The author delves into the "Russian soul," using specific linguistic terms like avoska ("by-the-way" or "just-in-case" bags) to illustrate the country’s resilience and daily survival.
Olga Merino (born in Barcelona, 1965) is a journalist and novelist whose work often touches on themes of solitude and the past.
Beyond journalism, the memoir covers intimate topics such as fear, love, loneliness, and the search for identity in a decaying world. Biographical Context
She worked for El Periódico de Catalunya and La Voz de Asturias during her time in Moscow.
In addition to Cinco inviernos , she is highly acclaimed for her 2020 novel La forastera , which won the Real Academia Española prize. Availability and Format
Merino arrived shortly after the collapse of the Soviet Union, witnessing the rise of "wild capitalism," the assault on the Russian parliament, the war in Chechnya, and the 10th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster.
(2022), published by Alfaguara , is a non-fiction memoir by Spanish author Olga Merino that chronicles her five years as a correspondent in Moscow from 1993 to 1998 . This "intimate diary" serves as both a historical account of post-Soviet Russia and a personal journey of artistic and emotional development. Core Themes and Structure
The book is widely available for purchase at major retailers like Casa del Libro and Amazon . It can be found in several formats: Olga Merino - Agencia Literaria Carmen Balcells
