Martin C. Putna, a literary historian, critic, and author of works on history and religion, will present his book Rus-Ukraine-Russia – an essential reading for those wishing to understand the current state of Russia and Ukraine.

Examining key points in Russian cultural and spiritual history, the book Rus–Ukraine–Russia (2018) presents Russia as a complex mesh of national, religious, and cultural (especially countercultural) traditions—with strong German, Mongol, Jewish, Catholic, Polish, and Lithuanian influences—a force responsible for creating what we identify as Eastern Europe.

An outspoken opponent of pro-Russian, authoritarian, and far-right streams in contemporary Czech society, Martin C. Putna received a great deal of media attention when he ironically dedicated the Czech edition of Rus–Ukraine–Russia to Milos Zeman—the pro-Russian president of the Czech Republic. This sense of irony, combined with an extraordinary breadth of scholarly knowledge, infuses Putna’s book.

Martin C. Putna is a literary historian, critic, translator, teacher, and author of works on history and religion. Former Head of Knihovna Vaclava Havla in Prague, Putna is currently Professor of Social and Cultural Anthropology at Charles University in Prague. His many books include Václav Havel. A Spiritual Portrait in the Context of Twentieth-Century Czech Culture (2011), which explores religious influences on Havel’s thought. The book won the Tom Stoppard Prize.

Free and open to the public. Suggested donation $10. Seats are on first-come first-served basis. RSVP through Eventbrite is required.

This event is organized by Vaclav Havel Library Foundation in partnership with the Czech Center New Yorkand with support of Bohemian Benevolent and Literary Association.