Representation, Experiences of Survival, and the Politics of Suffering [Rev.on: “Ia znaiu, chto tak pisat’ nel’zya”. Fenomen blokadnogo dnevnika, sost. A. Yu. Pavlovskaya, nauch. red. N. A. Lomagin. St. Petersburg: European University at St. Petersburg Publ., 2022. 462 p.]

Abstract

The book under review, Ia znayu, chto tak pisat’ nel’zia, brings together some diaries from Prozhito archive, along with analyses and useful descriptions of each diary. The diaries are the core of this volume, by Aleksandr Bardovskii, Anisim Nikulin, Sofia Gutshabash, Nina Obukhova-Dukhovskaya, Berta Zlotnikova, Alexander Grishkevich, and Vladimir Tomilin. These diaries offer valuable insights similar to those gathered through ethnographic research. They can aid in historically informed social sciences and contribute to interpretations, representations, and empathy. However, it is important to note that first-hand accounts have limitations and should not substitute for rigorous methodologies and theoretical frameworks. Author also points the necessity of embedding the Blockade within broader contexts of war and survival. The Blockade in Leningrad is just one case among many others worldwide. By comparing these stories to experiences from different regions and wars, researchers can gain a deeper understanding of the Blockade’s significance. Exploring the Soviet experience of World War II in various cities, as well as experiences of war in different countries, can provide additional perspectives. Furthermore, examining instances of duress, such as the Irish famine or the siege of Sarajevo, can shed light on aspects of Blockade stories that might have been overlooked. This volume opens the door a bit on Prozhito, on the Blockade, and on issues of representation, experiences of survival, and the politics of suffering.