Yuri Dombrovsky

Discovered Dombrovsky from the group Reading Globally. Just finished both Keeper of Antiquities and The Faculty of Useless Knowledge. Not quite as earthy or visceral as most novels dealing with the Great Purge but also not quite as surreal as Bulgakov (something pointed out in every single official review I've read). Personally I really enjoyed them and I'm a little sad he doesn't appear to be that well known.

I've got them (in Russian) and am looking forward to reading them; thanks for whetting my appetite!

I have ordered Dombrovsky from Powells. Thanks for sharing, always looking for a Russian author I haven't read.

I've now read and reviewed both:
http://languagehat.com/dombrovskys-keeper-of-antiquity/
http://languagehat.com/dombrovskys-useless-things/