Boris Vasiliev. An extraordinary century

A recognized classic of Russian literature, Boris Vasiliev rose to fame as the author of long-beloved works such as "The Dawns Here Are Quiet...," "He Was Not on the Lists," "Ivan's Boat," "Don't Shoot the White Swans," and "True and Untold Fables." His heroes are strong, courageous individuals for whom honor, conscience, and duty are not empty words, but the meaning of life. And so the hero of the writer's new book is... himself. Boris Vasiliev's memoirs bear little resemblance to traditional works of this genre—they lack strict consistency, epic tranquility, or monumentality. Everyday details coexist here with reflections on socio-philosophical themes, childhood memories with excursions into Russia's distant past, and a touching love story with journalistic intensity. But it is precisely this kind of book—impulsive, passionate, and deliberately uneven—that provides a complete picture of the author and his inner world.