Description
Book SynopsisIn this, his atmospheric final work of fiction, the Nobel Prize-winning author of
One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich introduces an unforgettable set of characters whose day-to-day lives are transformed under the pressures of Soviet rule. These stories confirm Solzhenitsyn's position alongside Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky and Gogol as one of Russia's great writers.
Trade ReviewOne of the greatest writers of his time * * Guardian * *
A remarkable human being, a visionary, a crusader in the simplest sense, who was steered in his writing, as in his actions, by a deep sense of justice * * Daily Telegraph * *
What was forgotten was how great a writer Solzhenitsyn was. But now we are reminded with these nine short stories written shortly after his return to Russia and published posthumously in an excellent translation . . . The more experimental 'binary' or two-part tales, which dominate this collection, share the qualities of Solzhenitsyn's finest prose: its precision and visual clarity; the subtle irony and humour of its tone; its moral truth; and the skilful crafting and shaping of the story for emotional effect * * The Times * *
Read these stories for a reminder of an extraordinary life, for the range of the interests they encompass and for a pugnacious moral energy that even the octogenarian writer was hard pressed to tame * * Guardian * *
In terms of the effect he has had on history, Solzhenitsyn is the dominant writer of [the twentieth] century -- David Remnick * * New Yorker * *
Described by scholars as ranking alongside his best work . . . one of the publishing events of the autumn * * Observer * *
In probing the relationship between action and belief during times of crisis, Solzhenitsyn is unsurpassed * * The Times * *
A great book . . . absolutely terrific -- John Carey
With its unapologetic moralising and blunt irony,
Apricot Jam is a perfect introduction to the stories in this volume. The binary method is essentially a satirical device, designed to capture the doubleness - and double-facedness - of Russian life under communism * * New Statesman * *
As fresh as masterpieces such as
Cancer Ward or
Matryona's Home -- Victor Sebestyen * * Sunday Times * *
