| This dissertation, "Russian and Argentine Literary Exchanges," examines the literary dialogue between Russia and Argentina in the twentieth century. It questions the Eurocentric models of literary distribution and canon formation by showing that throughout the twentieth century, the literary dialogue between these two countries, located at the peripheries of the Western "cultural meridian," consistently circumvented European cultural headquarters. The first two chapters of the dissertation explore the reception of Russian literature in Argentina: while Chapter 1 traces the influence of Fyodor Dostoevsky on Roberto Arlt, Chapter 2 analyzes Borges' volatile relationship with Russian and Soviet culture. The last two chapters are devoted, conversely, to the reception of Argentine literature in Russia: Chapter 3 explores Russia's imaginary map of Argentina within the wider cultural and geopolitical context of Latin America, and Chapter 4 focuses on Borges' influence on Russian post-Soviet culture, with special reference to Victor Pelevin. |
