This book examines the work of Rasputin, Aitmatov, Voynovich and Vladimov - four major writers who represent meny aspects of recent political and cultural developments in the USSR and demonstrate the diversity and richness of contemporary Russian writing. A full introductory chapter considers the most important trends in Russian literature today and places the four writers firmly in the context of the most recent developments, including glasnost. Many of the works discussed have been translated into English so that this excellent and fully up-to-date survey will be most welcome to students as well as the general reader.