Big books definition
big books definition | English definition dictionary
n
1 a number of printed or written pages bound together along one edge and usually protected by thick paper or stiff pasteboard covers
See also →
hardback →
paperback
a a written work or composition, such as a novel, technical manual, or dictionary
b (as modifier)
the book trade, book reviews
c (in combination)
bookseller, bookshop, bookshelf, bookrack
3 a number of blank or ruled sheets of paper bound together, used to record lessons, keep accounts, etc
4 pl a record of the transactions of a business or society
5 the script of a play or the libretto of an opera, musical, etc
6 a major division of a written composition, as of a long novel or of the Bible
7 a number of tickets, sheets, stamps, etc. , fastened together along one edge
8 (Bookmaking) a record of the bets made on a horse race or other event
9 (in card games) the number of tricks that must be taken by a side or player before any trick has a scoring value
in bridge, six of the 13 tricks form the book
10 strict or rigid regulations, rules, or standards (esp. in the phrases according to the book, by the book)
11 a source of knowledge or authority
the book of life
12 a telephone directory (in the phrase in the book)
13 ♦
the book sometimes cap the Bible
14 ♦
an open book a person or subject that is thoroughly understood
15 ♦
a closed book a person or subject that is unknown or beyond comprehension
chemistry is a closed book to him
16 ♦
bring to book to reprimand or require (someone) to give an explanation of his conduct
17 ♦
close the book on to bring to a definite end
we have closed the book on apartheid
18 ♦
close the books (Book-keeping) to balance accounts in order to prepare a statement or report
19 ♦
cook the books
Informal to make fraudulent alterations to business or other accounts
20 ♦
in my book according to my view of things
21 ♦
in someone's good (or) bad books rregarded by someonewith favour (or disfavour)
22 ♦
keep the books to keep written records of the finances of a business or other enterprise
23 ♦ on the books
a enrolled as a member
b registered or recorded
24 ♦
read (someone) like a book to understand (a person, his motives, character, etc.
) thoroughly and clearly
25 ♦ throw the book at
a to charge with every relevant offence
b to inflict the most severe punishment on
vb
26 to reserve (a place, passage, etc.) or engage the services of (a performer, driver, etc.) in advance
to book a flight, to book a band
27 tr to take the name and address of (a person guilty of a minor offence) with a view to bringing a prosecution
he was booked for ignoring a traffic signal
28 tr (of a football referee) to take the name of (a player) who grossly infringes the rules while playing, two such acts resulting in the player's dismissal from the field
29 tr
Archaic to record in a book, (See also)
→
book in →
book into →
book out →
book up
(Old English boc; related to Old Norse bok, Old High German buoh book, Gothic boka letter; see beech (the bark of which was used as a writing surface))
The Big Book | Alcoholics Anonymous
About the Big Book
Alcoholics Anonymous, also known as the “Big Book,” presents the A.
A. program for recovery from alcoholism. First published in 1939, its purpose was to show other alcoholics how the first 100 people of A.A. got sober. Now translated into over 70 languages, it is still considered A.A.’s basic text.
