Russian writer Valentin Rasputin dies

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He would have been 78 on Saturday but instead the world of Russian literature is mourning the loss of Valentin Rasputin, who has died after falling into a coma in hospital.

From faraway Irkutsk he came from a peasant family and established a “village voice” in Russian literature with works like Farewell to Matyora”, “French Lessons”, “Deadline”, “Live and Remember” and many others.