This epic trilogy delves into the depths of human memory and identity, weaving nostalgic recollections with the harsh realities of life. Follow the protagonist's journey through complex relationships and life's turning points that shape their destiny against unforgettable backdrops. The narrative is rich with poetic beauty and profound philosophical reflections on love, loss, and the meaning of existence. It is a moving exploration of seeking one's roots and striving for understanding.
This international bestseller has been translated into 26 languages and is the first work to win both of France's top literary honors. "A masterpiece. . . . Makine belongs on the shelf of world literature--between Lermontov and Nabokov, a few volumes down from Proust".--"The Atlanta Journal".
Amid the ashes of the Soviet Union a Russian army doctor turned spy addresses the woman he loves - a fellow spy who has shared his shadowy life in Africa, Europe and the Middle East, but who has disappeared. The tale he unfolds spans three generations of his family, ordinary people caught up in the convulsions of the Russian empire in the twentieth century, from the civil war through the Second World War to beyond the fall of communism. It is a tale of brutality and soured dreams yet also one of altruism, tenacity and immense courage, written by a master.
An astounding novel that penetrates the 20th-century experience, from one of Europe's most feted authors