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Intro
01. Title Page - (pp. iii)
02. Copyright Information - (pp. ii)
03. Contents (pp. v-x)
04. Preface - (pp. xi-xii)
05. Foreword to First Edition - (pp. xiii-xiv)
06. Foreword to Second Edition - (pp. xv-xxi)
07. Foreword to Third Edition - (pp. xxii)
08. Foreword to Fourth Edition - (pp. xxiii-xxiv)
09. The Doctor's Opinion - (pp. xxv-xxxii)
Chapters
01. Bill's Story - (pp. 1-16)
02. There is a Solution - (pp. 17-29)
03. More About Alcoholism - (pp. 30-43)
04. We Agnostics - (pp.
44-57)05. How It Works - (pp. 58-71)
06. Into Action - (pp. 72-88)
07. Working With Others - (pp. 89-103)
08. To Wives - (pp. 104-121)
09. The Family Afterward - (pp. 122-135)
10. To Employers - (pp. 136-150)
11. A Vision For You - (pp. 151-164)
Personal Stories
01. How Forty-Two Alcoholics Recovered From Their Malady - (pp. 165-166)
02. PART I - Pioneers of A.A. - (pp. 169-276)
03. PART II - They Stopped in Time - (pp. 277-431)
04. PART III - They Lost Nearly All - (pp. 435-559)
Appendices
i. The A.A. Tradition - (pp. 561-566)
ii. Spiritual Experience - (pp. 567-568)
iii. The Medical View On A.A. - (pp. 569-570)
iv. The Lasker Award - (pp. 571)
v. The Religious View on A.A. - (pp. 572)
vi. How to Get in Touch With A.A. - (pp. 573)
vii. Twelve Concepts (Short Form) - (pp. 574-575)
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A.A. Big Book in ASL
ASL Big Book - Preface
The Preface from the Fourth edition, of the Big Book, "Alcoholics Anonymous," the basic text of A.
A. in American Sign Language (ASL).A brief overview of the four editions of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. How the content outlining A.A.’s program of recovery has been retained, while some of the stories have been changed over time to reflect the current membership.
For more information on A.A., visit www.aa.org.
Big Book ASL - Foreword to First Edition
The Foreword to the First edition of the Big Book, "Alcoholics Anonymous," the basic text of A.A. in American Sign Language (ASL).
The original 1939 foreword. Introduces the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous, then a group of 100 members who had “recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body.” States the book’s purpose: “to show other alcoholics precisely how we have recovered.” Stresses the importance of anonymity.
For more information on A.A., visit www.
aa.org.Big Book ASL - Foreword to Second Edition
The Foreword to the Second edition of the Big Book, "Alcoholics Anonymous," the basic text of A.A.in American Sign Language (ASL).
Written in 1955. A brief history of Alcoholics Anonymous from 1939-55, including its growth in membership as well as its spread across the U.S., Canada and beyond. Introduces the Twelve Traditions for the first time. Gratitude for "friends of A.A."
For more information on A.A., visit www.aa.org.
Big Book ASL - Foreword to Third Edition
The Foreword to the Third edition of the Big Book, "Alcoholics Anonymous," the basic text of A.A. in American Sign Language (ASL).
Written in 1976. Notes that A.A.membership was estimated at over one million in 90 countries, with participation of women and young people on the rise.
For more information on A.A., visit www.aa.org.
Big Book ASL - Foreword to Fourth Edition
The Foreword to the Fourth edition of the Big Book, "Alcoholics Anonymous," the basic text of A.A. inAmerican Sign Language (ASL).
Written in 2001, at the “start of a new millennium.” Notes that A.A.membership wasover two million, with increasing diversity and global reach, thanks in large part to translations (Big Book in 44 language at the time) and technology (online meetings).
For more information on A.A., visit www.aa.org.
Big Book ASL - The Doctor's Opinion
The Doctor's Opinion, from the Fourth edition of the Big Book, "Alcoholics Anonymous," the basic text of A.A. in American Sign Language (ASL).
Dr. William D. Silkworth, who treated Bill W. and other alcoholics, reported on the effectiveness of Alcoholics Anonymous, then in its infancy, describing the physical "allergy" and the "phenomenon of craving" characteristic of alcoholism, as well as the "psychic change" necessary for recovery.
For more information on A.A., visit www.aa.org.
Big Book ASL - Chapter 1 - Bill's Story
Chapter 1 - Bill's Story, from the Fourth edition of the Big Book, "Alcoholics Anonymous," the basic text of A.A. in American Sign Language (ASL).
Co-founder Bill W. recounts his descent from successful stockbroker to hopeless alcoholic—and explains how a visit from an old friend inspired his recovery and planted the seeds of Alcoholics Anonymous.
For more information on A.A., visit www.aa.org.
Big Book ASL - Chapter 2 - There Is a Solution
Chapter 2 - There is a Solution, from the Fourth edition of the Big Book, "Alcoholics Anonymous," the basic text of A.
A. in American Sign Language (ASL).Introduces the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous as a diverse group of alcoholics who have “lost the power of choice in drink” and whose common solution to their problem with alcoholinvolves a profound “spiritual experience.”
