Andrei Ivanov (1971) is an Estonian writer writing in Russian – a definition that Ivanov himself may take issue with, because he does not identify (as a writer) with any particular culture (as Ivanov has lived in Denmark for an extended period of time and has repeatedly written about it in his novels, he could just as easily be called a Danish author). Instead, it is an aesthetic platform that interests Ivanov. His works may not offer mad drama or thrilling adventures, but there is no doubt about the beauty of his writing, mixing a baroque style with an illusion-free, almost naturalistic voice. If one was to highlight anything from Ivanov’s rich oeuvre, it is perhaps Харбинские мотыльки, which won the prestigious literary prize NOS in Russia and was also shortlisted for the Russian Booker Prize. In this novel, Ivanov delves into the interwar history of Estonia, more specifically, the life of the local Russian intelligentsia. Andrei Ivanov will talk about his work with literary scholar Grigori Utgof.