Say Cheese!

novel by Aksyonov

Also known as: “Skazhi izyum”

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July 13, 2026

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"Say Cheese!" is a novel by Vasily Aksyonov, a prominent Russian writer known for his works that captured the spirit of Soviet youth after World War II. The novel offers an irreverent portrayal of Moscow's intellectual circles during the final years of Leonid Brezhnev's leadership. Aksyonov's writing often featured fast-paced narratives, youthful rebels, and characters drawn to Western culture, while also incorporating elements of fantasy and satire in his later works. His independent spirit led to conflict with Soviet authorities, and he was eventually forced into exile before his citizenship was restored.1

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Vasily Aksyonov
Another, Skazhi izyum (1985; Say Cheese!), is an irreverent portrait of Moscow’s intellectual community during the last years of Leonid Brezhnev’s leadership. Pokolenie zimy (1994; Generations of Winter) chronicles the fate of a family of intellectuals at the hands of the Soviet regime during the period of Joseph Stalin’s…
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Another, Skazhi izyum (1985; Say Cheese!), is an irreverent portrait of Moscow’s intellectual community during the last years of Leonid Brezhnev’s leadership. Pokolenie zimy (1994; Generations of Winter) chronicles the fate of a family of intellectuals at the hands of the Soviet regime during the period of Joseph Stalin’s…
Read More