Maria Gessen is a journalist and writer, equally well-known both in Russia and in the USA. Without hiding her homosexual inclinations, Masha Gessen is an activist of the LGBT movement. Members of this movement advocate for civil equality and respect for human rights, regardless of their sexual, social or political views.
Facts from the biography
Maria was born on January 13, 1967 in Moscow. Parents are Jews. Father is a successful entrepreneur, mother is a translator and literary critic. In 1981, the whole family emigrated to the United States. Abroad Maria entered to study as an architect, but she did not receive a diploma. In 1991, she returned back to Russia and settled in the capital.
In 2004, Masha Gessen was diagnosed with breast cancer. On the female side in the Hesse family, the journalist’s mother and aunt died from this disease. 4 years after being diagnosed, Masha had her breast removed. A little later she will write a book about this.
Writing and journalism
Maria Alexandrovna Hessen writes a lot in both Russian and English. More than once the name of the journalist was associated with the name of the president of Russia. In 2011, she wrote a book about him in English. In 2012, she left the post of chief editor of Around the World magazine, and, as it turned out later, this was again connected with Putin V.V. The fact is that Maria refused to cover the expedition to save Siberian Cranes, the main participant of which was the president. A little later, Hesse will tell the world about a personal conversation with V.V. Putin in the Kremlin.
Upon learning of Maria’s dismissal from the post of chief editor, Putin personally called Hesse and made an appointment in the Kremlin. In the conversation, journalist Masha Gessen learned many new details about the president’s personality, but in the end she refused to request to return to the post of editor-in-chief of the magazine.
In 2013, Hesse again leaves Russia and moves to live in New York. There he leads an active public life - published in The New Yorker, later becoming his full-time author, while simultaneously teaching at the Department of Russian and East European Studies.
Maria Hesse never hid her homosexuality and always openly advocated for the rights of sexual minorities. Maria brings up three children, one of whom is adopted. In 2004, Maria entered into her first marriage with Svetlana Generalova, a citizen of Russia. The second time an official marriage was concluded with Daria Oreshkina.
Maria Hesse is the author of many books written in English. Here are just some of them.
"Perfect rigor"
The main character of the book, Grigory Perelman, is a Russian mathematician, a genius of his time. He was able to prove the Poincare conjecture. At one time, the American Clay Institute awarded an unprecedented reward for such evidence - a million dollars. However, Perelman refused to pay and was completely isolated from communication with the outside world. Masha Gessen, whose book is devoted to the phenomenon of Russian genius, is trying to study his personality. She presents the reader with a lot of interviews with his classmates, teachers, and colleagues.
“Words will destroy cement: Passion of Pussy Rayo”
A heroic story that resurrected the power of truth in a society built on lies. On February 21, 5 young women entered the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow. In neon dresses and balaclavas, they performed a “punk prayer,” asking God to “deliver them from Putin.” Shortly after this action, they were arrested. However, the details of this incident hit the pages of newspapers. The world started talking about an act of political confrontation and about the violation of human rights to freedom of speech.
“Half the revolution: contemporary science fiction of Russian women”
Russian women appear in the literary establishment with a predominance of men and publish their own anthology - a courageous act that will turn them, if not great writers, then at least heroes. Here are stories compiled and translated by freelance journalist Masha Gessen.
“Propaganda of homosexuality in Russia”
The book talks about the events that followed the release of the law banning homosexual propaganda. Representatives of sexual minorities began to openly pressure in Russia. The heroes of the book are living people who have lost the right to love. Each of them tells his story of persecution and oppression. On the pages of the book are frank interviews with gay couples, owners of gay clubs, many of whom were forced to leave the country due to constant attacks. Masha Gessen, being a lesbian, understands what she writes. She, like no one, is close and understandable the experiences of the heroes of the book.
“The future is history: how totalitarianism conquered Russia again”
A book that has been awarded the National Book Prize. On the pages of the book is the history of Russia. As the author sees it. Masha Gessen shows us a whole gallery of heroes over the past four decades. It leads the reader to the idea that the Soviet Union is "dead", and the unique form of "Homo sovieticus" still lives on. Masha writes that there is practically no hope for the resurrection of Russia, for the establishment of a normal civilized state.