Cloud Shelf

Author: Verkin Eduard Nikolaevich

Editor: Azgaldov Erik

Publisher: Publishing House KompasGid, 2014.

Pages: 296 (Offset)

Weight: 432 g

Dimensions: 220x147x20 mm

ISBN: 978-5-905876-23-3  

Today, it is difficult to write about the war—the Great Patriotic War. Much has already been written and told, and now there are almost no living witnesses left. Writing for teenagers is twice as difficult. The younger generation seems interested in completely different things...

But that is not the case! It was teenagers who awarded this book first place in the All-Russian literary competition for the best work for children and young people, "Kniguru". It was with them that this poignant novella found its most heartfelt response. Complex and ambiguous, it sometimes turns one's soul inside out, but also helps one better feel and understand what happened.

Before your eyes, they will appear: waist-deep in mud and snow, partisans escort terrified German soldiers, trade grenades with the Germans for the famous Lend-Lease canned meat, desperately trying to warm themselves and eat. Here is Dimka, who lost his family in the early days of the war, took up arms, and dreamed of finally opening his account of killed Nazis. Here is the daring Sanych, charmed by a Gypsy woman against bullets and camera lenses, a chatterbox and a natural-born soldier, afraid of only three things: betrayal, the Topchun from his grandmother's tales, and the strict girl Alevtina. And here is Kovalets, carefully smoothing his hair with a dandy's comb, yet a brave and desperate warrior. Or Shurik, nicknamed Shchury, who dreams of finally getting his first pistol...

The twentieth century closed its doors, taking with it millions of lives lost in millions of wars. But through the gunpowder smoke, Sanych, Kovalets, Alka, and many others look out at us. Who are they? It is difficult to say. One thing is clear: they are all part of the Cloud Regiment.

"The Cloud Regiment" is a contemporary book about the war and its heroes, a book about destinies, duty, and, of course, the courage to live. A book written in the tradition of Russian youth prose, yet boldly transcending its conventions. The absence of "heroism", its simplicity, understatement, and the everyday nature of WAR place this book among the finest works of the twentieth century.

For older schoolchildren.

2nd edition, reprint.