Andreï Makine crafts narratives that bridge worlds, exploring the profound intersections of memory, culture, and identity with exceptional linguistic grace. Having navigated the complexities of exile and cultural duality himself, his work delves into the deep emotional landscapes of human connection and the search for belonging. Makine's prose possesses a rare ability to evoke distant histories and intimate experiences, making him a distinctive voice in contemporary literature. His writing serves as a powerful testament to the enduring spirit and the intricate tapestry of the human heart.
Set in Siberia in the 1970s during the decline of the Soviet Empire, the adult narrator looks back on a childhood friendship formed with an Armenian boy called Vardan. A story about how one friendship can shift our perspective and irrevocably change our lives.
A tense Siberian Western set in the inhospitable, boundless Russia taiga at the height of the Cold War
Catherine the Great's life seems to have been made for the cinema. Countless love affairs and wild sexual escapades, betrayal, revenge, murder - there is no shortage of historical drama. But Oleg Erdmann, a young Russian filmmaker, seeks to discover and portray the real Catherine, her essential, emotional truth. When he is dropped from the film he initially scripted - his name summarily excised from the credits - Erdmann is cast adrift in a changing world. A second chance beckons when an old friend enriched by the capitalist new dawn invites him to refashion his opus for a television serial. But Erdmann is made acutely aware that the market exerts its own forms of censorship. While he comes to accept that each age must cast Catherine in its own image, one question continues to nag at him. Was the empress, whose sexual appetites were sated with favours bought with titles and coin, ever truly loved? In his search for an answer, Erdmann will find a love of his own that brings the fulfilment that filmmaking once promised him.
Set against the backdrop of the Soviet Union's tumultuous history from World War II to the early 1990s, the narrative follows Ivan Dimitrovich Davidov, a decorated war hero, and his family. Awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union for his valor at the Battle of Stalingrad, Ivan's life intertwines with Tatyana, the medical orderly who saved him. Their daughter, Olya, navigates her upbringing under the weight of her father's legacy, exploring themes of bravery, familial bonds, and the impact of historical events on personal lives.
Did sex bring down the Iron Curtain? An orphan reflects on the unbreakable bond between love and freedom in the Soviet Union...
Set against the backdrop of the expansive Siberian pine forests, the story unfolds in the small village of Svetlaya, which has dwindled in size and prosperity by the 1970s. Once thriving, the village now consists of a mere cluster of izbas, reflecting the passage of time and the impact of historical changes on its community. The narrative captures the essence of rural life in a remote landscape, highlighting themes of resilience and the stark beauty of nature.
The publisher offers a diverse collection of fiction, encompassing various genres such as thrillers, romance, mystery, and classic literature. It aims to highlight unique subjects and support authors whose works may be underrepresented in mainstream publishing. With imprints like Arcade and Yucca, the focus is on providing a platform for both established and emerging voices, ensuring a broad selection for readers seeking different literary experiences.
Set in Stalin's postwar world, the story follows virtual brothers Arkady and Alyosha as they embrace the ideals of socialism and the promise of a bright future. However, their journey is marred by the stark reality of barbed wire that symbolizes oppression and confinement, raising questions about the true nature of their society and the cost of their dreams. The narrative explores themes of innocence, disillusionment, and the contrast between ideology and reality.
An extraordinary story of love and endurance during the Siege of Leningrad lies at the heart of a magnificent novel about Russia past and present, and the human condition.
As shocking as it is moving, a novel about love, ideology and man's inhumanity to man by the internationally renowned Makine.
