The novel that I read for my independent novel study is called "Sashenka". It's by Simon Montefiore and explores the event of the Russian Revolution, as well as it's aftermath, in great detail (and I do mean great. If you get bored easily, this book is not for you).
The Russian Revolution occured in 1917, and was basically a revolt against the Tsarist dictatorship in Russia. The revolters, or "Bolsheviks", were lead by Josef Stalin. Once the Bolsheviks gained power, they destroyed everybody that opposed them. Some of these people were shot. Others were imprisoned. Many were beaten to death.
Eventually, there were no more enemies to kill. The Bolsheviks were somewhat relieved, because many of the people that were killed had been friends of theirs. They hoped that this was the end of the bloodshed, but they were wrong. Soon, the Bolsheviks were being killed. Everybody was up for investigation. Not even those that had been Bolsheviks from the very start were safe. This political liquidation killed hundreds, possibly thousands. Some say that it was a more brutal time in history than World War Two.
Characters of Sashenka
"Sashenka" is split into three time periods: 1916, 1939, and 1994. Because some of the characters are different for the different time periods, I've split the character list up into two parts. !916 and 1939 are together because most of the characters are the same
CHARACTER LIST
1916 & 1939
Mendel Barmakid-Sashenka's uncle, Ariadna's brother, Bolshevik leader
Peter de Sagan-Captian of the Gendarmes (armed police officers)
Hercules Satinov-Bolshevik, friend of Vanya and Sashenka
Vanya Palitsyn-Bolshevik, Sashenka's husband
Carlo and Snowy Palitsyn- Sashenka and Vanya's children
Benya Golden- writer, Sashenka's lover
1994
Katinka Vinsky-historian and Sashenka's granddaughter
Valentin Vinsky-Katinka's father
Roza Getman-rich widow from Odessa
Maxy Shubin-historian that specializes in Stalin's Terror
CHARACTER LIST
1916 & 1939
Sashenka Zeitlin- main character, Bolshevik married to Vanya Palitsyn
Samuil and Ariadna Zeitlin-Sashenka's parents
Samuil and Ariadna Zeitlin-Sashenka's parents
Mendel Barmakid-Sashenka's uncle, Ariadna's brother, Bolshevik leader
Peter de Sagan-Captian of the Gendarmes (armed police officers)
Hercules Satinov-Bolshevik, friend of Vanya and Sashenka
Vanya Palitsyn-Bolshevik, Sashenka's husband
Carlo and Snowy Palitsyn- Sashenka and Vanya's children
Benya Golden- writer, Sashenka's lover
1994
Katinka Vinsky-historian and Sashenka's granddaughter
Valentin Vinsky-Katinka's father
Roza Getman-rich widow from Odessa
Maxy Shubin-historian that specializes in Stalin's Terror
Plot Of Sashenka
The novel begins when Sashenka is sixteen. As she's leaving school for the holidays, she is arrested by the gendarmes and taken away to the Kresty prison. There, she is assaulted by the other inmates and questioned by Peter de Sagan, captain of the Gendarmes. Sashenka admits that she is a Bolshevik comrade. Sashenka is in prison for less than a day before her rich father, Samuil Zeitlin, gets her released. After that, Sashenka talks to her uncle Mendel (the man who introduced her to Communism and the Rebellion) about what she should do next. Mendel tells her to try and learn more about Peter de Sagan.
For the rest of this section in the novel, Sashenka begins to get very fed up with her mother, Ariadna, and her adulterous ways. Sashenka finds solace in the streets of Russia, delivering messages to comrades and getting to know Peter de Sagan better (eventually they kiss, but their relationship is ruined when, in a fit of desperation, Peter tries to sexually assault Sashenka). The section ends with the Revolution and the suicide of Ariadna.
