Literary Agency "Goumen&Smirnova"

Mikhail Weller (1948) is the most paradoxical figure in the contemporary Russian literary scene. Somehow he succeeded in what hardly seems possible – Weller crossed the divide between the commercial and intellectual writing. Critics pronounce him with confidence a representative of the "intellectual fiction" and “Grand Master of contemporary prose”, many consider him a literary heir of Sergey Dovlatov. At the same time, his books enjoy hundreds of editions with the total printrun of nearly 6 million copies.

The signature characteristics of Weller’s prose are Gogol-like paradoxical narrative, surgical laconic style and a clear-perfect technique. In his prose an unpretentious story flies high to a symbolical sound within a moment, while a phantasmagoria turns into a kitchen-drama by the bottom of a page. Dipping his pen into a gall, Weller as a storyteller is bold, his straightforwardness nearly borders on insult. His writing is both amusing and profoundly philosophic.

Mikhail Weller was born in Siberia in 1948. In 1972 he graduated with a degree in linguistics from Leningrad University. He worked as a children's summer camp counselor, hunter in Taymyr, shepherd in the Altai Mountains, woodchuck, a museum worker, a journalist, a teacher – a total of approximately 30 professions.

Weller's first book, a selection of short stories I Want To Be A Yard-Sweeper, was published in Estonia in 1983. After the relaxing of the censorship since the Glasnost time he published his books Heart Breaker (1988), Technology of a Short Story (1989), Rendezvous with a Celebrity (1990). Adventures of Major Zvyagin (1991) and The Legends of Nevsky Prospect (1993), which critics called "the funniest book of the last seven years", became bestsellers. His book Everything about Life is claimed to be nothing less than a new system of philosophy, developed by an easy, down-to-earth language. His mini-novel The Knife of Seryozha Dovlatov caused a literary scandal. The latest bestseller, Courier from Pisa (2000) had 11 editions. His book The Babylon was nominated for the National Bestseller prize 2005.

Weller lectured on modern Russian prose in universities of Milan, Jerusalem and Copenhagen. Mikhail Weller shares his time between Moscow and Tallinn.

Praise for the author:

«Some Weller from Tallinn has stormed over here».
Sergey Dovlatov

«These stories are written by a storyteller of genius».
Vremya

«Students nowadays in their carousals drink to Salinger first, and then – to Weller. It seems that Weller has won».
Smena

«Here is a Grand Master of modern prose playing with you, the subtlest intellectual Mikhail Weller».
Moscow News

«He is called to be the heir of both Zoschenko and Dovlatov. He is indeed a Grand Master of short story. His stories are entrancingly hilarious».
Kommersant

«Mikhail Weller is the most convincing author of his generation. He is perhaps the first individualist in the Russian literature».
Knizhnoe Obozrenie

«Weller challenges literary fashion by his seemingly simple style and his personal ideology».
Obschaya Gazeta

«He makes you both split your sides with laughter and cry bitterly».
Segodnya

«The best short prose written in Russian today».
Expert

«Weller managed with ease to cross the gap between literary and mass fiction. His writing is serious yet keeps you asking for more».
Rossijskaya Gazeta

«Mikhail Weller's name is a trademark that guarantees quality of prose, polished as a diamond and knife-sharp… There is no one who could write so free and volubly, so amusingly and sadly and at the same time spitefully».
Radio Kultura

ADVENTURES OF MAJOR ZVYAGIN (Prikliucheniya Mayora Zvyagina)
THE LEGENDS OF NEVSKY PROSPECT (Legendy Nevskogo prospekta)
ZERO O'CLOCK (Gonets iz Pizy. Nol’ chasov)
THE BABYLON (B. Vavilonskaia)

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		Weller, Mikhail Mikhail Weller (1948) is the most paradoxical figure in the contemporary Russian literary scene. Somehow he succeeded in what hardly seems possible – Weller crossed the divide between the commercial and intellectual writing. Critics pronounce him with confidence a representative of the "intellectual fiction" and “Grand Master of contemporary prose”, many consider him a literary heir of Sergey Dovlatov. At the same time, his books enjoy hundreds of editions with the total printrun of nearly 6 million copies. The signature characteristics of Weller’s prose are Gogol-like paradoxical narrative, surgical laconic style and a clear-perfect technique. In his prose an unpretentious story flies high to a symbolical sound within a moment, while a phantasmagoria turns into a kitchen-drama by the bottom of a page. Dipping his pen into a gall, Weller as a storyteller is bold, his straightforwardness nearly borders on insult. His writing is both amusing and profoundly philosophic. Mikhail Weller was born in Siberia in 1948. In 1972 he graduated with a degree in linguistics from Leningrad University. He worked as a children's summer camp counselor, hunter in Taymyr, shepherd in the Altai Mountains, woodchuck, a museum worker, a journalist, a teacher – a total of approximately 30 professions. Weller's first book, a selection of short stories I Want To Be A Yard-Sweeper, was published in Estonia in 1983. After the relaxing of the censorship since the Glasnost time he published his books Heart Breaker (1988), Technology of a Short Story (1989), Rendezvous with a Celebrity (1990). Adventures of Major Zvyagin (1991) and The Legends of Nevsky Prospect (1993), which critics called "the funniest book of the last seven years", became bestsellers. His book Everything about Life is claimed to be nothing less than a new system of philosophy, developed by an easy, down-to-earth language. His mini-novel The Knife of Seryozha Dovlatov caused a literary scandal. The latest bestseller, Courier from Pisa (2000) had 11 editions. His book The Babylon was nominated for the National Bestseller prize 2005. Weller lectured on modern Russian prose in universities of Milan, Jerusalem and Copenhagen. Mikhail Weller shares his time between Moscow and Tallinn. Praise for the author: «Some Weller from Tallinn has stormed over here». Sergey Dovlatov «These stories are written by a storyteller of genius». Vremya «Students nowadays in their carousals drink to Salinger first, and then – to Weller. It seems that Weller has won». Smena «Here is a Grand Master of modern prose playing with you, the subtlest intellectual Mikhail Weller». Moscow News «He is called to be the heir of both Zoschenko and Dovlatov. He is indeed a Grand Master of short story. His stories are entrancingly hilarious». Kommersant «Mikhail Weller is the most convincing author of his generation. He is perhaps the first individualist in the Russian literature». Knizhnoe Obozrenie «Weller challenges literary fashion by his seemingly simple style and his personal ideology». Obschaya Gazeta «He makes you both split your sides with laughter and cry bitterly». Segodnya «The best short prose written in Russian today». Expert «Weller managed with ease to cross the gap between literary and mass fiction. His writing is serious yet keeps you asking for more». Rossijskaya Gazeta «Mikhail Weller's name is a trademark that guarantees quality of prose, polished as a diamond and knife-sharp… There is no one who could write so free and volubly, so amusingly and sadly and at the same time spitefully». Radio Kultura
		ADVENTURES OF MAJOR ZVYAGIN (Prikliucheniya Mayora Zvyagina) THE LEGENDS OF NEVSKY PROSPECT (Legendy Nevskogo prospekta) ZERO O'CLOCK (Gonets iz Pizy. Nol’ chasov) THE BABYLON (B. Vavilonskaia)

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