From Russian Shadows to Global Spotlights Translating Darya Dontsova’s Detective Novel, Вакантное место райской птички (The Empty Nest of a Bird of Paradise)

Abstract

Detective novels have been a popular genre for many years, captivating readers with suspenseful plots and complex characters. Classic characters like Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot continue to entertain people all around the world. Detective novels provide readers with the intrigue, immersion, and the thrill of a mystery full of twists that are less common in other genres. When Western readers think of Russian literature, the first titles that come to mind are the classics: Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky, and Chekhov; not detective novels, but a highly successful Russian literary genre that has shown special growth since the 1990s. This introductory essay begins by exploring the relevance of the Russian detective novel, then turns to an overview of a master of the genre, Darya Dontsova, before going over the process of translating a portion of The Empty Nest of a Bird of Paradise.