Vonnegut in the USSR

An Evening with Sarah D. Phillips

Author of Kurt Vonnegut in the USSR

Why, at the height of the Cold War, was Kurt Vonnegut freely published, and widely celebrated, in the Soviet Union?

Join us for a fascinating evening with Indiana University professor and author Sarah D. Phillips, whose groundbreaking book uncovers a little-known chapter of Vonnegut’s global legacy: his unexpected popularity in the USSR during the 1970s.

Drawing on previously untouched archives, including manuscripts, letters, and FBI files, along with interviews with Soviet-era literary figures, Phillips explores:

• Why Vonnegut’s work resonated so deeply with Soviet readers

• How his writing navigated weathered censorship under the infamous “Red Pencil”

• Whether Vonnegut knew he had achieved cult status behind the Iron Curtain

• The remarkable relationship between Vonnegut and his Soviet Russian translator, Rita Rait, whose work introduced him to generations of SovietRussian readers

Special Exhibit Viewing
The evening will also include the opportunity to view a curated exhibit connected to Kurt Vonnegut in the USSR, offering rare context and visual material that brings this extraordinary literary exchange to life.

This program sits at the intersection of history, literature, and cultural diplomacy, and reveals how stories can cross borders even in times of deep political division.

Location: Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library
Date & Time: Friday April 10th at 6:30 PM