Haunted Empire: Power, Trauma, & the Uncanny in Russian Imperial Gothic Literature

The Slavic Connexion

On this episode, Valeria Sobol of the University of Illinois Urbana Champaigne talks with us about her 2000 book "Haunted Empire." Dr. Sobol guides us through the tapestries of Imperial Russia, where crumbling estates and eerie figures cast long shadows over the pages of history. Drawing on her meticulous research and profound insights, she unveils the intricate interplay between Gothic motifs and the imperial legacy, offering a captivating exploration of power, trauma, and the uncanny in Russian literature.

ABOUT THE GUEST
Valeria Sobol is Professor of Slavic Languages and Literatures at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. She is the author of Febris Erotica and a coeditor of Interpreting Emotions in Russia and Eastern Europe. Check out her book Haunted Empire on the Cornell Press website: https://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501770104/haunted-empire/#bookTabs=2.

PRODUCER'S NOTE: This episode was recorded on December 15, 2023 via Zoom.

If you have questions, comments, or would like to be a guest on the show, please email [e-mail] and we will be in touch!

PRODUCTION CREDITS
Host/Assistant Producer: Eliza Fisher
Host/Editorial Director: Sam Parrish
Assistant EP: Misha Simanovskyy (@MSimanovskyy)
Associate Producer: Cullan Bendig (@cullanwithana)
Associate Producer: Sergio Glajar
Assistant Producer: Taylor Helmcamp
Assistant Producer/Videographer: Basil Fedun
Social Media Manager: Faith VanVleet
Supervising Producer: Nicholas Pierce

Main Theme by Charlie Harper and additional background music by Audiorezout, Beat Mekanik, Damiano Baldoni, Alex Productions)

Executive Producer & Creator: Michelle Daniel (@M_S_Daniel) www.msdaniel.com

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Special Guest: Valeria Sobol.