Description
Book SynopsisA dark chapter in recent human historyThe first part of this novel follows the adventures of three young friends during a memorable last mountain climbing trip to a remote area of a country under the control of a ruthless authoritarian regime. During their journey, the young men have to cope with:bear encounters,venomous adders,colorful locals, storms,dangerous climbs,flooded caves, and other challenges, as the main purpose of their trip is gradually revealed.A second story, intertwined with the first one, focuses on a brilliant young pianist and his ill-fated quest for freedom. Urban life, in the dreary capital where the young men regularly reside, is the focus of the second part of the novel, when the friends begin to go their own separate ways and come to terms with their very different future prospects. The challenges of life in the capital, which include run-ins with feral dog packs and the secret police, are very different than those faced in the mountains, but not less dangerous. Ultimately, this is a book about friendship.
Trade ReviewA remarkable piece of highly enjoyable reading, and, at the same time, an eye-opener for many of those unacquainted with life in Eastern Europe during communism."—Dr. Demetrio Boltovskoy, a Senior Researcher at the University of Buenos Aires.
"A quirky account of four young compadres, doing their best to resist a crushing communist system with resilience and cynical humor."—Dr. Martin Schlaepfer, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Geneva.
"The novel is a window into the functioning of a Communist state and the ways people found to survive its arcane and illogical way of life. It is a celebration of the endurance of the human spirit in the face of dictatorship; it is a gripping human story."—Professor Emeritus Stanislav J. Kirschbaum, Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, author of
A history of Slovakia: the struggle for survival, and professor at York University.
