A collection of the best stories by the most prominent representative of Russian prose from the generation that replaced Pelevin, Limonov and Sorokin. Heir to all world literature, he joins the series begun by Joyce and completed by Heller. “Self-Portrait of the Artist” by Lorchenkov is a book by a writer at the peak of his form. Thirty-eight stories—from “Childhood” to “Maturity”—guide the reader through the labyrinth of the master’s life. Where? Perhaps to a dead end, from where the artist, turning around, will look at us with the drunken and arrogant eyes of Rembrandt. The same one whose Saskia is still alive, and whose house has not been sold for debts. One who has learned his own power, but whose best films - although it would seem much better - have not yet been written. Warning: the book contains strong language and may be rated NC-17 by the Motion Picture Association of America.