
Ludmilla Petrushevskaya
A couple of decades ago, I’d have felt it absurd if someone had talked about Russian women’s works hitting the bestsellers henceforth since Russia could be the most backward in accepting women’s writing as serious literature. Indeed now, with many women writers in vogue and subverting Russian writing trends, I think that Nikolai Gogol’s The Overcoat could no more exclusively enjoy the crowning. It struck me that the concrete Russian custom of touchstone works coming from male writers are fading when I stumbled upon Ludmilla Petrushevskaya’s The Black Coat— a strikingly dark scary story.
The story is from the collection There Once lived a Woman who tried to kill her Neighbour’s baby, each story hammers on uncanny emotions smacking with mysterious and spine-tingling experiences. Of 19 scary stories in the collection, I’m sharing with you my reading experience of the one that stirred me.

Ludmilla’s The Black Coat
Full of darkness, mystery, and horror, Ludmilla opens her story straight off with a girl (she’s known as ‘the girl’ throughout) suddenly waking up lost in woods wearing a bizarre black coat. The girl’s one- night short journey seems so nightmarish that one feels trapped— severely suffocating and choking. The girl moves, strides, runs but with the least idea of where to in pitch-darkness.
Revelation happens gradually but not until the girl is cast off, mentally too. She suddenly bumps into a strange woman wearing a black coat, just like her. Shockingly both their coat pockets have ten matchsticks each. Brief talk between the girl and woman, their matchsticks’ flame interrupting the darkness of the room around, is indeed spine-chilling! The woman narrates her story; they check on the scrap of paper each possesses, sharing its content; and when dying-last-flame licks their fingers, a vague realization arises around.
Before the girl could recollect and piece in things together the room around her vanishes. Dark veil finally falls off and she once again bangs with what blurrily seems to be the reality. Now, she visualises everything clearly— the thread that intertwines the girl’s and woman’s lives, very reason for this horrifying journey. What follows, where the girl finds herself lastly is more horrifying making my entire reading experience very pungent and healing!
So! Ludmilla is one of those forefront women writers crossing traditional literary boundaries and pitching away from stubborn patriarchal discourses. Her works have been banned for quite a long time. She derives her stories’ inspirations from fairy tales and folktales. I happened to land on this story, referred by one of my friends, as comparison with Nikolai Gogol’s “The Overcoat”. I never thought that Ludmilla and her writing could give me a great penchant for Russian women writing.
Ludmilla Petrushevskaya
Playwright, novelist, and a rocking cabaret performer— a one-woman orchestra as she’s famously known in Moscow. Of her many works, Ludmilla has been mostly acclaimed for There Once lived a Woman who tried to kill her Neighbour’s baby, hitting the New York Times Bestseller list in 2009.

I’ve always wanted to put my reading experience into writing—venting out. With the fecund digital and social space, I’ve decided now the right time to plunge into my ambitious desire of getting to know as many women writers across the world, through their works, regardless of their geographic and ethnic existence. Yet, I’m against the idea of branding my blog as feminist as I choose to read on them purely for the writers’ purport and their ardent works.
I’d like you to be a part of my reading journey and get to know along with me the women writers who’ve been silently transfiguring their areas of interest.
July 18, 2020 at 11:32 am
Wonderfully written… All the best for your new venture to vent out your reading experience dear…
July 18, 2020 at 11:42 am
Thanks Kee. That means a lot!
July 18, 2020 at 12:06 pm
Nice work kirthi…. keep up ur work …. expecting more from you in forthcoming days ….
July 18, 2020 at 12:20 pm
Sure Arul. Thank you so much ☺️
July 18, 2020 at 12:07 pm
Beautifully written. This goes well with “You may know by a handful the whole”. I applaud your selection of a story from the book “The Black Coat”, as well as its narration. I should admit that it really gave me a spine-tingling experience.
I glad that i could be a part of this beautiful reading journey, and looking forward to many.
I have no doubt, that you are going to ROCK IT in your style!
Lots of Love and Regards!
July 18, 2020 at 12:19 pm
Thank you Subashini!I’m happy that you liked the post and Ludmilla.
July 18, 2020 at 1:39 pm
Very well written Kiruthika..you have definitely made me curious about the book.. Will surely read it when I have the chance. All the best to you😊
July 18, 2020 at 9:30 pm
Thanks, Nessie.
July 18, 2020 at 1:43 pm
This is something that made my day. I’m more into the dark genre and but this was amazing reading through. Venting through Art is something not all can do. Good luck, much love! ❤️
July 18, 2020 at 9:34 pm
Thanks, Nishanth!
After knowing that I’m sure you would enjoy the entire collection of Ludmilla.
July 18, 2020 at 1:45 pm
Fabulous one keeku. This shows how much you involved yourself in reading things. Keep going
July 18, 2020 at 9:34 pm
Thanks, Malu!
