100 Diogenes authors
Kurkow, Andrej
Andrei Kurkov is a Ukrainian writer who was born in 1961 in the Leningrad Oblast and has lived in Kiev since his early childhood. Although he writes in Russian, he has a firm place in the Ukrainian literary scene and is known in German translation as Andrej Kurkow. Kurkov, who has worked in numerous professions, including prison guard and cameraman, speaks several languages and has been a member of the London PEN Club since 1988.
His works are characterized by a sharp, often ironic view of post-Soviet life. The stories are often surreal, but always maintain a loving seriousness towards their characters. His novels have been translated into many languages and his scripts for documentaries and feature films have earned him international acclaim.
In connection with the Euromaidan, Kurkov published excerpts from his diaries in which he expressed his critical stance towards Viktor Yanukovych, as well as Yulia Tymoshenko and Viktor Yushchenko. He took a clear stance against the Russian occupation of Ukraine and advocated a constitutional and corruption-free state. In Germany, he is often perceived as an "explainer of Ukraine" who sheds light on the country's complex relationship with Russia and Europe. Kurkov emphasized that the crisis in Ukraine is also a crisis for Russia, as Vladimir Putin fears the freedom movement, which could also gain importance in Russia.
After the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine in 2022, Kurkov spoke out in various media about the profound impact of the war on the country and its people. In his book "Diary of an Invasion", he gives a vivid account of the events of the war and reflects on the political and civilizational catastrophe. He was awarded the Geschwister Scholl Prize 2022 for this work.
Kurkov also wrote historical crime novels set in the period after the February Revolution and the fall of the Russian monarchy. He found the inspiration for these works in original secret service files given to him by a reader. The mixture of historical facts and his unique narrative style makes Kurkov's works important literary contributions that shed light on both the past and present of Ukraine.