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Not Russian

A novel
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Not Russian by Mikhail Shevelev is a gripping crime thriller that delves into the underworld of Russian crime. The novel follows a protagonist caught in a dangerous web of deception and power struggles, navigating a treacherous path filled with unexpected twists. Set against a backdrop of international intrigue, the story explores themes of identity and morality as the characters face life-altering decisions.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this crime and thriller novel if you're intrigued by compelling stories set against the backdrop of complex political and cultural landscapes. It's perfect for those who appreciate intricate plots and characters that navigate between personal identity and larger social issues, all woven with suspense and intrigue.

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A gripping, illuminating novel about recent Russian aggressions and the humans caught in the crossfire

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

One evening in 2015, journalist Pavel Vladimirovich and his wife Tatyana are at home when the news breaks that there has been a terrorist attack. Over a hundred people have been taken hostage in the Church of the Epiphany in the village of Nikolskoye near Moscow. As they watch, on the TV screen appears the face of one of the terrorists: Vadim Petrovich Seryegin, an old friend of Pavel's.

The friendship between the two men evolved through periods of conflict, war, peace, emigration, and isolation. Pavel may be one of Vadim's only friends, and when others realise this, he is asked to negotiate with Vadim.

The Church is horrifyingly silent when Pavel enters. Vadim welcomes Pavel but refuses to capitulate. As the stakes get higher and higher, Vadim's story, including his connection to the wars in Chechnya and the Ukraine, is revealed, and it becomes clear that the first meeting between the two men was not all it first seemed to be to Pavel.

Back in the church, Pavel learns that the terrorists have one and only one demand, and that it concerns the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin.

Not Russian by Mikhail Shevelev is a gripping exploration of friendship, loyalty, and the geopolitical tensions that can drive people to desperate acts.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Not Russian by Mikhail Shevelev is praised for being a tense political thriller that critically examines Putin's ambitions for Russia. The book is also noted for its ability to transform recent historical events into a compelling and tragic human story.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781787704879

Publisher: Europa Editions (UK) Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 02 November 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Europa Editions (UK) Ltd

Contributors:

  • Translated by Brian James Baer
  • Translated by Ellen Vayner

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 135.0mm

Height: 2100.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 160

About the Author

Born in 1959, Mikhail Shevelev graduated from Moscow Institute of Foreign Languages in 1981. A translator, interpreter, and former deputy editor for The Moscow News, he currently works as a freelance journalist covering political and social issues in Russia for Radio Liberty. After 2014 he has not collaborated with Russian state and private media. He is the author of two novels and several collections of short stories, which have been translated into several languages. In 2021, he was awarded the Isaac Babel Prize (Ukraine). Brian James Baer is the founding editor of the journal Translation and Interpreting Studies and the author of the monograph Other Russias (Palgrave Macmillan, 2009).ย  Ellen Vayner has translated short stories, magazine interviews, and a conceptual artistic project. Together with Brian James Baer, she has translated Red Crosses by Sasha Filipenko (Europa, 2021) and Sacred Darkness by Levan Berdzenishvili (Europa, 2019).

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