Point of Attraction. Conversations with Ellen Hynsy

Thomas Venclova (b. 1937) — Lithuanian poet, essayist, philologist, and translator, professor emeritus of Slavic languages and literatures at Yale University, whose books have been translated into many languages and hold an important place in contemporary culture. The first Lithuanian dissident who personally knew Akhmatova, Pasternak, Miłosz, Brodsky, and many others, he was one of the five founding members of the Lithuanian Helsinki Group, one of the first human rights organizations in Eastern Europe. Before us is his extensive interview, where historical events intertwine with chronicles of spiritual resistance, a detailed account of the fate and ethical choices of a writer in the twentieth century.
Ellen Hynsy (b. 1960) — independent researcher, specialist in contemporary European history, author of several books on historical memory, the mental legacy of totalitarianism, and the anthropology of violence. Born and raised in the USA, she has lived in Europe for the last three decades and teaches in Paris.
Translated from English by Anna Gerasimova. The book is distinguished from the English, German, and Lithuanian editions by a detailed commentary compiled by the translator with the participation of T. Venclova.