Promotional Information

Studies how Russian literature reflects Russia's history of territorial expansion and argues that this expansion is a form of colonization.

Table of Contents

Introduction The Problem Engendering Empire The Consolidating Vision: War and Peace as the New Core Myth of Russian Nationhood The Central Asian Narrative in Russian Letters Imperial Desire in the Late Soviet Period Scholarship and Empire Deconstructing Empire: Liudmila Petrushevskaia Selected Bibliography Index

About the Author

EWA M. THOMPSON is Professor of Slavic Studies at Rice University. She is the author of several books, and her articles have appeared in such journals as Modern Age and Slavic Review.

Reviews

"A pioneering book--vigorous, provocative, broadly informed and crisply written. Not to be ignored by anyone concerned with Russian culture."-Donald Fanger Harry Levin Research Professor of Literature Harvard University

"An erudite and magisterial study."-Richard F. Staar Senior Fellow The Hoover Institution Stanford University

"In this thought-provoking, well-written, and fairminded book, Ewa Thompson addresses the complicity of Russian literature and even literary scholarship in furthering the goals of Russian colonialism and imperialism. A fresh perspective on the culture of Russian literature from the time of Pushkin to the post-Soviet period, Imperial Knowledge is a timely challenge to the usual ways Russian literature is read and taught."-Harold B. Segel Professor Emeritus of Slavic and Comparative Literature Columbia University

.,."a masterful analysis regarding the role played by literati in tsarist, Soviet, and post-communist Russia. One cannot but be amazed by the timespan in this book, which even analyzes tests currently being used in the school system....this exceptionaly well researched, thoroughly documented, and gracefully written masterpiece."-Modern Age

?...a masterful analysis regarding the role played by literati in tsarist, Soviet, and post-communist Russia. One cannot but be amazed by the timespan in this book, which even analyzes tests currently being used in the school system....this exceptionaly well researched, thoroughly documented, and gracefully written masterpiece.?-Modern Age

?[M]arks a considerable advance in our knowledge....The detailed and numerous annotations, the bibliography and the index will without doubt generate further study of the many issues raised in this fine book.?-Slavic and East European Journal

?Imperial Knowledge pursues several ends, all important and sharply defined.?-World Literature Today

"�M�arks a considerable advance in our knowledge....The detailed and numerous annotations, the bibliography and the index will without doubt generate further study of the many issues raised in this fine book."-Slavic and East European Journal

"[M]arks a considerable advance in our knowledge....The detailed and numerous annotations, the bibliography and the index will without doubt generate further study of the many issues raised in this fine book."-Slavic and East European Journal

"Imperial Knowledge pursues several ends, all important and sharply defined."-World Literature Today

..."a masterful analysis regarding the role played by literati in tsarist, Soviet, and post-communist Russia. One cannot but be amazed by the timespan in this book, which even analyzes tests currently being used in the school system....this exceptionaly well researched, thoroughly documented, and gracefully written masterpiece."-Modern Age