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4.5 stars. A very well written, character based novel about the Russian immigrant community in Berlin after World War One. There are two story threads. One is the maturation of Fyodor, as a gifted writer. The other is his love affair with Zina, also a Russian immigrant.

The part of the novel describing in detail Fyodor’s father is particularly compassionate and memorable. Fyodor explores the writings of Gogol and Pushkin.

This novel is a demanding read with little plot momentum.

There are many beautifully written, thoughtful sentences, for example:

‘One night between sunset and river on the old bridge we stood, you and I. Will you ever forget it, I queried. that parallel swift that went by? And you answered so earnestly: Never! And what sobs made us suddenly shiver, what a cry life emitted in ‘flight! Till we die, till tomorrow, for ever, you and I on the old bridge one night.�

Highly recommended. A book to reread.

The author, in the novel preface, states that the novel is about Russian literature and not about himself. However, the novel reads like an autobiography, particularly in the first half of the book. For example, Fyodor’s father is a lepidopterist and Fyodor also takes an interest in butterflies and moths.

This book was first published in Russian in 1938.