Remembering Andrei Bitov (1937 – 2018)

Andrei Bitov

The PEN community mourns the loss of Russian writer Andrei Bitov, who passed away on 3 December 2018 at the age of 82. Co- founder of the Russian PEN Centre and Vice-President of PEN International, Andrei Bitov was one of the greatest postmodernist Russian writers of the 20th century.

‘Andrei Bitov was an important voice in contemporary Russian literature. He, like many other Russian writers, defended PEN’s core values. His creativity defied conventions and enriched us all’ said Jennifer Clement, President of PEN International.

Born in Leningrad (St. Petersburg) on 27 May 1937, Andrei Bitov wrote that his first memory was of the siege of the city in 1941, when he was just four years old. He started writing in 1956 and his first collection of short stories, The Big Balloon, was published in 1963. He became a member of the Soviet Writers Union in 1965 and worked as a screenwriter in the 1970s.

His acclaimed novel Pushkin House, originally published in Russian by a US publishing house in 1978, is considered one of the first postmodern novels and provides a deep insight into Russian life and history. His contribution to underground magazine Metropol, a collection of poetry, fiction, nonfiction and songs compiled in Moscow in 1979, made him a target of the authorities and his works were subsequently banned and censored.  ‘When I was just becoming a serious writer, official censure was the highest form of praise.’ He co-founded Russian PEN in 1988, becoming its president in 1991, and was elected Vice-President of PEN International in 2003.

‘I met Andrei Bitov at the PEN International Congress in Moscow in 2000, when he welcomed writers from around the world. He was president of Russian PEN at a crucial time: during Congress, Russian writers and delegates the world over condemned the crimes committed in Chechnya, and denounced attacks against journalists that have marred Russia under Vladimir Putin since the very beginning. His determination and literary prowess will be greatly missed.’ said Carles Torner, Executive Director of PEN International.

The recipient of numerous awards, Andrei Bitov was a prolific and unique writer whose work was translated into scores of languages. His books Lessons of Armenia, published in 1969 and A Georgian Album, published in 1985 provide a fascinating account of his journeys through the Caucasus and understanding of different cultures. He cherished The Empire in Four Dimensions a collection of his impressions and observations from 1960 to 1993, published in 2002.

The PEN community offers its deepest condolences to Andrei Bitov’s loved ones and family. He will be sorely missed.