Great Russian books available on Amazon (in English)
1. Bulgakov, “Master and Margarita”. Voted the best Russian book ever.
Mikhail Bulgakov’s devastating satire of Soviet life was written during the darkest period of Stalin’s regime. Combining two distinct yet interwoven parts-one set in ancient Jerusalem, one in contemporary Moscow-the novel veers from moods of wild theatricality with violent storms, vampire attacks, and a Satanic ball; to such somber scenes as the meeting of Pilate and Yeshua, and the murder of Judas in the moonlit garden of Gethsemane; to the substanceless, circus-like reality of Moscow. Its central characters, Woland (Satan) and his retinue-including the vodka-drinking, black cat, Behemoth; the poet, Ivan Homeless; Pontius Pilate; and a writer known only as The Master, and his passionate companion, Margarita-exist in a world that blends fantasy and chilling realism, an artful collage of grostesqueries, dark comedy, and timeless ethical questions.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0141180145/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER
2. Boris Polevoi. ”A story about a real man”
One of my favorite childhood books. One of very many great WWII-themed books and movies (unfortunately, very few of them are translated).
The story of downed WWII Soviet fighter pilot (and Hero of the Soviet Union) Alexiei Maresyev, who with both feet amputated because of frostbite returns to combat flying.
The author Boris Polevoi parachuted several times into the enemy’s rear, served in Stalingrad, witnessed the meeting of Allied troops on the Elbe and the capture of the Reichstag in Berlin. At the Nuremberg Trial Polevoi headed the group of Soviet journalists as a special Pravda correspondent.
http://www.amazon.com/Story-about-Real-Man-Paperback/dp/184902863X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1300144894&sr=8-1
3. Fadeev. ”The young guard”.
I read this book several times a long time ago. Another WWII book, this time about the youth. While it is sure to be filled with Soviet propaganda, the fact that the book is inspired by a true resistance story makes for a touching read.
4. Sholokhov. ”And quiet flows the Don”.
I am personally a huge fan of his other big and famous novel, but couldn’t find that one translated on Amazon. This book, however, is considered even better by most. Made into a motion picture.
The Russian novel was published between 1928 and 1940. Set in the Don River basin of southwestern Russia at the end of the czarist period, the novel traces the progress of the Cossack Gregor Melekhov from youthful lover to Red Army soldier and finally to Cossack nationalist. War–in the form of both international conflict and civil revolution–provides the epic backdrop for the narrative and determines its tone of moral ambiguity.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1151735744/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER
