Heavy Sand

“Heavy Sand” is one of Anatoly Rybakov’s most significant works. At the time, the novel was refused for publication by “Novy Mir” and “Druzhba narodov,” and only the editor of the magazine “Oktyabr,” Anatoly Ananyev, dared to print the novel on the pages of his journal. And in 1979 “Heavy Sand” was released as a separate edition. Thus, the “dangerous” book became a bestseller not only in Soviet Russia but throughout the entire world.

A young Ivanov family is going through hard times: their lot includes both the revolution in Russia and the First World War, yet despite everything they keep their love and trust in one another. Family happiness collapses overnight when the Great Patriotic War begins.