Book Review
Title: Solovyov and
Larionov
Author: Eugene Vodolazkin
Translator: Lisa C Hayden
Publisher: OneWorld, London,
2018
Pages: 404
How factual is any historical discourse? How much truth
do you expect from history books? I live in a country whose government has simply
erased the history of a whole era, the three-century long Mughal reign – from the
history textbooks given to school students. Some of the heroes of the freedom
struggle are being villainised and vice-versa. Whose history will you trust:
Ramachandra Guha’s or Hitesh Shankar’s? If the lion and the deer write the
history of the same period in the same forest, which history will be credible
to you?
The subjectivity of history is the
most fundamental theme of Russian writer Eugene Vodolazkin’s 2009 novel
[translated into English in 2018], Solovyov and Larionov. History
is a compilation of the writer’s perspectives, obscured by time and personal
biases. History is like literature to some extent. But literature admits that
it is fiction while history pretends to be truth. This is what Solovyov, the
young research-scholar and protagonist of this novel, shows us through his
research as well as his life.
Solovyov’s research is on a real
historical figure, General Larionov, who can be said to be the other
protagonist of the novel. Larionov was a commander in the Imperial Russian Army
and he led battles against the Bolshevik Red Army during the Civil War. No such
prominent figure who fought the Red Army survived the War. They were all shot
dead by the Reds. Larionov was an exception. He not only survived but also
lived in his own aristocratic house though he had to share the house with many
comrades. How did he manage to live on well into his old age? This is the
mystery that Solovyov’s research is going to unearth.
Solovyov was born in a poor family in
the remote countryside. The place is named quite unimaginatively as Kilometre
715. There is a railway station in that place, but hardly any train stops
there. Solovyov manages to complete his schooling by sheer determination and
hard work. He reads a lot too and even falls in love with the librarian when he
is still a little boy. The librarian doesn’t respond to the calf love, of
course. Solovyov finds both love and sex in a girl called Leeza Larionova. Does
the surname ring a bell? Yes, Leeza will later turn out to be the granddaughter
of the object of Solovyov’s research. The plot will take a U-turn by and by.
Solovyov’s ambition, hard work and
determination take him to St Petersburg where he is assigned the research
topic. His research will take him to many places in one of which he meets the
beautiful, young and seductive Zoya whose mother was General Larionov’s
assistant in his old age. It is Zoya’s mother who wrote down the dictations of
the general’s memoir. Zoya goes out of her way to get the fragments of those memoirs.
It is with some difficulty that Solovyov will escape from the seductions of
Zoya and move to other places for his research. Though Zoya is an employee at
the Chekhov Museum, she possesses tremendous expertise in a non-Chekhovian domain,
the narrator tells us, which can be fatal for a young and aspiring man.
The plot moves to a bewitching climax
though there is no conclusion of any sort. This is a typical postmodern novel
which seamlessly blends fact and fiction, past and present, multilayered
fragments of human lives, and irony and humour.
What is life in the end? The novel
does raise that question in the final pages. A hilarious tragedy. General Larionov,
clever, hero, living legend of the Imperial Army… is now living on a squalid
Soviet pension. Sharing a communal toilet. Solovyov’s professor thinks “it is
silly” and it would have been better for the general to be shot dead long ago.
The professor himself is now in a hospital, as he expresses this view, lowering
his pyjama for the nurse to give an injection on his bum. “Relax,” the nurse
admonishes him, “Don’t squeeze your buttocks.”
This is not a light read at all. If
you are interested in serious literature, go for it. It can be a little
challenging too in some places.
PS. This post is part of the
Bookish League blog hop hosted by Bohemian Bibliophile
Hari OM
ReplyDeleteNot a book or writer I have heard of - but you have me intrigued! YAM xx
I hadn't heard of him either. A friend of mine, a journalist, brought it along the last time he visited. The writer is wellknown in Russia. He has won some awards too.
DeleteHaven't read much about Russia.
ReplyDeleteIt's an interesting country in many ways. One example: they call their bedpan poo-tin 😅
DeleteThat kind of took a turn. History is a story told by the winners, mostly. But as the world changes, what we find interesting changes.
ReplyDeleteThis novel is a critique of history, in a way.
DeleteWhat a fascinating exploration of the nature of history! Your reflections on how historical narratives can be shaped by personal biases really resonate, especially in today’s world where many governments reshape the past for various reasons. It’s intriguing to think about how different perspectives, like those of Ramachandra Guha and Hitesh Shankar, can alter our understanding of the same events. I love how you connected this theme to Solovyov and Larionov—the journey of Solovyov digging into Larionov’s life sounds like an incredible way to unravel those complexities! It reminds us that history can often feel like a puzzle, with each piece influenced by the storyteller. Thanks for sharing these insights! Wishing you a fantastic weekend! I'd love for you to check out my new post: Wishing you a fantastic weekend! https://www.melodyjacob.com/2024/10/my-visit-to-hunterian-art-gallery-in.html
ReplyDeleteHistory is more of a joke than a puzzle, I think. Anyway, I'm sure of one thing: heroes do not make history, history makes heroes. Look at the present heroes!
DeleteI'm coming to your post as soon as I return from my urgent errand.
Even tragedy, in Vodolazkin’s novel, is treated with pragmatic irony.
ReplyDeleteYes, otherwise Larionov wouldn't be a protagonist.
DeleteI don't think I would have picked up this novel at all. But I'm thankful I can squeeze its literary merit through your reviews!
ReplyDeleteI arrived at it purely by chance.
DeleteI want to read this simply because it takes us to the Soviet era and old times in Russia. I actually wonder how much of history is truth and how much is fiction, but monuments are visible truths and that historical value does survive, despite the government's attempt to nullify the truth.
ReplyDeleteRussia has always been an interesting country. Apart from politics, its writers were particularly charming.
DeleteIt amazes me how your reading is so varied and diverse and yet it's always a thought-provoking book. The way you review it also compels us to check out the book or at least become curious about the genre/story.
ReplyDeleteSome books come to me quite by chance, like this one. That's why the diversity.
DeleteThank you for your in-depth review.I have read some Russian literature , mostly from the old days and they are tough to read but fascinating.I would like to read this one becaus eif like to read about historical events and bit of humor takes away the edge from the going ons.
ReplyDeleteIf you find the classical Russian writers charming, then this book will certainly keep you hooked.
DeleteYour review has left an impression. I haven't read Russian Literature as of now, but can give it a try now.
ReplyDeleteThe premise sounds interesting. Thank you for the review.
ReplyDeleteNoor Anand Chawla
This sounds like such a fascinating read! The exploration of history’s subjectivity and the interplay between fact and fiction is something I often think about, especially in today’s world where history is constantly being rewritten. The way the novel blends personal ambition, historical research, and philosophical musings about life’s absurdity seems incredibly thought-provoking. I’m definitely intrigued by the complexity of the characters and the way Vodolazkin weaves humor into what seems like a profound narrative.
ReplyDeletewhat a fascinating book. As a history graduate your book reviews always draw me towards the books you review about. I might check out this research as well
ReplyDeleteThough it's sounding interesting I think i will reserve this for a later read thanks for the honest review on this
ReplyDeleteI remember a discussion in a book club one about if historical fiction needs to be factual. That is apparently a gray area but history books sure need to be. Thanks for sharing another interesting read.
ReplyDelete