Our first show on Stage I this season is Vladimir, which is about an independent journalist in Putin’s Russia who is on the brink of breaking a major story. As the reporter gets closer to exposing the truth, she and her sources find themselves in serious danger and have to make choices about how far they are willing to go to do what is right. Playwright Erika Sheffer did a lot of research on Russian history, culture, and real-life free speech conflicts involving the Russian government as she crafted her fictional piece. She has put together the following list of books, stories and films that provide further context for those who are interested in exploring the issues raised in the play.