Reviews

The Case of Comrade Tulayev by Susan Sontag, Victor Serge, Willard R. Trask

subdue_provide75's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.0

Solid. A unique author.

tomjohn666's review against another edition

inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

quercus707's review against another edition

4.0

This is an amazing book, hard to classify - it is literary fiction, historical fiction, but it feels incredibly real. It's hard not to see it as a true witness of Stalin's Great Terror. Yet it isn't remotely autobiographical. There is no single protagonist, it's an ensemble cast of characters, but each feels fully realized and you experience the events of the book through each set of eyes, through each experience. The book it reminds me of most is Orwell's 1984, but with all the horrors and deception set in the real world, describing events that actually happened to real people. Most profoundly it helps one to understand why people could actively participate in their own destruction in service of a higher goal.

skhan11's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

sarapalooza's review against another edition

4.0

And that’s a wrap on the last read of 2021.

Serge’s “Tulayev” is a truly fascinating read and glimpse into late 30s Soviet Union. There is a leaden heaviness to the writing, yet the engrossing story pulls the reader along, completely rapt. Serge’s insight into the time brings the history to life vividly.

robertpcosgrave's review against another edition

5.0

The definitive literary treatment of the Show Trials and the Purges.

bundy23's review against another edition

3.0

It was good but, like so many Russian novels, it was probably 3 times longer than it needed to be (and felt ten times longer than it actually was) and really, once you’ve read one of these tales of Stalins purges or the great terror you’ve read them all... it’s also not a great sign when the introduction, by Susan Sontag, was my favourite thing about the book.

hauban's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Suicide

Moderate: War

Minor: Rape

brodunwin's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

kingkong's review against another edition

3.0

See if you can figure out who the real murderer is!