Evgenia Nekrasova
writer, screenwriter, poet
writer, poet
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Katya and Kikimora
original title: Калечина-Малечина
A debut novel on abuse, bullying, and a childhood spent on the outskirts of a sprawling metropolis, by one of the pioneers of the new Russian writing, Evgenia Nekrasova.
Katya is a lonely child. Bullied at school and unloved at home, she seeks solace in an imaginary world only she can access. When a conflict with a school teacher erupts, and transfer to a special needs facility seems inevitable, Katya, pushed to the edge, decides to take her own life. She is rescued by a magical creature that emerges from behind the cooking stove. At once maternal, bestial and infantile, the creature become Katya’s ally and in its company, Katya discovers her own strength and finally finds an escape from her dreary life.
One of the pioneers of the new Russian writing, Nekrasova works with Slavic mythology placing it in the context of mundane contemporary Russian reality. With a seemingly innocent and playful style, she creates with Katya and Kikimora a novel that may appear to tell a simple childhood story, when in reality narrating the abandonment, violence and lack of love that mark contemporary Russian society.
Katya is a lonely child. Bullied at school and unloved at home, she seeks solace in an imaginary world only she can access. When a conflict with a school teacher erupts, and transfer to a special needs facility seems inevitable, Katya, pushed to the edge, decides to take her own life. She is rescued by a magical creature that emerges from behind the cooking stove. At once maternal, bestial and infantile, the creature become Katya’s ally and in its company, Katya discovers her own strength and finally finds an escape from her dreary life.
One of the pioneers of the new Russian writing, Nekrasova works with Slavic mythology placing it in the context of mundane contemporary Russian reality. With a seemingly innocent and playful style, she creates with Katya and Kikimora a novel that may appear to tell a simple childhood story, when in reality narrating the abandonment, violence and lack of love that mark contemporary Russian society.
Nekrasova’s main characters’ – note that they’re all female – blend inner strength and outer, even supernatural, forces that combine to lend them abilities that empower.
— Lisa C. Hayden, literary translator
Evgenia Nekrasova is a writer, screenwriter, poet and co-founder of the School of Modern literature practices (Moscow). Born in the Astrakhan region in 1985. Graduated from the Moscow School of New Cinema (2015). Author of the prose cycle "Unhappy Moscow" (2017, awarded by the Liceum prize for young authors), the novel "Kalechina-Malechina" (2018, short-listed for all major Russian literature awards), the collection of prose "Sistermom" (2019, short-listed for NOS award), the collection of short stories and poems "House love" (2021), the novel "Skin" (2021) which won the NOS/Wanderer award, and the recent collection of short stories and poems “Goldy” (2023).
Nekrasova writes about women in today's Russia. In her books she explores themes of corporeality, power, violence, magic and folklore. According to some critics, Nekrasova is the founder of "magical pessimism" in contemporary Russian literature. She is the co-curator of the prose laboratory at the School of Modern literature practices. Nekrasova is a producer of several young authors' anthologies. Some of her novels and short stories are staged in the main experimental theatres in Moscow and other cities. Her novel Kalechina-Malechina was translated into Italian and Latvian languages.
Nekrasova is a feminist. She is a great admirer of contemporary Russian feminist art. She has invited some of the most talented young female artists to work on her book covers. Nekrasova still resides in Moscow in spite of her out-loud anti-war position.
Nekrasova writes about women in today's Russia. In her books she explores themes of corporeality, power, violence, magic and folklore. According to some critics, Nekrasova is the founder of "magical pessimism" in contemporary Russian literature. She is the co-curator of the prose laboratory at the School of Modern literature practices. Nekrasova is a producer of several young authors' anthologies. Some of her novels and short stories are staged in the main experimental theatres in Moscow and other cities. Her novel Kalechina-Malechina was translated into Italian and Latvian languages.
Nekrasova is a feminist. She is a great admirer of contemporary Russian feminist art. She has invited some of the most talented young female artists to work on her book covers. Nekrasova still resides in Moscow in spite of her out-loud anti-war position.
Evgenia Nekrasova, 2023