key question of the discussion will be whether "women’s literature" exists as a separate phenomenon or whether it is merely a label.

Guests of the club’s host — Alexei Chesnakov, Head of the Academic Council of the Centre for Political Conjuncture, Professor at HSE University, and author of the Telegram channel "Chesnakov. Library" — will include writer Natalia Urbanskaya, a member of the Federation of Cultural and Arts Figures and lecturer of the Russian society Znanie, as well as Yelena Afonina, Candidate of Philological Sciences, literary scholar, writer and literary editor, and Margarita Pankratova, poet and writer.

Together with the experts, the audience will trace the evolution of the female character — from "wife and daughter" to an independent literary figure — and the path of the woman author from the "shadow" of great male writers to a full-fledged participant in the literary world. They will also discuss how Christianity and folk traditions shaped the archetype of the "self-sacrificing" heroine, how the twentieth century introduced the image of the "new woman", and why psychological literature now occupies a prominent place on women’s bookshelves. Another focus of the discussion will be the difference between a male perspective on women and the way women write about themselves.

Audience members who ask the most engaging questions during the final part of the event will receive traditional gifts — books from the club’s partner, the publishing group "Eksmo-AST".

The Literary Club "What to Read?!" is a space for those who want not only to read but also to think independently, discuss books and learn more about authors. Participation in the meeting — as with other events at the National Centre RUSSIA — is free of charge with prior registration on russia.ru.

Join the discussion to unravel the intricate literary threads of women’s images, characters and destinies. Guest gathering begins at 18:00, with the event starting at 19:00.