Same River, Twice

Blending the journalistic rigor of Masha Gessen with the call to action of We Should All Be Feminists, a startling denunciation of Vladimir Putin''s war on women that reveals how modern Russia''s history of weaponizing sexual violence against women is part of the Russian leader''s strategy to retain political influence and domination. On March 22, 2023, the Swedish Academy organized a conference on threats to freedom of expression and democracy, featuring a roster of stellar speakers, including Arundhati Roy, Timothy Snyder, and Sofi Oksanen. Oksanen''s address--"Putin''s War on Women"--generated such interest that the acclaimed Finnish writer used it as the basis for a larger, in-depth look at Putin''s threat to women. The result is Same River Twice , a devastating expose that builds on the themes and arguments introduced in Oksanen''s urgent and incisive speech. During the Soviet occupation of Estonia, Oksanen''s great aunt was arrested and brutally interrogated--a terrifying experience that permanently traumatized her, leaving her silent for the rest of her life. Same River Twice uses this family story to illustrate the systematic crimes perpetrated by Russian soldiers and the Russian government for nearly a century. From the Russian military''s entry into Berlin in 1945 to its modern invasion of Ukraine, Russia has continually employed violence against women when fighting its enemies--including using rape as instrument of war. But as Oksanen reveals, such violence has never before been used on such a widespread scale. Life for women in Putin''s Russia is little better; gender equality is in decline, women are silenced by the legal system, and rape is used to humiliate victims, especially women in media. Oksanen''s sober analysis exposes how, under Putin, genocide and misogyny are inextricably linked: misogyny undergirds Russia''s international alliances, threatening the rights of women and minorities worldwide. As Oksanen ominously reminds us, "In Ukraine, sexual violence is an integral part of genocide. In domestic politics, misogyny is a tool used by the Kremlin to prevent women from rising to power. In international politics, it is a tool of Russian imperialism." As the threats to democracy grow stronger around the globe, this powerful and timely book is a warning that must not be ignored. Translated from the Finnish by Owen F. Witesman ...

Auteur

Finnish Estonian novelist, librettist, and playwright Sofi Oksanen is one of the most awarded literary authors of northern Europe. Her books have been translated into more than forty-six languages and sold over two million copies. Called a “literary phenomenon” by the Times (London), Oksanen has, since making her international breakthrough with Purge, continued to weave historical and contemporary issues into her work through increasingly imaginative and affecting ways. Her most recent work is Same River, Twice: Putin’s War on Women. She currently resides in Helsinki.

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“In Same River, Twice, one of Europe's leading novelists uses her personal experience to shed light on the personal experiences of others: ordinary women trapped in the crossfire of a great geopolitical game.” —Benjamin Moser, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Sontag: Her Life and Work

“It’s one of those books that can truly change a reader's life. . . . A powerful, unforgettable read.” —Andrey Kurkov, award-winning author of Grey Bees and The Silver Bone

Blending the journalistic rigor of Masha Gessen with the call to action of We Should All Be Feminists, a searing denunciation of Putin’s Russia, revealing how modern Russia’s history of weaponizing sexual violence against women plays a crucial role in its current strategy to retain political influence and dominance abroad

On March 22, 2023, the Swedish Academy organized a conference on threats to democracy and freedom of expression featuring a slate of distinguished speakers including Arundhati Roy, Timothy Snyder, and Sofi Oksanen. Oksanen’s address—entitled “Putin's War on Women”— would go on to spark such interest that the acclaimed Finnish writer felt compelled to return to it as the basis for a larger, more in-depth look at Putin’s threat to women. The result is Same River, Twice, a devastating book-length essay that incisively builds on the themes and arguments first presented in her powerful speech.

During the Soviet occupation of Estonia, Oksanen's great-aunt was arrested and brutally interrogated overnight. Left permanently traumatized by the experience, she would never speak again. Using her family story as a starting point, Oksanen launches an investigation into the systematic crimes that the Russian government has, for nearly a century, committed with impunity. From the Russian military's entry into Berlin in 1945 to its modern invasion of Ukraine, Russia has continually employed violence against women when combatting its enemies. Life for women in Putin's Russia is little better; gender equality is in decline, women are silenced by the legal system, and rape is used to humiliate victims, especially women in media.

Through Oksanen's sober analysis a disturbing picture emerges: under Putin, misogyny has become foundational to the state’s power. It underpins the current regime, serves as a means of weaving international alliances, and forms an essential part of Russia’s ongoing genocide in Ukraine, in turn posing a threat to the rights of women and minorities worldwide. As threats to democracy grow stronger across the globe, the powerful and timely Same River, Twice is a warning that cannot not be ignored.

Translated from the Finnish by Owen F. Witesman