For the first time in Russian literature, in the pages of the epic novel by Vaclav Michalski “Spring and Carthage,” Moscow and Carthage—Russia and Tunisia—Russians, Arabs, and French—appeared side by side. They became intertwined in the fates of the novel’s main heroines, Maria and Alexandra, daughters of the admiral of the Russian Imperial Fleet. What happens to their mother, the countess turned into a cleaning woman—her new life—is no less tragic in its force and contrast than the fate of her daughters. In “Spring in Carthage” there is both novelty of material and a strong intrigue, vivid and lively characters, and descriptions of historical events of the 20th century unknown to the broad public.
At one time Valentin Kataev wrote: “Vaclav Michalski immediately drew the attention of readers and critics with the freshness of his remarkable talent. He has a steady eye and a sharp analytical mind. He handles the word excellently and knows its value. The driving force of his work is imagination… The female images in Michalski’s prose are always believable and unique.” These words from an outstanding master can very well be applied to Vaclav Michalski’s new book.