In the second part of the novel, Sashenka is a middle aged woman. She is married to Vanya Palitsyn, a Bolshevik comrade, and they have two really cute kids named Snowy and Carlo. Sashenka should be happy, but she isn't. If anything, she's terrified. Bolsheviks are being questioned, arrested, and killed. While at first she's convinced that her and the rest of her family are safe, she soon finds out that is not the case. A brief but flamboyant love affair with author Benya Golden leads to Sashenka and Vanya's arrest. Hercules Satinov, a close friend of Sashenka and Vanya, takes their children and promises to find them good homes. Sashenka is beaten, questioned, and killed.
In the last section of the novel, we meet Sashenka's granddaughter. Her name is Katinka, and she's a historian. When Roza Getman, a rich widow from Odessa, hires Katinka to uncover her family history, Katinka accepts. Along with a young historian named Maxy Shubin, Katinka discovers that Sashenka was brutally murdered (she was tied to a pole, naked, and doused in water. As it was winter, Sashenka froze to death). She also learns that Roza Getman is actually Snowy Palitsyn, but her named was changed by the family who adopted her. Katinka's father, Valentin Vinsky, turns out to be Carlo Palitsyn. His name was also changed. The novel ends with Katinka kissing Maxy.
For the rest of this section in the novel, Sashenka begins to get very fed up with her mother, Ariadna, and her adulterous ways. Sashenka finds solace in the streets of Russia, delivering messages to comrades and getting to know Peter de Sagan better (eventually they kiss, but their relationship is ruined when, in a fit of desperation, Peter tries to sexually assault Sashenka). The section ends with the Revolution and the suicide of Ariadna.
In the second part of the novel, Sashenka is a middle aged woman. She is married to Vanya Palitsyn, a Bolshevik comrade, and they have two really cute kids named Snowy and Carlo. Sashenka should be happy, but she isn't. If anything, she's terrified. Bolsheviks are being questioned, arrested, and killed. While at first she's convinced that her and the rest of her family are safe, she soon finds out that is not the case. A brief but flamboyant love affair with author Benya Golden leads to Sashenka and Vanya's arrest. Hercules Satinov, a close friend of Sashenka and Vanya, takes their children and promises to find them good homes. Sashenka is beaten, questioned, and killed.
In the last section of the novel, we meet Sashenka's granddaughter. Her name is Katinka, and she's a historian. When Roza Getman, a rich widow from Odessa, hires Katinka to uncover her family history, Katinka accepts. Along with a young historian named Maxy Shubin, Katinka discovers that Sashenka was brutally murdered (she was tied to a pole, naked, and doused in water. As it was winter, Sashenka froze to death). She also learns that Roza Getman is actually Snowy Palitsyn, but her named was changed by the family who adopted her. Katinka's father, Valentin Vinsky, turns out to be Carlo Palitsyn. His name was also changed. The novel ends with Katinka kissing Maxy.
Personal Response
Although this book was very boring at times because of the incredible detail it went into, I found that for the most part, I really enjoyed it. The author does a really good job of making you sympathize with the characters, even if you don't agree with their choices. Besides of the characters, I think what really made me enjoy the book was all of the knowledge that went into it. By the time I finished reading "Sashenka", I knew more about Russia and the Russian Revolution than I had ever known before. The author wasn't afraid to use vivid imagery, even when exploring disturbing or uncomfortable topics (like his gruesome descriptions of the Russian orphanages). These details, as well as the countless allusions to actual written works (such as "The Talisman" by Alexander Pushkin), made me feel like the novel was historical rather than historical fiction.
This novel is definitely part of the "Moving Forward" section in the "Questions For Deeper Understanding". It's all about transitioning from a child to a young adult to an adult, and all the responsibilities that go along growing up. "Sashenka" is a tragic coming of age story, and I'd definitely recommend it to anybody that likes their history with a little heartbreak and a lot of love.
This novel is definitely part of the "Moving Forward" section in the "Questions For Deeper Understanding". It's all about transitioning from a child to a young adult to an adult, and all the responsibilities that go along growing up. "Sashenka" is a tragic coming of age story, and I'd definitely recommend it to anybody that likes their history with a little heartbreak and a lot of love.
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