Black Boards

The book is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the birth of the Soviet and Russian writer Vladimir Alekseevich Soloukhin, a representative of the so-called "village prose." The edition includes the autobiographical novella "Laughter Over the Left Shoulder" (1988) and "Black Boards. Notes of a Beginner Collector" (1969). In the autobiographical novella "Laughter Over the Left Shoulder," Vladimir Soloukhin tells readers about the way of life in the countryside, about his childhood, about joys and sorrows. Important themes are touched upon, such as humanity and cruelty, the ability to love and to learn the world, philosophical questions of existence, and collectivization. The entire narrative is filled with love for nature, people, and the native land. In the work "Black Boards," the author tells of his experience collecting antique icons, as well as about their rescue and restoration. Vladimir Soloukhin traveled through villages, gathered information about destroyed churches, estates, and villages—in an effort to preserve and convey to future generations the beauty of ancient Russian art.