The Fortress
18 hrs. 49 min.
Language
Russian
Author
Pyotr Aleshkovsky
Author
Pyotr Aleshkovsky
Narrator
Pyotr Aleshkovsky
Narrator
Pyotr Aleshkovsky
Description
Pyotr Aleshkovsky is a prose writer and historian, author of novels “The Biography of Khork,” “Arlequin,” “Vladimir Chigrintsev,” and “Fish.” After finishing the archaeology department at MSU, for several years he worked on restoring monuments of the Russian North.
The main hero of his new novel “The Fortress” is archaeologist Ivan Maltsov—an obsessive fan of his craft, honest and principled to the point of recklessness. He conducts excavations in an old Russian town, writes a book about the history of the Golden Horde, and—just like the Mongol warrior from his dream-visions—throws himself into saving the ancient Fortress threatened with destruction by local nouveau riche and capital officials. Medieval legends receive a new interpretation; the action develops rapidly, to end in a sharp and unexpected finale.
“Pyotr Aleshkovsky wrote a novel that brims with delight at the creation that was given to us—by the seasons, the shades of the sky and the wind, wild geese, powdery frost, and downpours—and at culture itself—ancient churches, frescoes, things… At the same time, it is a tragic novel—about pushing out a man with a conscience beyond the boundaries of society, the direct consequence of which is the destruction of culture, and therefore of life.”
Maya Kucherская
“The main trend now is the classic Russian novel with a strong hero, with a sharply contemporary intrigue and vividly written personal history. All of this is in the novel “The Fortress.” There are no equals in modern prose for the scenes of village life and magnificent depictions of nature.”
Elena Shubina
The main hero of his new novel “The Fortress” is archaeologist Ivan Maltsov—an obsessive fan of his craft, honest and principled to the point of recklessness. He conducts excavations in an old Russian town, writes a book about the history of the Golden Horde, and—just like the Mongol warrior from his dream-visions—throws himself into saving the ancient Fortress threatened with destruction by local nouveau riche and capital officials. Medieval legends receive a new interpretation; the action develops rapidly, to end in a sharp and unexpected finale.
“Pyotr Aleshkovsky wrote a novel that brims with delight at the creation that was given to us—by the seasons, the shades of the sky and the wind, wild geese, powdery frost, and downpours—and at culture itself—ancient churches, frescoes, things… At the same time, it is a tragic novel—about pushing out a man with a conscience beyond the boundaries of society, the direct consequence of which is the destruction of culture, and therefore of life.”
Maya Kucherская
“The main trend now is the classic Russian novel with a strong hero, with a sharply contemporary intrigue and vividly written personal history. All of this is in the novel “The Fortress.” There are no equals in modern prose for the scenes of village life and magnificent depictions of nature.”
Elena Shubina
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