“The Povitel” is A.S. Ivanov’s first novel (1928–1999), author of the famous epic works “Shadows Disappear at Noon” and “Eternal Call.” It reveals the features of the Russian national character, forged through the furnace of revolution and the brass pipes of building socialism. Ruined fates of Siberians caught in the Povitel’s web of the state mechanism cause a sense of pain. Everyday and romantic conflicts, the colorful, rich language, and the novel’s fresh plot give rise to an inexhaustible interest among readers.