About the book: 2014 / The collection of essays by the famous St. Petersburg critic includes literary and film studies essays from the last 20 years. A unique chronicle of the cultural life of Russia and St. Petersburg, combined with witty excursions into the field of history. Observation, paradox, and irony are the trademark of a critic. Nabokov and Hitchcock, Radek, Pasternak and others are the heroes of his observations.