Fictionalized retelling of the last days of poet Geo Milev and anarchist Georgi Sheytanov during the fascist Tsankov government. Very post-modern with lots of chronological jumps, digressions, and metafiction. ( )

Set in Bulgaria in the 1920s, this is a piece of historical fiction. Bulgaria was the site of a failed communist uprising, followed by a period of martial law. Two men, Geo Milev (famous poet) & Georgi Sheytanov (famous anarchist) try to start a subversive new magazine. The story tells of the incredible sense of chaos and fear of the period from the perspective of a philosopher and a warrior. While for the most part the plot is engaging as are the characters, at times it dragged, and at other times was a bit boring. A good book, just not up to the usual standard I have come cv to expect from Open Letter publications. I would strongly recommend reading Geo Milev's poem "September", which is included at the end of the book! ( )