Description:
An idyllic childhood takes a sinister turn. Rumors of a serial killer haunt the neighborhood, families pack up and leave town without a word of warning, and the country begins to unravel. Policemen stand by as protesters overtake the streets, knowing that the once awe-inspiring symbols of power they wear on their helmets have become devoid of meaning. Lebedev depicts a vast empire coming apart at the seams, transforming a very public moment into something tender and personal, and writes with stunning beauty and shattering insight about childhood and the growing consciousness of a boy in the world.
Brief description:
Sergei Lebedev, a poet, essayist, and journalist, is one of Russia's most lauded young writers. He was born in Moscow in 1981 and worked for seven years on geological expeditions in Asia and northern Russia.
Review Quotes:
"You read and reread Lebedev's lyrical, cutting prose with equal amounts of awe and enjoyment...Gorgeously written, unsettling."
-- "Kirkus Reviews (starred review)"