The Cultural Memory of Besieged Leningrad: Polina Barskova in Conversation with Susan Larsen

Focussing primarily on her books ‘Written in the Dark’ and ‘Living Pictures’, poet Polina Barskova will explore the construction of siege narratives both in situ and in retrospect, as well as the discoveries and missing pieces in archives, literature as witness and resistance during times of trauma, and cultural memory as a monument.

Barskova has published thirteen poetry collections and three books of prose in her native Russia. Four books of her poetry have been translated into English. She has also authored the monograph ‘Besieged Leningrad: Aesthetic Responses to Urban Disaster’ and several volumes on the culture of the siege.

Tonight’s event will see her in conversation with Dr Susan Larsen.