Can You Be an Ethical Russophile?
In his new memoir, Emmanuel Carrère wonders if he can both oppose the war in Ukraine and love Russia.
The war raging between Russia and Ukraine has brought Russian cultural influence under scrutiny. Russian authors, monuments, and even entire book festivals have been targeted. This situation led to a French writer named Emmanuel Carrère to pen a memoir titled 'Kolkhoz', which delves into his family's history and Russia's complex relationship with Ukraine.
Carrère's own family, originally aristocratic 'White Russians', were exiled to Italy after the Russian Revolution but returned to Russia post-Soviet collapse, believing they would regain their former status. The memoir, written with a discerning eye, examines the resilience and sometimes blind loyalty of his ancestors, while also critiquing the current Russian regime.
Despite the fraught topic, Carrère sees this personal exploration as a way to reconcile his love for Russia with his opposition to the ongoing conflict.
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