For more information on A.A., visit www.aa.org.
Big Book ASL - Chapter 3 - More About Alcoholism
Chapter 3 - More About Alcoholism, from the Fourth edition of the Big Book, "Alcoholics Anonymous," the basic text of A.A. in American Sign Language (ASL).
Illustrates the self-delusion of the active alcoholic through the stories of three men who continue to drink despite dire consequences, inevitably reaching a state of “pitiful and incomprehensible demoralization.”
For more information on A.A., visit www.aa.org.
Big Book ASL - Chapter 4 - We Agnostics
Chapter 4 - We Agnostics, from the Fourth edition of the Big Book, "Alcoholics Anonymous," the basic text of A.
A. in American Sign Language (ASL).Highlights a pathway to recovery for alcoholics who are atheist and agnostic while addressing the resistance some alcoholics may feel toward spirituality.
For more information on A.A., visit www.aa.org.
Big Book ASL - Chapter 5 - How It Works
Chapter 5 - How It Works, from the Fourth edition of the Big Book, "Alcoholics Anonymous," the basic text of A.A. in American Sign Language (ASL).
Presents the Twelve Steps — A.A.’s program of recovery — and provides direction on taking Steps One through Four.
For more information on A.A., visit www.aa.org.
Big Book ASL - Chapter 6 - Into Action
Chapter 6 - Into Action, from the Fourth edition of the Big Book, "Alcoholics Anonymous," the basic text of A.
A. in American Sign Language (ASL).Taking Steps Five through Eleven can help maintain not only physical sobriety but also personal transformation. This chapter describes how these Steps can lead to "a new freedom and a new happiness."
For more information on A.A., visit www.aa.org.
Big Book ASL - Chapter 7 - Working with Others
Chapter 7 - Working with Others, from the Fourth edition of the Big Book, "Alcoholics Anonymous," the basic text of A.A. in American Sign Language (ASL).
The transmission of A.A.’s message of hope from one alcoholic to another is the core of A.A.’s recovery program. As discussed in this chapter, the Twelfth Step encapsulates how this can happen.
For more information on A.A., visit www.aa.org.
Big Book ASL - Chapter 8 - To Wives
Chapter 8 - To Wives, from the Fourth edition of the Big Book, "Alcoholics Anonymous," the basic text of A.
A. in American Sign Language (ASL).An alcoholic marriage can be fraught with distrust, frustration, loneliness and fear. This chapter, focused on the wives of alcoholics, explores some solutions.
For more information on A.A., visit www.aa.org.
Big Book ASL - Chapter 9 - The Family Afterward
Chapter 9 - The Family Afterward, from the Fourth edition of the Big Book, "Alcoholics Anonymous," the basic text of A.A. in American Sign Language (ASL).
Alcoholism affects not just the alcoholic but the entire family. This chapter offers hope and counsel to family members when the alcoholic is beginning to recover through Alcoholics Anonymous.
For more information on A.A., visit www.aa.org.
Big Book ASL - Chapter 10 - To Employers
Chapter 10 - To Employers, from the Fourth edition of the Big Book, "Alcoholics Anonymous," the basic text of A.
A. in American Sign Language (ASL).Alcoholic employees can be disruptive to an organization. This chapter, directed to employers, outlines how problem drinkers in the workplace can be approached withA.A.’s message of hope and recovery.
For more information on A.A., visit www.aa.org.
Big Book ASL - Chapter 11 - A Vision For You
Chapter 11 - A Vision For You, from the Fourth edition of the Big Book, "Alcoholics Anonymous," the basic text of A.A. in American Sign Language (ASL).
This chapter recounts the birth of Alcoholics Anonymous: how the early members’ lives were transformed through the solution offered by A.A.’s program of recovery– a solution available to anyone who wants it.
For more information on A.A., visit www.aa.org.
Big Book ASL - Doctor Bob's Nightmare
Dr.
Bob's Nightmare, from the Fourth edition of the Big Book, "Alcoholics Anonymous," the basic text of A.A. in American Sign Language (ASL).A.A. co-founder Dr. Bob chronicles his many years as an active alcoholic and how meeting Bill W. enabled him to stop drinking.
