Bibliograph

Grey bees, Andrey Kurkov ; translated from the Russian by Boris Dralyuk

Type

Label

Grey bees, Andrey Kurkov ; translated from the Russian by Boris Dralyuk

Language

eng

Index

no index present

Literary Form

fiction

Main title

Grey bees

Oclc number

1267687585

Responsibility statement

Andrey Kurkov ; translated from the Russian by Boris Dralyuk

Summary

With a warm yet political humor, Ukraine's most famous novelist presents a balanced and illuminating portrait of modern conflict. Little Starhorodivka, a village of three streets, lies in Ukraine's Grey Zone, the no-man's-land between loyalist and separatist forces. Thanks to the lukewarm war of sporadic violence and constant propaganda that has been dragging on for years, only two residents remain: retired safety inspector turned beekeeper Sergey Sergeyich and Pashka, a rival from his schooldays. With little food and no electricity, under constant threat of bombardment, Sergeyich's one remaining pleasure is his bees. As spring approaches, he knows he must take them far from the Grey Zone so they can collect their pollen in peace. This simple mission on their behalf introduces him to combatants and civilians on both sides of the battle lines: loyalists, separatists, Russian occupiers and Crimean Tatars. Wherever he goes, Sergeyich's childlike simplicity and strong moral compass disarm everyone he meets. But could these qualities be manipulated to serve an unworthy cause, spelling disaster for him, his bees and his country?

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