Dmitry Bykov was born in Moscow 12.20.1967, his mother taught Russian literature. He graduated Moscow University (department of journalism and criticism) and worked in most of post-Soviet weeklies. He published 15 novels, 7 biographies, 20 books of verse, participated the satirical project “Citizen Poet” and wrote more than 1000 columns and interviews. All his books are now banned by Russian censorship. Bykov is an active oppositioner and radical critic of Putin’s regime. He managed also to marry three times (all the marriages were happy) and become father of two sons and a daughter. He also was teaching at 5 schools and 7 universities, Russian and foreign. Now he lives in Ithaca, NY and teaches creative writing in Cornell.