If You Want to Be Beautiful. An Encyclopedia of Desires. Evgeny Klyuev

Evgeny Klyuev is one of the most striking writers of contemporary Russian literature, a poet, philologist, laureate of prestigious literary awards, recipient of the Order of Honorary Dodo, a recognized expert in the literature of the absurd, and the author of a new—and the closest to the original text by Lewis Carroll—translation of "Alice in Wonderland".
Each of his new books is not only a joyful but also an exciting event: no one knows whether it will be poetry or prose, a work of fiction or a scholarly work. "The Encyclopedia of Desires" ("If You Want to Be Beautiful") combines all of the above! After all, the articles in this encyclopedia are poems, written with ease and virtuosity, while the explanations and notes to them, with their scientific nature and seriousness, will surprise and delight even the most serious readers. And, as is always the case with Klyuev, words and meanings flow into one another and become a linguistic game that readers of all ages are happy to join. And Polina Kalashnikova's wild, incredibly funny illustrations add even more absurdity to the encyclopedia.

Evgeny Klyuev on "The Encyclopedia of Desires":
Everything in the world is confusing, haven't you noticed? There is a wonderful fat person in the world who is simply dying to become thin! Or vice versa: there is a wonderful thin person living their life, who dreams of becoming mighty. Curly-haired people want to become bald, bald people—curly-haired... and we all need to help them somehow, of course.
This book helps you be able. It helps everyone become what they need, you see, what they alone need! Because everyone has the right to be whatever they like to be. Because the choice is enormous—and because each of us must make our own choice. In other words, if you want to be lucky... then let's learn a little song together!
That's all there is to it.

Author: Klyuev Evgeny Vasilyevich
Illustrator: Kalashnikova Polina
Editor: Stern Anna
Publisher: Samokat
ISBN: 978-5-91759-975-5
Pages: 96 (Offset)
Design
Weight: 480 g
Dimensions: 258x207x12 mm