Alexis Parnis

"Lazar Lefterovich is a Black Sea Greek who works as a humble proof-reader in a printing shop in northern Russia. The year is 1938 and the purges are in full swing. Lazar finds out that the GPU have uncovered a counter-revolutionary plot allegedly hatched at his previous place of work while he was still there. They are systematically liquidating all the employees so as to stamp out the infection, starting at the top; Lazar is the last man to be dealt with. In order to avoid torture and execution he sets out to be arrested on some minor charge which will put him safely in Siberia until the storm blows over. He tries drinking, whoring, brawling, dancing American dances, and thieving, but circumstances always conspire against him..." (Peter Mackridge)… (meer)