Chonkin

Voinovich Vladimir — Chonkin. Audio performance
The novel about Chonkin is undoubtedly the pinnacle of Voinovich’s work. The funny and absurd soldier Ivan Chonkin strongly resembles beloved folk heroes: the brave soldier Schweik, Vasily Tyorkin, Ivan Brovkin. Pretense, lies, and betrayal, when confronted with him, become incredibly ridiculous and helpless.
… This novel has a subtitle: a joke-novel, which defines its essence as accurately as possible. Satirically depicting the most difficult period of Soviet history, the author pays tribute to his heroes, those who are usually called ordinary people, but who in times of trial turn out to be figures more significant than the “leaders of nations” and their commanders.
A brilliant production by the Saratov Drama Theater based on the first part of the famous trilogy.