Moscow–Petushki

"Moscow to Petushki" is poetry in prose. The plot is simple and straightforward: the main character, Venedict (Venechka), rides an electric train along the route “Moscow—Petushki,” meeting different characters along the way, each with their own story. But there is something that unites them all—and it is alcohol. The entire work is saturated with alcohol in all its various forms. Alcohol brings the characters together, connects them with invisible threads, and serves as the backdrop for conversations about culture, philosophy, and history. The described events are often presented in an unflattering light: dirty, ridiculous clothes of the heroes, a cigarette-smoked vestibule, the smell of “burning aftertaste” everywhere, vomit, and much more. The author describes such unpleasant things in a beautiful language full of aphorisms and philosophical thoughts.