For more information on A.A., visit www.aa.org.
Big Book ASL - Appendix I – The A.A. Tradition
Appendix I - The A.A. Tradition, from the Fourth edition of the Big Book, "Alcoholics Anonymous," the basic text of A.A. in American Sign Language (ASL).
The Twelve Traditions are a set of principles by which Alcoholics Anonymous functions most effectively.
For more information on A.A., visit www.aa.org.
Big Book ASL - Appendix II – Spiritual Experience
Appendix II - Spiritual Experience, from the Fourth edition of the Big Book, "Alcoholics Anonymous," the basic text of A.
A. in American Sign Language (ASL).Describes how a profound "personality change" lies at the heart of A.A.’s program of recovery.
For more information on A.A., visit www.aa.org.
Big Book ASL - Appendix III – The Medical View on A.A.
Appendix III - The Medical View on A.A., from the Fourth edition of the Big Book, "Alcoholics Anonymous," the basic text of A.A. in American Sign Language (ASL).
Five physicians endorse the therapeutic effectiveness of Alcoholics Anonymous.
For more information on A.A., visit www.aa.org.
Big Book ASL - Appendix IV – The Lasker Award
Appendix IV - The Lasker Award from the Fourth edition of the Big Book, "Alcoholics Anonymous," the basic text of A.
A. in American Sign Language (ASL).Notes the American Public Health Association’s 1951 presentation of an award to Alcoholics Anonymous in recognition of its “highly successful approach” to recovery from alcoholism.
For more information on A.A., visit www.aa.org.
Big Book ASL - Appendix V – The Religious View on A.A.
Appendix V - The Religious View on A.A., from the Fourth edition of the Big Book, "Alcoholics Anonymous," the basic text of A.A. in American Sign Language (ASL).
Three members of the clergy "giving their blessing" to Alcoholics Anonymous.
For more information on A.A., visit www.aa.org.
Big Book ASL - Appendix VI – How to Get in Touch With A.A.
Appendix VI - How to Get in Touch with A.
A., from the Fourth edition of the Big Book, "Alcoholics Anonymous," the basic text of A.A. in American Sign Language (ASL).Practical tips on finding Alcoholics Anonymous both locally and nationally. Includes general information on Al-Anon Family Groups.
For more information on A.A., visit www.aa.org."
Big Book ASL - Appendix VII – Twelve Concepts (Short Form)
Appendix VII - Twelve Concepts, from the Fourth edition of the Big Book, "Alcoholics Anonymous," the basic text of A.A. in American Sign Language (ASL).
Written by Bill W., the Twelve Concepts for World Servicehelp to ensure thatA.A.’s service structure remains responsive and responsible to those it serves.
For more information on A.A., visit www.aa.org.
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Chapters
Personal Stories - Part I
Personal Stories - Part II
Personal Stories - Part III
Appendices
Notice about external links
This website provides links to other websites, including websites affiliated with other organizations.
Linking to any other website, including but not limited to websites affiliated with other organizations inside the Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) service structure, does not constitute the endorsement, sponsorship, or approval of such other website by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. (A.A.W.S.), or any products, services, or content displayed, provided, promoted, or offered by such other website. Please be aware that A.A.W.S. is not responsible for the content, practices, policies, or methods of any other website, including, without limitation, any other website's collection, dissemination, use, and protection of personal information, its use of tracking technology, or its level of computer security. Additionally, A.A.W.S. cannot attest to the accuracy, relevancy, timeliness, legality, or completeness of information provided by any other website
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The 10 biggest books in the history of literature
Big books, like long serials, have their charms.
You have time to get used to the characters, learn the details of their lives, immerse yourself in the plot and enjoy the atmosphere. Reading multi-volume works is not an easy task, but it is insanely exciting. We have prepared a selection of the 10 biggest works for those who are ready for a long story, complex plot and indescribable emotions. And if you have read at least one book from the list, then you should know: we endlessly admire you!
