Naming the social evil: the readers of Novyi mir and Vladimir Dudintsev’s Not by Bread Alone, 1956–59 and beyond

In 1956 Novyi mir, under the editorship of Konstantin Simonov, published the novel Not by Bread Alone by Vladimir Dmitrievich Dudintsev (1918-98).1 Except for historians and literary scholars, most young Russians would probably shrug their shoulders today when asked about this novel. Yet those who remember the years 1956-57 are likely to respond to your mention of the book with appreciation, and for good reason.