July 18, 2020 at 3:30 pm
Proud of you Kruthika. Keep going! Waiting to get to know as many women writers along with you.
July 18, 2020 at 9:36 pm
Thanks, Iswarya!
Yes, we’ll do that with joy.
July 18, 2020 at 4:46 pm
Excellent Kiruthika.
No doubt you will further enhance your writing skill with your non-stop reading habit. I wish you all SUCCESS in your never ending reading journey, particularly to know about the women writers, who have been excelling in their areas of interest. I am sure that you will also get included in that list soon. All the best. May God bless you 🙏
July 18, 2020 at 9:39 pm
Thanks, uncle!
With all your blessings and support.
July 18, 2020 at 5:25 pm
Your narrating the plot of “The Black Coat” compels me to read the original story and that is the success of your writing! Bravo!
July 18, 2020 at 9:43 pm
Thanks, Anna!
This made my day!
July 18, 2020 at 5:44 pm
Well written kiruthika. Thanks a lot for introducing Ludmilla to me. Read more and share more. I’m waiting😃
July 18, 2020 at 9:44 pm
Thanks, Deepa.
Sure.
July 18, 2020 at 6:56 pm
So glad to see your interest in writing, particularly your interest in Russian women writers. You know my PhD was ion Solzhenitsyn. Unfortunately, i haven’t read any women writers. I realise i should.
Your writing is engrossing ma. I look forward to reading more of your writing. All the best ma ..
July 18, 2020 at 9:48 pm
Thank you, sir.
I’m glad that my humble endeavour serves its purpose well, sir.
July 18, 2020 at 9:12 pm
Your description made a bad reader like me to read the whole content… the way you narrated the story was amazing dear… Keep going and don’t forget to send me your work dear 😘
July 18, 2020 at 9:49 pm
Sure, thank you!
July 18, 2020 at 9:34 pm
First of all congratulations dear, All the very best for your new venture… தொடர்ந்து எழுதவும், பேனா வாளை விட வலிமையானது….
July 19, 2020 at 9:32 pm
Thanks, Anna!
July 19, 2020 at 10:13 am
அருமை வாழ்த்துக்கள்
July 19, 2020 at 9:32 pm
Thank you!
July 20, 2020 at 1:06 am
Well done and great story!!!
Way to go Kruthika, all the best.
July 20, 2020 at 11:02 pm
Thank you!
July 20, 2020 at 6:03 am
Great job! Appreciate your efforts
July 20, 2020 at 11:03 pm
Thank you!
July 20, 2020 at 3:13 pm
I think I have never seen such a beautiful piece. Keep continuing
July 20, 2020 at 11:03 pm
Thanks, Ramesh!
July 20, 2020 at 8:32 pm
Impressive Kiru👍👍 Keep going.
July 20, 2020 at 11:03 pm
Thanks, Acha!
July 21, 2020 at 11:03 pm
This write up brought me our memories on PG days. Those days you were the one completed the Novel and narrated to all. Happy to see this come back. Looking forward to you. BLAST THE BLOGGGGSSSSS.
July 24, 2020 at 9:14 pm
Thanks, Kavi!
July 23, 2020 at 3:50 pm
Awesome keep going!!!! ALL THE BEST
July 24, 2020 at 9:14 pm
Thanks, Sunantha!
July 25, 2020 at 12:28 pm
Didn’t know you could write. Beautiful work. Makes me wanna read more! Way to go dear! 🥰
July 25, 2020 at 10:05 pm
Thanks, Anu!
July 25, 2020 at 4:01 pm
It’s nice of you to bring to light such authors and their books .your reading pleasure….and the way you have described.. exciting mystery…kindling my interest of reading too .
Will surely try reading this .
July 25, 2020 at 10:23 pm
Thank you! If you could, try reading the entire collection. I’m sure it’ll excite you more.
July 25, 2020 at 7:13 pm
Well written. Much appreciated. Keep going!! 👍👍
July 25, 2020 at 10:29 pm
Thanks!
July 26, 2020 at 8:01 pm
First,thank you Keerthi for sharing such a wonderful thing about the women authors who had won their identity in this realm. I am really interested to know and read about the books and authors you have shared.Hearty congratulations dear👏👍
July 26, 2020 at 10:43 pm
Thank you! Read on them, you’ll enjoy it! 😊
July 28, 2020 at 12:29 am
Hi da… How are you… Hapy to c u again.. So excited to read ur collections,makes me want to read more,glad to c ur writings especially on women writers.. I remembers our bala sir class… U taught me more… So happy for you… Keep rocking dear… Gud luck… God bless you abundantly
August 10, 2020 at 9:41 pm
Great days!!! Thanks, sis.
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