Red Dawn Lane

Friedrich Gorenstein (1932–2002) was a prose writer, playwright, and screenwriter (“Solaris,” “The Slave of Love”). Gorenstein’s prose was never published in Soviet Russia; he allowed only his “inner circle” to read his manuscripts, and his work first appeared abroad in the late 1970s. Y. Trifonov, A. Konchalovsky, A. Tarkovsky, and B. Sarnov called his novels “The Place,” “The Psalter,” and “Atonement” masterpieces. He did not align himself with any movement or school of thought, found no place for himself in any camp, and attained the status of a classic writer while he was still alive. The writer emigrated in 1980 and died in Berlin in 2002.This collection includes the novella “The Steps,” first published in the almanac “MetroPol,” and three works from his years in exile: “Chok-Chok,” “A Fly by a Teacup,” and “The Street of the Red Dawns,” which gives the book its title. Dmitry Bykov called “The Street…” “the author’s spiritual autobiography and the most poignant and harrowing text written with truly Platonovian power.”This edition was published to mark Friedrich Gorenstein’s 90th birthday. Five reasons to buy 1Friedrich Gorenstein is a Russian-language classic of world literature whose works were never published in Soviet Russia. 2The author’s screenplays formed the basis of the famous films “Solaris” (dir. A. Tarkovsky) and “The Slave of Love” (dir. Nikita Mikhalkov). 3This is masterfully written, exquisitely crafted literary prose that combines cinematic clarity with philosophical reflection. 4The anniversary collection opens with a preface by the critic and writer Dmitry Bykov—a compelling account of Gorenstein and the significance of his legacy for Russian readers. 5The book is published to mark the writer’s 90th birthday.