You Have to Ask Questions: Svetlana Alexievich, Unlocked
This week, we’ve unlocked “Voices from Chernobyl” from the archive.
In 1986, the nuclear disaster at Chernobyl unfolded, and Svetlana Alexievich captured the voices of those affected by the catastrophe through oral history interviews. In her book "Voices from Chernobyl," published in the Paris Review's Winter 2004 issue, Alexievich discusses the importance of asking questions and unearthing the truth from recorded testimonies.
She emphasizes the necessity of crafting nonfiction narratives that reflect the perspectives shared by the people she spoke with, rather than merely presenting a selection of their stories. Interviewed by Elena Kostyuchenko, who previously worked for the Russian independent newspaper Novaya gazeta, Alexievich explains that sometimes she combines elements of different accounts to avoid identifying individual subjects, maintaining the integrity of her nonfiction work.
Written by urgent.news from The Paris Review's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
