Sinyavski, Andrei Donatovich (1925-1997)

Russian literary critic and prose writer, in exile in France from 1973. His early works were published in the West under the pseudonym of Avram Tertz, and included two short novels, Liubimov and Sud idyot/The Trial Begins (1960), and a critique of socialist realism. Together with Yuli Daniel, he was tried in 1966 for anti-Soviet activities. His later writings include unconventional studies of major Russian writers.

A thinker who was committed to the undermining of ideology, accepted ideas, and any form of determinism, Sinyavski was sentenced to seven years' hard labour in 1966. His and Daniel's trial marked the end of the cultural thaw that had begun under Nikita Khrushchev. When Sinyavski was allowed to leave the USSR in 1973, he settled in Paris, teaching Russian literature at the Sorbonne and editing the influential journal Sintaksis. He published Progulki s Pushkinym/Strolls with Pushkin (1973), V teni Gogolia/In the Shade of Gogol (1975), and a volume of reflections from prison camp, Golos iz khora/Voice from the Choir (1976).

His later works include an essay ‘On the Literary Process in Russia’ (1974), and the novel Sokoynoy nochi!/Goodnight! (1984).