BEAUTY IN HELL: CULTURE IN THE GULAG

Further Information

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Beauty in Hell: Culture in the Gulag is based on the research of Dr Andrea Gullotta, Lecturer in Russian at the University of Glasgow. Further information about the Solovki Prison Camp and its literary production can be found in his book:

Further Reading

  • Robson R.R. (2004) Solovki: The Story of Russia Told Through Its Most Remarkable Islands. New Haven and London: Yale University Press.
    Roy Robson’s book provides an insightful history of the Solovki, from its first settlements in prehistoric times to the modern day, devoting significant space to the history of the monastery and of the prison camp.
  • Applebaum A. (2003) Gulag: A History. New York: Doubleday (chapter 2).
    Anne Applebaum’s important book recounts the history of Soviet camps, from their origins after the October Revolution to their end under Gorbachev. Chapter 2 is entirely devoted to the Solovki Prison Camp.
  • Kuziakina N. (1995), Theatre in the Solovki Prison Camp. Luxembourg: Harwood Academic Publishers.
    Natal’ia Kuziakina’s work is a well-documented and thorough reconstruction of the cultural history of the Solovki Prison Camp, and specifically of the theatre activities of the camp.

Films

  • Solovki - 1928 film recorded in the Solovki Camp by the Soviets as a propaganda tool depicting the camp as an ideal place for prisoners. (View via YouTube).
  • Solovki Power - documentary film by Marina Goldovskaia filmed in 1988, mainly made up of the voices of survivors of the camp (View via YouTube - Part 1; Part 2; Part 3). 
  • With much love and kisses - documentary film directed in 2006 by Anastasia Cherkasova displaying one of the ‘memory trips’ to the Solovki organised by the Memorial Foundation together with the relatives of the victims. (View via YouTube).
  • Solovki, la bibliothèque disparue - 2013 documentary film by the French director Olivier Rolin, who found the library of the Solovki Prison Camp which was believed to have been lost in 1939. (View via Vimeo). (In French).

Web