This novel is structured around interviews given, in retirement, by a character called Vadim Baranov, who - by coincidence or not - closely resembles Vladislav Surkov, a producer of reality TV shows who became both the spin doctor and the power behind the throne of Putin’s Russia.
The reader plunges into the heart of power behind the Kremlin walls, populated by spine-chillingly authentic characters involved in power plays for mother Russia. Themes include the verticality of power, the court-like ambiance created by the Tsar (aka Putin), the obsequiousness of his courtiers, the sociology of propaganda, the reign of terror, the creation of an oligarch system, and the fanatical use of power by one dictator.
Baranov’s background in television enabled him to dramatise events such as the Sochi Olympics and the extreme right-wing Night Wolf motorbike gang in order to support the regime’s line but over all to reinforce the Tsar’s power. After all is said and done, currying favour with the Tsar and fulfilling his wishes is the path to personal enrichment and a privileged lifestyle. The dictator stops at nothing in his search for power, even using his dog to create a negotiating advantage at one point.
The description of contemporary Russia and in particular the author’s elegant meditation on the nature of power leads us linearly to today’s war with Ukraine. One nightmarish and somewhat deterministic quote stands out: ‘Le destin des Russes est d’être gouvernés par les descendants d’Yvan le Terrible’. (The destiny of the Russian population is to be ruled by descendants of Ivan the Terrible).
In our group , we were unanimous about the value and interest of this incredible book !
Anne Van Calster, April 2023
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