The Radiance of the 'Zhemozhakha'. Grisha Nedokvasov

The trilogy “The Radiance of the Gemozhakh” by Sofia Sinitskaya has been included in the shortlists for the “Big Book” and “National Bestseller” awards.

A distinctive feature of Sofia Sinitskaya’s prize-winning prose is a dense blend of carefully constructed, tightly written style, vivid phantasmagoria, and genuine tragic depth. You never know what one of her stories will turn into—whether it becomes a dark fairy tale, an everyday drama, or a colorful fireworks display. Everything here is convincing and everything is incredible; every person is a rarity.

The novella “Grisha Nedokvasov” tells of the unbelievable fate of a puppet master whose life coincided with a historical turning point in Russia in the first half of the 20th century. Much changes in our country, but Grisha Nedokvasov’s world—like a beautiful island—remains unmoving in the midst of this sea of fateful and terrible events.