When Mountains Fall

Children who don’t want to be born signal this with a special sign appearing on pregnant women’s foreheads—but the world does not hear their silent plea to rethink, break the vicious circle of evil, hatred, and violence… A poor, lonely, tired journalist drawn into criminal entanglements rises up against his tormentors with the help of his only friend—a snow leopard that is just as alone and exhausted…

This collection includes Aitmatov’s late works—novels “The Brand of Cassandra” and “When Mountains Fall.” Two extremely powerful and very harsh works in which the great writer and humanist of the 20th century delivers an unforgiving verdict on the world around him and, with the despairing cry of “the voice crying out in the wilderness,” appeals to human conscience, decency, and mercy.