There was something about the idea of Russia that I found very intriguing, and I think I had romanticized it a lot. Anthony Marra findideaintrigue Change image and share on social
Ever since studying in Russia as a college student, I had been in a long-distance, one-sided love affair with Chechnya's remarkable history, culture and rugged natural beauty. Anthony Marra affairbeautychechnya Change image and share on social
I took a 19th-century Russian novel class in college and have been smitten with Russian literature ever since. Writers like Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky, Grossman, and Solzhenitsyn tackle the great questions of morality, politics, love, and death. Anthony Marra 19thcenturyclass share on social
No one reaches the Oval Office without a great deal of admiration for the institution - and himself - so it's unsurprising that sitting presidents favor the biographies of former presidents. Anthony Marra admirationbiographydeal Change image and share on social
Despite my best efforts, word that an American tourist was in town quickly made its way around Grozny. That I had come to Chechnya not for business or NGO work, but to see the sites and meet the people, was notable enough to be broadcast throughout the republic. Anthony Marra americanbroadcastbusiness share on social
I joined a writing class at a nearby community center, where I was the youngest participant by about 40 years. Once a week, I'd funnel down a staircase and join the dozen retirees crowded in folding chairs around a table to discuss one another's stories. Anthony Marra centerchairclass share on social
I quickly realized I live the least interesting literary life imaginable. My parents are happily married. There haven't been any major traumas. I'm not sure that the story of my life would be much fun to read. Anthony Marra funhappilyimaginable share on social
I stopped by Politics & Prose to sign a few copies of 'Constellation.' A couple days later, I learned that Barack Obama also stopped by and left with one of them. Anthony Marra barackconstellationcopy Change image and share on social
I didn't know a single person who had ever been there. I wasn't even sure how to spell Chechnya. Anthony Marra chechnyapersonsingle Change image and share on social
For the years I spent working on it, 'Constellation' was the only novel I knew how to write, so maybe I still abided by the maxim? Regardless, I prefer the maxim: Write what you want to know, rather than what you already know. Anthony Marra abideconstellationknow share on social
