Opravdanie Ostrova

the long version

Deĭstvie novogo romana Evgenii︠a︡ Vodolazkina razvorachivaetsi︠a︡ na Ostrove, kotorogo net na karte, no sushchestvovanie ego ne vyzyvaet somneniĭ. Ego ne naĭti v uchebnikakh po istorii, a sobytii︠a︡ -- uznavaemy do boli. Srednevekovʹe perepletaetsi︠a︡ s sovremennostʹi︠u︡, vseobshchee - s lichnym, a tragizm - s groteskom. Zdesʹ legko sosedstvui︠u︡t svetleĭshie kni︠a︡zʹi︠a︡ i predsedateli Ostrova, khronisty i proroki, povelitelʹ pchel i govori︠a︡shchiĭ kot. Soglasno drevnemu predskazanii︠u︡, Ostrov zhdut bolʹshie ispytanii︠a︡. Smozhet li on proĭti ikh, kogda zemli︠a︡ nachinaet ukhoditʹ iz-pod nog? "Takes place on an Island, which is not on the map, but its existence is beyond doubt. It cannot be found in history textbooks, and the events are painfully recognizable. The Middle Ages are intertwined with modernity, the universal with the personal, and tragedy with the grotesque. Here, the serene princes and chairmen of the Island, chroniclers and prophets, the lord of the bees and the talking cat easily coexist. According to ancient prophecy, the Island will face great trials. Will the main character be able to pass them when the ground begins to slip from under his feet?" --