A landmark work of Russian classical literature: Shmelyov—an outstanding stylist, twice nominated for the Nobel Prize. All of his writing is directed toward “Old Russia”: the writer conveys its everyday life, customs, and church existence with subtlety and conviction.
The novel “Heavenly Paths,” Ivan Shmelyov defined as “the first attempt at a Orthodox novel.” At the center of the narrative are the fates of an unbelieving engineer, Viktor Alekseyevich, and the quiet, deeply devout Darya. Meeting Daryenka opens Viktor to a reality unknown to him before, and her love and steadfast faith help him through life’s trials, rethink his life, and accept the “heavenly paths.”