Engineers of the Soul
Author(s): Frank Westerman
"Engineers of the Soul" draws the reader into the wild euphoria of the Russian Revolution, as art and reality are bent to radically new purposes. Writers of renown, described by Stalin as 'engineers of the soul', were encouraged to sing the praises of construction. But the initial enthusiasm of Soviet writers faltered as these colossal structures led to slavery and destruction, and they were obliged to labour on in the service of a deluded totalitarian society. Frank Westerman sweeps the reader along to the dramatic final confrontation between writers and engineers that signalled the end of the Soviet empire.
Product Information
A brilliant fusion of travel writing and Soviet history which reads like Bruce Chatwin
"Endlessly fascinating, breathtaking. Engineers of the Soul is surprising and original, not to mention meticulously researched and well-written." - "de Volkskrant" "A beautifully written, well-documented, extraordinarily fascinating book, full of wonderful anecdotes." - "Vrij Nederland" "[A] fascinating literary travelogue." - Claire Allfree, "Metro" "A compelling combination of literary criticism and travelogue." - "Scotland on Sunday"
Engineers of the Soul is a brilliant fusion of travel writing and Soviet history by one of Europe's most gifted young writers. Frank Westerman was born in 1964 and lived and worked in Moscow from 1997 to 2002 as correspondent for the leading Dutch NRC Handelsblad newspaper. Westerman is the author of five books. His work has been published in more than ten languages and has won many prizes.
General Fields
- :
- : Vintage
- : Vintage
- : 0.23
- : 01 June 2011
- : 198mm X 129mm X 20mm
- : United Kingdom
- : 01 October 2011
- : books
Special Fields
- : Frank Westerman
- : Paperback
- : Paperback
- : 1-Dec
- : 1-Dec
- : 891.709004
- : 891.709004
- : 320
- : 320