The Leonardo Gulag
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- $4.99
Publisher Description
A talented artist trapped in Stalin's brutal gulag must use his skills to forge masterpieces or face certain death.
In Stalin's Russia, brilliant young artist Pasha Kalmenov is sent to a forced-labor camp in the Arctic gulag. The prisoners' task: forging Leonardo da Vinci's drawings. As Pasha's talent grows, so does the danger. One wrong stroke could mean execution.
When the executions begin, only Pasha's artistic skill can protect him. But for how long? As he navigates the treacherous world of art forgery and political intrigue, Pasha faces a moral dilemma: can he compromise his integrity to survive? If he survives, will life still be worth living? This historical thriller explores the power of art, the cost of survival, and the search for redemption in a world consumed by lies. Perfect for readers of Russian history and espionage thrillers.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
On a freezing winter night in 1950, in a small town north of Moscow, 20-year-old artist Pasha Kalmenov, the hero of this grim thriller from British author Doherty (Patriots), and his mother are awakened by a group of rifle-wielding soldiers, who barge into their apartment, confiscate Pasha's identity papers, and hustle him out to a waiting truck. Along with others with specific artistic skills, Pasha is bundled onto a train to one of Stalin's camps in the Arctic gulag. Their orders are to copy with precision the drawings of Leonardo da Vinci. Those who don't measure up are executed. Three years into his ordeal, Pasha realizes that his only option is to escape. Escape he does, and heads to England. A subplot involving Sir Anthony Blunt, Surveyor of the King's Pictures and Soviet spy, adds to the intrigue. This relentless tale of cruelty and survival provides a sobering look at Stalin's Russia. Fans of Kafkaesque historical fiction will be satisfied.
