Live and Remember

by Valentin Rasputin

Book Overview

First published in Russian in 1974, "Live and Remember" was immediately hailed by Soviet critics as a superb if atypical example of war literature and a moving depiction of the degradation and... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0810110539
• ISBN13: 9780810110533
• Release Date: July 1992
• Publisher: Northwestern University Press
• Length: 216 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Between a rock and a hard place

Like many good pieces of literature, this one takes up a confrontation between values: the patriotic and military values vs. the personal, family values. Andrei Guskov is a Russian soldier who is wounded at the front in 1944. When he recovers, he decides not to go back to his unit, and therefore becomes a deserter. He hides in the thick forests that surround his natal village, in Siberia (the location of most, if not all, of Rasputin's work). It is winter, and at nights, Guskov wanders near the town. One day, he comes home and suddenly finds his wife, Nastiona. Andrei forbids her to say anything to his or her parents, which puts the woman in a difficult situation. Even so, Nastiona finds a way to visit her husband sometimes, taking advantage of some trip to the city, or in the middle of harsh winter storms. They face a hard dilemma, because Guskov will be forced to leave the surrounds in Spring, when peasants return to work. And then hell breaks loose, when Nastiona gets pregnant.This is a beautiful novel, unfortunately little known. Rasputin is a good writer and the story is moving and even tragic. Best enjoyed in a winter evening.