Sin

Zakhar Prilepins novel-in-stories Sin has become a literary phenomenon in Russia where it was published in 2007. It has been hailed as the epitome of the spirit of the opening decade of the 21st century and was called the book of the decade by the prestigious Super Natsbest Award jury. In the episodes of Zakharkas life presented here in non-chronological order we see him as a little boy a lovelorn teenager a hard-drinking grave-digger a nightclub bouncer a father and a soldier in Chechnya. Sin offers a fascinating glimpse into the recent Russian past as well as its present with its unemployment poverty violence and local wars - social problems that may be found in many corners of the world. Zakhar Prilepin presents these realities through the eyes of Zakharka taking us along on the life-affirming journey of his unforgettable protagonist.