The Archivist's Story Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy The Archivist's Story? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on The Archivist's Story. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

The Archivist's Story ReviewI saw this book reviewed in _The New York Times_ Book Review and bought it immediately. As a former Russian language scholar and devoted Russophile, I knew I could not wait for the paperback. The hardback price is worth every penny. This is historical fiction at its finest.
Holland admirably recreates the repressive, paranoid atmosphere of 1930's Stalinist Moscow. He gives us insight -- speculative, of course, but no less perspicacious -- into how individuals caught in that surreal world may have struggled: to survive, to be faithful to friends and family, and to be faithful to themselves. The cameo appearances of famous historical figures (most notably Isaac Babel) adds to the realism. By sheer coincidence, I read Holland's book just as I was re-reading Solzhenitsyn's _Gulag Archipelago_. Holland's ability to create such a realistic atmosphere is chilling. He clearly did his homework.
Some readers could be disappointed if they expect the focus of the book to be on historical figures, but I believe this was not the author's intent. Plenty of first-person accounts and impeccable historians have documented the travails and the bravery of the many great thinkers and artists who suffered under the Stalinist regime. Instead, Holland is clearly focused on "the common man," his reactions, and his attempts to cope. The suffering of these silent millions is often no less noble but certainly less widely documented.
As for the writing itself, Holland's prose is subtle, clear, and understated, all of which matches the quiet tension of the setting. The plot moves along at a sustained, crisp clip but never feels rushed. I found the book a compelling page turner, and I literally stayed up too late reading several nights.
In my opinion, this is a fantastic novel. Mr. Holland has set the bar high, and I eagerly anticipate his next book.
The Archivist's Story Overview

Want to learn more information about The Archivist's Story?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now