1991-2020 Il romanzo russo della contemporaneità

This chapter examines the evolution of the Russian novel from the fall of the Soviet Union to the present day. Key points include: the profound changes in the Russian literary landscape following the collapse of the USSR, including the emergence of previously banned works and underground literature; the role of postmodernism in redefining literary boundaries and driving literary transformations in Russia; the new, diverse forms taken by the novel in the new millennium, with a focus on fantasy and magical realism as tools for reinterpreting history; an overview of major contemporary Russian novelists and their works, highlighting how they blend elements of fantasy, alternative history, and documentary to grapple with Russia's complex past and present; the centrality of historical reexamination and identity exploration in contemporary Russian fiction, often using fantastical or magical elements to process collective trauma and reimagine national narratives; the emergence of hybrid forms combining fiction and non-fiction, as writers seek new ways to engage with memory and history. The chapter argues that the Russian novel continues to evolve in response to societal changes, with many authors using fantastical elements and experimental forms to revisit and reinterpret Russia's turbulent history. This trend reflects an ongoing effort to make sense of the nation's past and forge new identities in the post-Soviet era