Old Believer saga of Danila Zaitseva won the main prize of the literary prize "NOS"

MOSCOW. As a result of heated debate and voting, the winner of the literary award "NOS-2015" was determined.

The main book of the NOS Prize this year was the 700-page autobiographical novel of Old Believer Danila Zaitsev, who has only four education classes. The output of such a voluminous work, written by a sound (phonetic) letter more familiar to the author, would not have been possible without the help of a dialectologist, candidate of philological sciences Olga Rovnova. The text she processed was brought into line with the spelling and punctuation standards of the modern Russian language and provided with detailed comments. The dialectic dialect, its charming archaism seemed to the jury and the readers who participated in the vote, that model of new literature, for the encouragement of which the literary prize "NOS" was created. The alternative and unanimous choice of the "Council of Elders", voiced by Kirill Kobrin, could not affect the obvious outcome of the vote almost from the very beginning. The book of Living Pictures by Polina Barskova, dedicated to the Leningrad blockade, turned out to be a favorite of the elders. Contrary to expectations, “Zuleikha” Yakhina did not enter the list of superfinalists. But she is not deprived of prizes this year. It is planned to be published abroad. Entered the superfinal, but could not resist the onslaught of the winner’s weighty volume, the wonderful story of the poet and screenwriter Tatyana Bogatyreva “The Mariana Trench”.

“The Tale and Life of Danila Terentyevich Zaitsev” is a fascinating epic, an open confession, telling about the exodus of Russian Old Believers to China after the revolution, moving to Latin America, an attempt to return their ancestors to their homeland, traditions, prohibitions and dreams. The winner, based in Uruguay, plans to continue to engage in literary activities. At the same time, he helps his son, a healer and an osteopath, in his successful career.

Sharing his impressions of his many trips around Russia, about the warmth and cordiality of ordinary people, Zaitsev sadly talks about how little is done to equip Russia and preserve its rich nature. About dissociation, high fences, fencing off each other, about officials who are not enough caring for their Fatherland, from which at any time you can expect oppression in business and life.

Elena Tanakova © Gallerix.ru