This book systematically analyzes the intricate relationship between Russian writers and the Soviet society in which they lived and worked from 1917 to 1978. Ronald Hingley, a noted scholar of Russian literature, examines how the social and political structures of the USSR shaped the lives and literary output of its authors. The work explores the dual role of post-revolutionary Russian literature as both an influential force in the West and a tool for political discourse within the Soviet Union itself.

This book offers a systematic anatomy of Russian writers within their societal context, a valuable approach for understanding the interplay between literature and politics. Its focus on the period 1917-1978 provides a crucial lens through which to view the evolution of Soviet literary expression and its international reception. The work is likely to be of interest to scholars of Russian literature, history, and political science.