I found myself quickly drawn into this fictional history book. I enjoyed the different voices that chronicled the history, and the commentary by the two long-lived rulers. Although Christianity is mentioned, and monks are the chroniclers, I didn't find the theme to be too heavy-handed. I think the most jarring parts are when the modern day is mentioned, you get so wrapped up in the Middle Ages for a good portion, and then some more modern events are mentioned. The story itself moves along smoothly, and while I don't feel like there was a lot of character development, this was nonetheless an interesting and fun read. In some ways, it reminded me of Bible study when I was growing up, and our teacher would read to us from a book that stylized biblical stories. ( )

I get what Vodolazkin was going for in this story and on the whole he succeeds. The early parts of the book are the better portion of the “chronicle” and at times the narrative feels a bit uneven. Vodolazkin really shines with his intrusions of supernatural realism (sacramental realism?). Overall, good book for history lovers. 3.5 stars. I think, unfortunately, Vodolazkin is going to be judged by his masterpiece, Laurus. ( )

Eugene Vodolazkin – History of the Island

I have read Vodolazkin’s other novels with the exception of Brisbane. – Laurus, excellent; The Aviator, excellent; Solovyov and Larionov– a flawed, first novel. I was delighted to have the opportunity to read this e-book release. The novel covers the same years as the characters and more – 357 years.
We follow the narration from the Middle Ages to modernity. A dozen wars with a dozen different leaders, including one revolutionary war and several revolutionary leaders. The parallel to the Russian revolution, Stalin, the Gulags cannot be avoided.
Vodolazkin is at his best in talking about the art of the time – comparing it to a realism which of course refers to Socialist Realism. His discussion of time which he sees very differently from typical western eyes is superlative. His characters (reflecting Vodolazkin) see history, time, as a fluctuation of Good and Evil, not as cause-effect events.

Only an author of Vodolazkin’s skill could write effectively through centuries without losing the freshness and depth of characters. Walter M. Miller’s classic masterpiece, A Canticle for Leibowitz, impresses in a narrative covering millennium. David Mitchell does the same in Cloud Atlas.

The danger in narrating through the centuries manifests in Vodolazkin’s diluting of the story’s depth, along with the characters, Prince Parfeny and Princess Ksenia. Though not to a point of compromising the novel. A third of the way through the novel we are taken to modern Paris where Parfeny and Ksenia are coming to an agreement with a French film director for a biopic with the prince and princess as consultants. Later, when we have been brought to modern times, the geographical change -- to lunch with the film director in Paris and later on the set in Tuscany – the shift does not jar us like this early shift. Once we become accustomed to such time shifts, like eyes adjusting to a dark theater, we are comfortable when steamboats suddenly appear off the shores of the island.

The sections with the Lord of the Bees, Vlas, are excellent. The conversion of his daughter, Melissa (new ruler of the island), reads well with its skilled narrative. From a religious country to an atheistic revolutionary country back to a religious country all are done so skillfully we travel without realizing the transition. This is vintage Vodolazkin.

The only element which prevents the highest rating for this novel are the too-sudden shifts in time and geography to scenes with the film director in Paris and Tuscany. I repeat this because I think Vodolazkin made a questionable decision to place the two characters into situations of film-making. It is not so much the shift in geography and time, but that two such deeply sympathetic characters as Parfeny and Ksenia would descend to a biopic. I cannot accept that this is something Parfeny and Ksenia would agree to do. Too many Western writers have their eye on film rights to their novels. Perhaps Vodolazkin sought a parody of such Western monetary eyes which always seems to compromise any work of literature.

Vodolazkin has definitive views about time and, being a Medieval scholar by education, the Middle Ages. His future works are sure to include shifts in time and sudden jolts to the present. I think, for all his skill and craft, this weakens Vodolazkin’s novels. Even his masterpiece, Laurus, jolts us with its sudden, brief shift, to the present from the Middle Ages.

Whatever elements we might find weaking it, this is a novel well worth reading.

One sad note. I have read that there is less work for translators of Russian during these days of war in Ukraine. I find this unfortunate. Art, especially literature, should transcend the frontiers of geography, politics and time. Vodolazkin brilliantly transcends such barriers. If only we, in our failed wisdom, could do the same.

This review was based upon an advanced copy from NetGalley. ( )