10. Ulysses - James J. (1922)
Number of pages: 1 056
The novel "Ulysses" consists of 1000 pages, 200 of which are comments on the work. It's not easy reading, but that doesn't make the book any less interesting. James Joyce wrote the novel over the course of seven years, with the entire plot revolving around a day in Dublin. You have probably heard of Bloomsday - it is named after the protagonist of the book, Leopold Bloom, and is celebrated every year on June 16th.
Ulysses
Joyce J.
The plot of the novel tells about Leopold Bloom, who manages to visit different parts of the city in one day: at a publishing house, at a funeral, on the bay, in a maternity hospital and in a brothel. It is interesting that each episode is somehow connected with Homer's Odyssey and is written in its own style. In the novel, the author depicted the literary genres of various eras and expressed everything that art can say about a person.
9. Trilogy of Desire – Dreiser T. (1947)
Number of pages: 1,152
Theodore Dreiser's massive work of three books chronicles the meteoric career of Frank Cowperwood, a young entrepreneur. Using his example, the writer depicted the essence of capitalist relations at the beginning of the 20th century. Cowperwood's success story will be of interest to those who need motivation to promote their own business.
Financier. Titanium. Stoick
Dreiser T.
The novel about Frank Cowperwood is based on the biography of real-life Chicago millionaire Charles Yerkes.
Big business, financial scams and machinations, the American dream and the other side of success are brilliantly described in the novels The Financier, The Titan and The Stoic. The trilogy examines not only the financial, but also the social, cultural and political life of America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
8. War and peace - L. Tolstoy (1869)
Number of pages: 1 360
Leo Tolstoy's epic novel is one of the largest works of literature that has won fame all over the world. It describes the life of Russian society from the peasants to the emperor in the era of the Napoleonic Wars. Tolstoy described military actions in detail, but most importantly, he philosophically comprehended and explored life itself: in everyday life, in the family, in peacetime and in war. That is why the novel can be read and re-read all your life - it will never lose its relevance.
War and Peace
Tolstoy L.
The book describes more than five hundred fictional and real characters - nobles and peasants, military leaders and soldiers.
The main characters live, love and believe in the best in spite of the war - whether with the enemy, with circumstances or with themselves. Generations and eras change, and the novel "War and Peace" continues to acquaint readers with simple and complex life truths.
7. The Forsyte Saga - Galsworthy J. (1906)
Number of pages: 1 376
Generation after generation, the Forsyte family passes before the reader in three large cycles - The Forsyte Saga, Modern Comedy and End of the Chapter. John Galsworthy worked on the Saga for 15 years and continued to write stories related to the Forsytes until his death. The writer made an outstanding contribution to the development of English literature, explored the problem of society and depicted an entire era with great skill.
The Forsyte Saga
Galsworthy J.
The novel recreates the history of the Forsyte clan, influential and successful representatives of the English bourgeoisie.
Behind the low-key discussion of dividends and stocks are mad passions, family feuds, hopeless love and pain. The scenery for the life of the Forsytes is the events of world history from the Victorian era to the 1920s.
6. Gulag archipelago - Solzhenitsyn A. (1973)
Number of pages: 1 424
Alexander Solzhenitsyn wrote a historical work about repressions for 10 years at a time when such books were banned. The Gulag Archipelago is a story about people who worked and lived in Soviet camps, it is a judgment on the Soviet system and a powerful statement from hundreds of its victims. Solzhenitsyn was arrested, expelled from Russia and stripped of his Soviet citizenship. It was returned to the writer only after 20 years.
Gulag Archipelago
Solzhenitsyn A.
The three-volume study was based on letters, memoirs, stories of prisoners and Solzhenitsyn's personal experience.
He gave the word to the millions of the dead and tortured, to all who were deprived of the opportunity to tell about their fate. The literary research of the writer allows each reader to feel the horrors of the Gulag prisoners experienced in order to prevent a repetition of events.
5. Quincanx - Palisser C. (1989)
Number of pages: 1 472
British writer Charles Palliser's novel is the most paradoxical of contemporary English bestsellers. From the first chapters, it may seem that you are reading a classic novel of the 19th century, but here's the bad luck: according to the plot, the boy has no father - an incredible scandal at that time. There will be more moments like this in the future. The fact is that Palisser wrote the novel already in the 20th century and stylized it under the Victorian era.
