Institut Ramon LLull

This is not an ‘instant book’ nor is it a political treatise; it is a personal work that grew out of a rigorous journalist’s fascination with Russia and a zeal for the impossible task of deciphering this captivating land. For years Manel Alías has traveled through Russia’s landscape, gathering stories that surpass current events to reveal a deeper engagement. The result is this series of chronicles that shed light on geopolitical oscillations through everyday gestures, chronicles that share the thrill of a frozen vista or a rebel symphony, chronicles capable of drawing silent to bear witness.

An astonished five-year-old girl who observes the landing of Yuri Gagarin while planting potatoes with her grandmother; the “radioactive” DJ who used his music to make the Chernobyl liquidators forget their imminent death; the eccentric daily life at the Soviet composers’ building… History, literature, politics, tradition, conflicts, and distinctive beauty. A multi-faceted portrait set on the world’s largest stage.