New books about the beginning of Rus' Why was the Soviet Union forbade to write that the Scandinavians stood at the origins of the first states of the Eastern Slavs, and did this statehood have Latin roots? In the next review of new books on Russian history, Dmitry Stakhov talks about two works: “Normans and Kievan Rus” by Andrei Amalrik (in 1963 he was excluded because of her from Moscow State University) and “In search of initial Rus'.

From the book “Venice. History of water and land" British poet, writer, and children's book author Helen Dunmore was posthumously awarded the Costa Literary Prize. According to the award website, Helen Dunmore’s collection of poems “Inside the Wave” was recognized as the best book of 2017. The poetess wrote it in the last weeks of her life.

From the book “Venice. History of water and land" Famous Israeli poet, writer, journalist and director Haim Guri has died at the age of 94, The Jerusalem Post reports . During his life, Guri published 10 short stories, 12 books of poetry, as well as collections of reports, essays and translations of French literature. The author's legacy, according to Israeli Minister of Culture and Sports Miri Regev, "is imprinted in the hearts and souls of the Israeli people."

Five examples of the ban on humorous works The media and social networks continue to discuss the ban on the rental of the comedy “Death of Stalin” . Gorky decided to recall how different governments at different times tried to ban humorous works. George Orwell "Castard" (1945) The fairy tale about the animals that the farmer drove out began to build their bestial republic, and as a result, they rolled down to the dictatorship of pigs, led by Bogar Napoleon.

From the book “Venice. History of water and land" The Presidential Library in St. Petersburg will digitize texts published in Europe and China in 1920-1930. Emigrant publications and memoirs of leaders of the White Guard movement will be transferred to the library from the funds of the State Archive of the Russian Federation. After digitization, all materials will be available to readers - they will be included in thematic collections, according to the library’s website .