Nicolai Lilin, a Russian writer of Siberian origin, grounds his writing in the ambiguous and internationally unrecognized region of Transnistria. His works, penned with remarkable fluency in Italian, delve into profound explorations of identity and culture. Lilin gained prominence with a debut novel that captivated the film industry, establishing a literary voice characterized by raw authenticity and compelling storytelling. Beyond his writing, he is also a skilled tattoo artist, deeply versed in the traditional art and complex codes of Siberian criminal tattoos.
Assigned to a high-risk paramilitary unit known as the "para-bats," Nicolai Lilin faces the grim realities of warfare in Chechnya. This unconventional group, recognized for their distinctive black parachutes, engages in intense combat against Islamic insurgents equipped with American weaponry. The narrative explores the harrowing experiences and moral complexities faced by these soldiers in a conflict marked by chaos and danger.
A unique and remarkable account of the war in Chechnya by the internationally acclaimed author of Siberian Education
By the age of six, Nicolai Lilin had been given his first 'pike knife' by an uncle, and by the age of twelve, he had been convicted of attempted murder . . . Nicolai Lilin gained his 'education' as a member of the Siberian Urkas - a small and tight-knit community of 'honest criminals' in a forgotten corner of Eastern Europe . . . Siberian Education is his tale of an extreme childhood - exotic, violent and completely unique.