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When the Whales Leave

By Yuri Rytkheu
Series: Seedbank
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4.27 goodreads logo

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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
When the Whales Leave by Yuri Rytkheu is a hauntingly beautiful tale set in the Arctic, exploring the deep bond between humans and nature. The story follows an isolated community intimately connected with the whales that sustain them. As their harmonious relationship with nature faces challenges, the narrative explores themes of survival, tradition, and the impact of change on the natural world.
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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 book if you're drawn to lyrical storytelling that delves into the interconnectedness between humans and nature. This extraordinary tale, rooted in indigenous folklore, highlights themes of love, loss, and the spiritual bond between people and the majestic creatures of the sea. Its evocative narrative and rich cultural insights make it an unforgettable read for those who appreciate the beauty of the natural world.

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"[Yuri Rytkheu's] deep emotional attachment to this landscape of ice (today melting away under global warming forces) makes every sentence seem a poetic revelation." -ANNIE PROULX

Galley quantities available for fiction media, translation media, select booksellers, and sales force by request Advertising and promotional collaboration with ALTA (American Literary Translators Association) Newsletter promotion via the publisher to fiction and translation lists of more than 20,000 contacts Excerpt placement in Lit Hub to celebration National Translation Month (September) Promotional push in conjunction with publisher's Seedbank series of world literature

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

Nau cannot remember a time when she was not one with the world around her: with the fast breeze, the green grass, the high clouds, and the endless blue sky above the Shingled Spit. But her greatest joy is to visit the sea, where whales gather every morning to gaily spout rainbows.

Then, one day, she finds a man in the mist where a whale should be: Reu, who has taken human form out of his Great Love for her. Together these first humans become parents to two whales, and then to mankind. Even after Reu dies, Nau continues on, sharing her story of brotherhood between the two species. But as these origins grow more distant, the old woman's tales are subsumed into myth—and her descendants turn increasingly bent on parading their dominance over the natural world.

[Yuri Rytkheu’s] deep emotional attachment to this landscape of ice (today melting away under global warming forces) makes every sentence seem a poetic revelation. - Annie Proulx

Arguably the foremost writer to emerge from the minority peoples of Russia’s far north. - New York Review of Books

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  • When the Whales Leave
    Nau cannot remember a time when she was not one with the world around her: with the fast breeze, the green grass, the high clouds, and the endless blue sky above the Shingled Spit. But her greatest joy is to visit the sea, where whales gather every morning to gaily spout rainbows. Then, one day, she finds a man in...
    By Yuri Rytkheu
    Paperback
    Sold Out

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?

Yuri Rytkheu's When the Whales Leave is lauded as a profound exploration of humanity's connection to nature. Critics highlight its powerful fable-like quality and its ability to immerse readers in the majestic Arctic landscape. The book is praised for its poetic language and deep emotional attachment to the natural world, conveying a strong message about environmental stewardship and the interconnection between humans and nature. Through its mythological narrative, it invites readers to rediscover spirituality and love in the world, wrapped in a blend of the mythical and everyday realities.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781571311313

Publisher: Milkweed Editions

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 23 April 2020

Country: United States

Imprint: Milkweed Editions

Illustration: Illustrations

Contributors:

  • Translated by Ilona Yazhbin Chavasse

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 139.0mm

Height: 215.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 144

Collections

Fiction General Fiction Literary Fiction Series: Seedbank Yuri Rytkheu

About the Author

Yuri Rytkheu (19302008) was born in Uelen, a village in the Chukotka region of Siberia. He sailed the Bering Sea, worked on Arctic geological expeditions, and hunted in Arctic waters, in addition to writing over a dozen novels and collections of stories. The English translation of his book A Dream in Polar Fog was a Kiriyama Pacific Rim Prize Notable Book in 2006. In the late 1950s, Rytkheu emerged not only as a great literary talent, but as the unique voice of a small national minority-the Chukchi people, a shrinking community residing in one of the most majestic and inhospitable environments on earth.

Ilona Yazhbin Chavasse was born in Belarus and, together with her family, emigrated to the United States in 1989. She has translated the work of Dimitry Bortnikov, Sergey Gandlevsky, and Ilya Brazhnikov. Educated at Vassar College, Oxford University, and University College London, she now lives in London.

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