This book was on my shelf for years. Why didn’t I look into it before? - what have I missed! Zamyatin, born 1884, imprisoned 1905 under the tzar, initially supporting the Bolsheviks, in the 1920th banned from publishing, wrote 1931 to Stalin requesting to emigrate, which, with Gorky’s support was granted. His letter to Stalin is included here. Although I cannot judge it, Ginsburg’s translation reads brilliantly, seems to transmit Zamyatin’s distinct voice. This is unlike any other 20th century writer I know, mixing reality and fantasy with irony and playfulness added. (IX-17) ( )

After reading Zamyatin's short story "The Cave" I'm very tempted to go out and buy this entire book.

One of the short stories in this collection, in The Cave Zamyatin manages to throw on its back the Russian Revolution's model of progress and moving forward to create ideal human beings--he even sets the novel in Petrograd, ironic, of course, becuase at the time the city was paraded as a model of progress.

Zamyatin places Masha and Martin, two former members of the Russian intelligentsia, in a prehistoric setting of a "Cave"; the twist is that the cave is their own home. They have become trapped, starving and freezing, inside their own lives. Zamyatin also references to the "god" in the home--the fire--which is perhaps a not so subtle remark at the godlessness of Soviety society.

The idea and social critique stand alone as making this short story remarkable. Zamyatin's masterful prose only serves as a delightful cherry on top of this rich dessert. ( )