Quincanx. Volume 1
Palliser Ch.
Quincanx, which means “five” in Latin, is a kind of rebus that the protagonist of the novel unravels.
From early childhood, John Huffam is forced to puzzle over what kind of unknown force is pursuing him and his mother. The answer lies in the document that caused the murder, determined the fate of five families, and set the course for John's life. A current that obeys the mysterious symbol of five - the Quincanx.
4. Joseph and his brothers - Mann T. (1943)
Number of pages: 1 492
Thomas Mann's epic novel was published in the middle of the war, in 1943 in Sweden. Based on the legend of Joseph the Beautiful, the author created his own historical saga. To convey the "reality" of what is happening, the author used all the means of language: psychologization, dramatization, and even methods of historical commentary. Thomas Mann wrote a large-scale tetralogy for 16 years and considered it his most significant work.
Joseph and his brothers. Volume 1
Mann T.
The events of the novel take place during the reign of Amenhotep III and his son, the "heretic pharaoh" Akhenaten.
The prologue plays the role of an overture to the opera and immerses the reader in reflections on the origin of the world and the relationship of man with God. Along with the questions comes the realization that Joseph's world is almost no different from ours.
3. Man without properties - Musil R. (1943)
Number of pages: 1,774
Robert Musil wrote his main novel for about 20 years: from 1921 until his death. He devoted his whole life to working on a book, because of which he was on the verge of poverty. Unfortunately, the text was not completed, and the book brought neither fame nor fortune to the author. The first parts of the novel did not arouse much interest among readers due to the outdated theme. It wasn't until the 1950s that the book was noticed and recognized as one of the greatest works of German literature.
Man without properties
Musil R.
The plot is based on the life of European bourgeois society on the eve of the First World War.
The main character of the novel, Ulrich, tries to isolate himself from the splendor and poverty of the outside world with the help of his self. The story of his life is a study of the human soul, which has not lost the ability to dream and find great goals in life.
2. In search of lost time - Proust M. (1913)
Number of pages: 3 031
In Search of Lost Time is a series of seven novels that describe the life of French youth in the early 20th century. More than 2,500 fictional and real personalities are mentioned in the books, and the number of main, secondary and episodic characters reaches 250. It took Marcel Proust almost 12 years to create one of the most grandiose works of French literature.
In Search of Lost Time 2tt
Proust M.
The plot of the novel is built around memories from the life of the narrator - from childhood to old age. At the same time, there are several independent stories in the novel, for example, about secular society and the creation of the book itself.
The novel had a huge impact on subsequent works of the 20th century - many researchers call it the last and most important modernist work.
1. My struggle – Knausgaard K. (2009)
Number of pages: 3 600
The undisputed champion of our list is the cycle "My Struggle" by the contemporary Norwegian writer Karl Ove Knausgaard. The cycle consists of 6 books and 3600 pages, but this is not his main merit. The work caused controversy, mainly because the title refers readers to Hitler's book, and also because the author went too far in describing the private lives of his friends and family.
My struggle. Book One. Farewell
Knausgaard K.
Knausgaard writes about his childhood and teenage years, his passion for rock music, his relationship with his loving mother and distant father, and the grief and rage caused by his death. When Karl himself has children, he has to find a balance between the need to take care of the family and the desire to devote himself to writing.
Your patience can be envied! What about emotional stability? :) For hardy book lovers, we have made a selection of the scariest stories.
See the selection
4 “Big” books about Man – PORUSSKI.me
There are many literary awards in Russia (both state and non-state): the State Prize of the Russian Federation in the field of literature and art, the State Pushkin Prize, “ Russian Booker, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn Literary Prize, National Bestseller, Yasnaya Polyana, and many others. Of course, this is good. After all, if everything is clear with the classics - these are works recognized by many generations, they can, should, be useful and pleasant to read (we believe that you love Russian classics), then even an educated person is sometimes difficult to understand all the diversity of modern literature. This is where philologists and literary critics, historians and writers come to our aid, who carefully read the competition entries and award the best authors.
