Why did so many of the most creative Russian authors...

Vladimir Nabokov, who made words into his personal playground, started out in Russia, but, as the Soviet Union came to form, ended up in America.

Joseph Brodsky, whose poetry danced on the page, started out in the Soviet Union, but ended up in America.

Alexander Solzhenitsyn, whose harsh prose reflected his harsh life, started out in the Soviet Union, but ended up in America.

Sergei Dovlatov, who hid linguistic brilliance underneath supposed simplicity, started out in the Soviet Union, but ended up in America.

Vasily Aksyonov, whose stylish prose rebelled against the norm, started out in the Soviet Union, but ended up in America.

We think we know why.