Description
In this masterful exploration of the intricate dance between writers and tyranny, Ismail Kadare dissects a pivotal moment when Joseph Stalin's shadow fell upon the literary world. The narrative centers on a single, chilling phone call in June 1934, allegedly from Stalin to Boris Pasternak, concerning the arrest of Osip Mandelstam. Kadare masterfully weaves together accounts from witnesses, fellow writers, and even KGB archives to reconstruct the complex web of fear, loyalty, and artistic integrity surrounding this fateful conversation. The result is a gripping, mosaic-like mystery that probes the profound and often perilous relationship between power, politics, and the enduring spirit of literature.
Available Editions
paperback
Catapult
Published Sep 19, 2023
241 pages
ISBN: 9781640096097
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Details
First Published
2023
Language
eng
Content Warnings
Content and trigger warnings for A Dictator Calls by Ismail Kadare.