Duncan Fallowell Ordre des livres

Diana Mitford's gripping autobiography: both Winston Churchill and Adolf Hitler adored her, and Evelyn Waugh and Oswald Mosley fell in love with her, yet she spent WWII in Holloway prison.

Duncan Fallowell arrived in St Petersburg in the summer of 1992, expecting a quiet time to write a novel, but instead found himself immersed in a city undergoing a dramatic transformation. With communism dissolving and capitalism yet to take hold, Yeltsin's call for freedom opened a world of possibilities, creating a landscape of vertigo and uncertainty. Fallowell's vivid, daring narrative captures this fleeting moment of opportunity, revealing the chaos and beauty of contemporary Russian life. As an outsider, he offers a perspective that resonates with authenticity, portraying his personal experiences marked by love, anxiety, and the city's allure. Critics have hailed the work as a masterpiece of literary reportage, comparing its impact to Isherwood's writings on Berlin. The prose is described as sharp and courageous, delving into themes of love and obsession with a unique energy. Reviewers praise its idiosyncratic portrayal of life in Russia, noting its emotional depth and innovative style. This account stands out as a classic, offering a rare glimpse into a foreign city and the nature of love, making it a memorable and significant contribution to literature.