Alexey Ivanov. Fornication and Mud (New Edition)

"Bluda and MUDO" is a modern picaresque novel. In the provincial town of Kovyazin, young teachers at MUDO, a former House of Pioneers, stage a scam to save their institution from closure: they pretend their country summer camp is full of vacationing schoolchildren. The protagonist, philosopher and bon vivant Boris Morzhov, travels to his former teacher-lovers, like Chichikov visiting the estates of landowners, and "chichit" certificates—the "dead souls" of non-existent camp residents. The novel also features prostitutes, corrupt cops, corrupt officials, village alcoholics, and many other motley folk. But this humorous novel poses a very serious question: what is more important, to be successful or to be authentic? Alexey Ivanov