Issue #31

Abstract: The theme of happiness is one of the constants of Andrei Platonov’s minor work. He reflects on it perpetually, turning it from positive to negative, and eventually concluding his ‘quest for truth’ in the idea of the world’s and human existence’ integral complexity, where happiness is interwoven with grief, emotions fuel the intensity of thought, individual life merges with the great stream of all-human fate, and romantic drive towards the unknown and uncommon comes into harmony with the deep, compassionate and accepting insight in the eternal and unchangeable nature of being.