Introduction, Imagining social transformation in Russia: the revolutionary grotesque. History in a grotesque key ; Social instability and literary indeterminacy ; Public discourse and revolution ; Reading the revolutionary grotesque and reading revolution
The legacy of Peter I: the limits of reason. The creation of a rational state ; On the condition of this world: to the sun ; Relative rationalism
The epoch of the great reforms: laying down the law. From arbitrariness to law ; N.S. Leskov's Laughter and grief ; N.D. Khvoshchinskai͡a's The first battle ; Arbitrary law
After October 1917: revolution in consciousness. From necessity to freedom ; E.I. Zami͡atin's "Comrade Churygin has the floor" ; A. Platonov's The foundation pit ; Mystifying enlightenment
Russia at the end of history? From totalitarianism to democracy ; T. Kibirov's About certain aspects of the present sociocultural situation ; Totalitarian democracy
Conclusion, An end to the Russian tradition of social transformation and the revolutionary grotesque?
Appendix A: On the condition of this world: to the sun, text and translation
Appendix B: Timur Kibirov, To Serezha Gandlevsky: about certain aspects of the present sociocultural situation, text and translation.
