Mutual Understanding through Fiction: Rob Chursinoff's The Descendants

Aimee Greenaway

Rob Chursinoff is a Doukhobor born and raised in the West Kootenay. We are excited that he spent time with Aimee Greenaway to share how his novel The Descendants (Nightwood Editions, 2022) was shaped by his experiences and Doukhobor history. Aimee Greenaway (AG) There are non-fiction chapters in The Descendants about the history of the Doukhobor community, from Russia in the late 1600s all the way to BC in the early 2000s. Why is history important for sharing the stories of fictional characters Jonah Seeger and Ruby Samarodin? Rob Chursinoff (RC) The non-fiction historical vignettes in between certain chapters offer context for the traumas that Ruby and Jonah and their respective families experienced over the generations. In Russia, the Doukhobors were subject to persecution (incarceration, exile, torture) for their spiritual and…

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British Columbia History (Digital) - 1 Issue, 57.1 Spring 2024

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