The characters in Novikov’s work are predominantly people of the Russian North: Pomors, Karelians and Komi. In 2013 Novikov, along with other Karelian writers, proclaimed the Manifesto on a New Northern Prose, the mission of which Novikov described as: “Though these are trying times for Russian literature, there is light, there is hope that it will retain its key underlying principles of honesty, faith, beauty. How great it is that these principles fully fit with and correspond to the old and new, living, and strong direction of Russia’s Northern Prose!”
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The protagonist of A Flame Out at Sea heads to the shores of the northern lakes and the White Sea in search of its present, which unexpectedly proves to be inseparable from its recent past. Against the backdrop of the powerful northern elements, the drama of a single individual in the here and now begins to seem tiny and insignificant but the tragedy of the nation irredeemably large. “The novel is a confession, a travelogue and a doorway into a great historical era.”
“A Flame Out at Sea is about going beyond the boundaries of the big city, about overcoming the fetters of one’s private and family past, leaving aside one’s resentment, squashing one’s pride, unclenching one’s fists and turning one’s life around. It is about a journey to the origins of speech, personality, courage and love made by a modern man in the harsh, sacred, nourishing and draining circumstances of the Russian North.” Valeria Pustovaya, literary critic
Published with support of the Russian Booker Foundation. Sponsored by GLOBEXBANK.
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Author
The life of Dmitry Novikov (born 1966) has been one full of unexpected turns. He studied medicine at the University of Petrozavodsk, served in the Northern Fleet, worked as a hospital orderly and porter, and ran his own business. He made his debut as a writer of prose on the internet and was recognized by the online literary competition Art-Lito (2000). In Saint-Petersburg his first two story collections were published, The Karelian Isthmus Tango (2001) and A Fly in Amber (2003). His novel A Flame Out at Sea appeared in 2016; it was recognized by a number of literary prizes, including the Russian Booker (2017). His books have been translated into English, Norwegian, Finnish and Armenian.
Novikov currently lives near Petrozavodsk in a homestead that he built himself, amidst the beautiful Karelian nature, where his nearest neighbors are swans and bears. At present he is writing a new book and often plays host to creative figures from around the world. “Living on the border between civilization and the untamed forest is a wonderful opportunity for full-on happiness that the internet era gives us.”
Endorsements and Review Quotes
“The narration oscillates between the epic, the mystical, and the historiographical, with affecting descriptions of northern nature that read like exquisitely crafted prose poems. For an American reader, a parallel would be Jack London’s stories and novels of the Great North, but refracted through a kaleidoscopic lens that gives the environments described, as well as their inhabitants, an otherworldly and even supernatural dimension.” Richard Tempest, The Los Angeles Review of Books
“The peaceful, isolated life on the lakes and in the forests is in stark contrast to the cruelty to which the Russian North has so often been witness. The book is slow, measured and contemplative, and I found reading it an immersive experience.” Mandy Jenkinson, Historical Novel Society
“A Flame out at Sea is variously seen as a confessional novel, a historical novel and even as a travelogue. It is probably more profitable to see it as an amalgam of all three, and more besides, just as Karelia is, and always has been, a fascinating ethnic, linguistic and cultural mix. Those whose knowledge of the place is restricted to Sibelius’ music will find that knowledge considerably expanded by this very unusual and interesting novel.” Michael Pursglove, East-West Review
“The book is a beautiful love letter to the Russian North, to the White Sea, to the salmon, to the Pomor way of life. Dmitry Novikov’s prose is gentle and soft and contemplative and his descriptions are beautiful and haunting and are such a pleasure to read.” Vishy’s Blog
Chris Moscow –
Though not particularly plot-driven, Novikov’s book is a thoroughly entertaining and enlightening exploration of the White Sea environment and it’s surrounds. Though at times a bit sentimental as he explores his experiences of the area, the book is an homage to an area little known to non-Russians. It particularly appealed to me as a person who likes exploring the relatively unknown areas of the natural world.
This does not mean that the book is simply a travelogue, however; you get exposure to the people who live here, his relationships with them, their history and their legends. Given the nature of the climate, this is exciting reading.
A worthwhile and thoroughly engaging book.