Russian literature

Russian literature encompasses the diverse written and oral traditions of Russia, its émigrés, and Russian-language authors. It is a vast field that includes bilingual writers and those from various ethnic backgrounds. For instance, the Kyrgyz novelist Chinghiz Aitmatov contributed significantly to this tradition.

Some authors, like Vasil Bykaŭ, wrote in Belarusian but translated their works into Russian. However, the definition excludes authors from the Russian Federation who write primarily in indigenous non-Russian languages. This distinction is important for understanding the specific linguistic boundaries of the field. Many believe that Russia is the "most reading nation in the world." This self-image emerged after mass illiteracy was eliminated in the first half of the twentieth century.

Before books were common, oral literature served as the foundation of storytelling. This included pagan myths, prayers, heroic epics called byliny, and various folksongs.

Professional storytellers, such as bards of the druzhiny, used instruments like the gusli to accompany their tales. Wandering performers known as skomorokhi also played a role in spreading these stories. Because much of this oral tradition was pagan, it was often not recorded by medieval scribes. Consequently, a large portion of this early culture was lost over time. However, some oral legends were eventually incorporated into written medieval chronicles. Examples include the Legend of the Founding of Kiev and the Tale of Peter and Fevronia of Murom.

Written literature began to take shape in the Early Middle Ages. The introduction of Old Church Slavonic as a liturgical language provided a formal literary base.

At the same time, the native Russian vernacular was used for practical tasks. People wrote decrees, laws, and military tales in the vernacular. They even used birch bark for personal letters between the 11th and 15th centuries.

One of the oldest surviving manuscripts is the Novgorod Codex, written around the year 1000. Another significant early text is the Ostromir Gospels, dated to 1056–1057. These works show how religious and practical writing began to coexist.

During the Middle Ages, literature had a very strong religious character. Hagiographies, which are stories about the lives of saints, became a popular genre. Nestor the Chronicler was a notable figure who wrote about the lives of Boris and Gleb. Historical chronicles were also vital, with the Primary Chronicle being the oldest major example. These chronicles were often anonymous and served to record important historical events. By the 16th century, literature helped reflect the political centralization of the country. Texts like the Domostroy established rules for family life, while others justified the actions of the tsar.

The 19th century is often called the "Golden Age" of Russian literature.

This era saw an incredible flowering of poetry, prose, and drama. The Romantic movement helped bring many talented authors to the forefront. Vasily Zhukovsky and Alexander Pushkin were key figures in this period. Later, Mikhail Lermontov became a highly important poet and novelist. This era also produced world-renowned authors like Fyodor Dostoevsky and Leo Tolstoy.

Writers like Ivan Turgenev and Nikolai Gogol also mastered the art of the novel and short story.

The end of the 19th century ushered in the "Silver Age" of poetry. This period featured poets such as Alexander Blok, Anna Akhmatova, and Sergei Yesenin. It was a time of intense creativity that produced many famous novelists and short-story writers. Following the Russian Revolution of 1917, the literary world split into Soviet and white émigré parts. In the Soviet Union, Socialist realism became the dominant trend during the 1930s. Authors like Nikolay Ostrovsky helped establish this style. However, the state also implemented ideological censorship, which affected many writers.

Literature in the 20th century was shaped by intense political shifts. Some writers, such as Mikhail Bulgakov, faced criticism and struggled to find publishers. Others, like Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, gained Nobel Prizes for writing about the difficult realities of life in gulag camps. The Khrushchev Thaw later provided a brief period of cultural openness. This era eventually gave way to more restrictions in the 1970s. After the Soviet Union ended, the late 20th century was a complex time for writers.

Today, the 21st century sees a "new realism" emerging among a new generation of authors. Russia remains a global literary power, ranking as the fourth largest book producer in the world as of 2011.