Elvira Bary
Elvira Bary | |
|---|---|
 Elvira Bary in 2026 | |
| Native name | Эльвира Валерьевна Барякина |
| Born | November 9, 1975 |
| Occupation | Novelist |
| Citizenship | USA |
| Education | Nizhny Novgorod State University |
| Period | 2001–present |
| Genre | Historical fiction, Fantasy |
| Notable works | The Russian Treasures trilogy |
| Website | |
| elvirabary | |
Elvira Bary (Russian: Эльвира Валерьевна Барякина; born November 9, 1975) is a Russian-American author and YouTube creator. She is best known for her historical fiction, including The Russian Treasures series—Russian Treasures, The White Ghosts’ Empire, and The Prince of the Soviets. She also produces video essays on Russian history, politics, and culture.[1]
Early life and education
Bary was born in Gorky (now Nizhny Novgorod), then part of the Soviet Union, to a family of engineers employed at GAZ (the Gorky Automobile Plant).[2] Her first publication appeared in a local newspaper when she was 15.[3]
She studied at Nizhny Novgorod State University and graduated with a degree in law in 1997.[4] Before publishing her first novel, she worked as a paralegal at the Nizhny Novgorod Bar and later as a corporate lawyer, while contributing freelance articles to local newspapers.[4]
In 2002, Bary moved to California, where she currently resides.[1][5]
Career
Bary’s first novels were published in Moscow by Eksmo in 2001.[6] She continued publishing in Russian until 2022 when Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and her anti-war stance made publication in Russia impracticable.[1] She subsequently shifted to writing in English.[1]
Her work has been translated into English and Polish.[7][8]
In 2006, Bary launched an educational portal for Russian-speaking writers, Spravochnik Pisatelya (The Writer’s Guide), which became one of the largest Russian-language resources of its kind.[5][9] She has taught creative writing through online and in-person lectures and workshops and has authored instructional books on writing fiction and nonfiction.[9]
In 2025, Bary started a YouTube channel focused on Russian politics, culture, history, and the war in Ukraine.[1] Within a year, the channel surpassed 100,000 subscribers.[10]
Personal life
Bary lives in Irvine, California, with her husband and son. Her interests include restoring antique furniture, painting, and creating AI-generated short films.[1]
Bibliography in English
The Russian Treasures series
- Russian Treasures (2017) — historical novel about the Bolshevik Revolution and the Russian Civil War
- The White Ghosts’ Empire (2020) — historical novel about rival colonial powers in China in the 1920s
- The Prince of the Soviets (2023) — historical novel about foreign journalists in Stalin-era Moscow
Fantasy
- The Girl from the Labyrinth (2021)
References
- ^ a b c d e f "This is what Russians Really Think of the War (interview with Elvira Bary)". Silicon Curtain. Retrieved February 2, 2026.
- ^ Pravda-nn.ru (March 25, 2010). "Книга «Белый Шанхай» о жизни белогвардейцев-эмигрантов вышла в России". Нижегородская правда (in Russian). Retrieved February 2, 2026.
- ^ "Писатель из Америки с пропиской в Нижнем Новгороде". Нижегородская правда (in Russian). Retrieved February 2, 2026.
- ^ a b "Юристы могут пойти не только по стопам Жириновского - Нижегородские новости". nnews.nnov.ru. Retrieved February 2, 2026.
- ^ a b "Эльвира Барякина: Американская мечта | Журнал «Интервью: Люди и события»" (in Russian). June 25, 2011. Retrieved February 2, 2026.
- ^ "Гроб с музыкой. Нежное притяжение за уши". Ozon (in Russian). Retrieved February 2, 2026.
- ^ "Glagoslav Publications Releases White Shanghai by Elvira Baryakina". PR.com. Retrieved February 2, 2026.
- ^ "Biały Szanghaj". www.lezajsk-mbp.sowa.pl. Retrieved February 2, 2026.
- ^ a b "Как продавать писательский опыт и зарабатывать 3000 долларов за полтора часа". “Жажда” — бизнес-журнал (in Russian). March 22, 2017. Retrieved February 2, 2026.
- ^ Bary, Elvira. "What You Helped Build: Unboxing My 100K Plaque". YouTube. Retrieved February 2, 2026.