Demonology of geography

Abstract

The article examines the ‘geographical dimension’ of modern Russian prose, in particular, through a mythological, and even demonological, prism. The mythological-dimensional complex is especially prominent in the Urals-themed works by O. Slavnikova (2017 (2006)) and A. Ivanov (his 2-volume series Parma’s Heart, or Cherdyn – The Mountain Princess [Serdtse Parmy, ili Cherdyn – knyaginya gor] (2003) and The Gold of the Uprising, or Down the River Gorge [Zoloto bunta, ili Vniz po reke tesnin] (2005)). Not only do the novels promote a region-specific metaphorical and mystic flavor of theUral Mountains, but they also feature very active and authentic demons, thus creating a unique provincial topos, whose spiritual quality stands out especially in comparison with its callous and apathetic metropolitan counterpart. Mainly based in the spiritual opposition between the Urals and the capital city, the conflict in the novels by Slavnikova and Ivanov is resolved in a historical dimension, because the hitherto culturally unexploredRussia offers unlimited riches for literary and mythological constructs and their integration into fiction.