Laurus
Books | Fiction / Literary
4.1
Eugene Vodolazkin
It is the late fifteenth century and a village healer in Russia called Laurus is powerless to help his beloved as she dies in childbirth, unwed and without having received communion. Devastated and desperate, he sets out on a journey in search of redemption. But this is no ordinary journey: it is one that spans ages and countries, and which brings him face-to-face with a host of unforgettable, eccentric characters and legendary creatures from the strangest medieval bestiaries.Laurus’s travels take him from the Middle Ages to the Plague of 1771, where as a holy fool he displays miraculous healing powers, to the political upheavals of the late-twentieth century. At each transformative stage of his journey he becomes more revered by the church and the people, until he decides, one day, to return to his home village to lead the life of a monastic hermit – not realizing that it is here that he will face his most difficult trial yet.Laurus is a remarkably rich novel about the eternal themes of love, loss, self-sacrifice and faith, from one of Russia’s most exciting and critically acclaimed novelists.
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More Details:
Author
Eugene Vodolazkin
Pages
352
Publisher
Oneworld Publications
Published Date
2015-09-21
ISBN
178074756X 9781780747569
Community ReviewsSee all
"This book relates the forever-ness of true love with a story of self forgiving and spiritual understanding from the pain of view of Eastern Orthodoxy, Arsany’s journey takes you through time, tragedy, love, and even forgiveness as he tries to reconcile for his sins that took everything from him…10/10 this book is inspiring and even brought me to tears at times, even with the religious differences (I being Catholic) the theology shines through with its truths. I really like this book"
A R
Aubree Renee
"An absolute literary masterpiece. Profoundly changes you."
Mothman Prophet
"Although a modern novel, Laurus paints a vivid picture of medieval Russian life and religion. A must read for anyone desiring to give more context to the classic writings of Dostoevsky and Tolstoy"
Richard Entingh