Yes, the opinion is subjective, you can’t follow only other people’s advice, but it’s worth listening.
"Big Book" - Russian national literary award , founded in 2005. Over the years, Daniil Granin, Edvrad Radzinsky, Vladimir Makanin, Andrey Bitov, Yuri Polyakov, Alexander Arkhangelsky, Dmitry Bak have been chairmen and co-chairmen of the award. The Literary Academy (Jury of the Prize) consists of more than 100 people - professional writers and publishers, cultural and art workers, scientists, public and government figures, journalists and entrepreneurs. You can trust these people!
"Boris Pasternak", Dmitry Bykov
The first prize of the 2005-2006 season was given to writer Dmitry Bykov for his biography "Boris Pasternak". This book from the monumental (without exaggeration) series "The Lives of Remarkable People" tells about the life and, as critics say, the "miraculous work" of one of the greatest poets of the 20th century. Readers eagerly awaited a literary biography.
What was the excitement about? Maybe with imaginary or real inaccuracies. Perhaps the reason is the courage to decipher the hidden meaning of some verses. However, Bykov is one of the leading figures in modern Russian literature, and his books are iconic. Dmitry Bykov does not give a phased fixation of dates and events, but invites the reader to see the tragic atmosphere of creativity in which the genius of Pasternak took shape. Sometimes a publicist is reproached for being too detailed and detailed, but isn't that the essence of a biography? Also interesting is the new interpretation of the novel "Doctor Zhivago", which became fatal for the creator. A large number of photographs and reflections immerse us in the realities of Soviet Russia.
“Daniel Stein, Translator” by Ludmila Ulitskaya
Lyudmila Ulitskaya’s novel “Daniel Stein, Translator” is a bestseller that won the Big Book Award in 2007, and is not like other books by the author (“Kukotsky’s Case”, "Green Tent", "Medea").
The idea arose in 1992, the writer worked on the book for over 14 years. It is more of a non-fiction novel based on the life story of Daniel Rufeisen, a Catholic Carmelite monk of Jewish origin. The difficult fate of Daniel Stein is described in simple language, who, risking his life, saves more than three hundred ghetto residents doomed to death during the Second World War, and after being baptized, becomes a Catholic priest, leaves for Israel and continues to help people. In this he sees his life mission.
Critics and the religious community have repeatedly pointed out to the author errors in the interpretation of Christianity, but Lyudmila Ulitskaya herself writes that she "is not a theologian and does not preach, but only talks about a person unique in her honesty and courage." And it’s hard not to agree with this, appreciating the dedication and boundless kindness of Daniel. Why "translator"? Everyone will answer this question in their own way.
"My Lieutenant", Daniil Granin
Daniil Granin was a participant in the war from the first to the last days.
The theme of the Great Patriotic War is always relevant, complex and ambiguous. Most likely, only eyewitnesses can lift the veil of history before us. The novel “My Lieutenant”, which received the first Big Book Award in 2012, is a look “from the inside out” - we see the events of the Great Patriotic War through the eyes of a young, impulsive, daring and romantic Lieutenant D., who frankly talks about all the difficulties and does not is embarrassed by the animal fear that consumes a person during the bombing: “I rolled down the embankment, rushed under the nearest bush, lay down, put my head in the thicket ... the planes dived ... and the target was me. Planes howled, bombs, falling, howled even more heart-rending. Their cry was screwed into the brain, penetrated into the chest, into the stomach, unfolded the insides. Daniil Granin does not skimp on bright epithets, sometimes even colloquial words that bring the reader closer to the realities of a real war - the war of ordinary people who died heroically for their homeland, but in fear and pain.
We read about constant hunger and cold (“Despite the strictest orders, by the spring of 1942 years we ate all the horses.”), about everyday difficulties (“In winter they melted the ice, and in the spring, when the melt water flooded the trenches, it “became dirty yellow, then smelly from the outhouses, from corpses, from company dumps”, they made filters from coal, footcloths, boiled.”). But the most terrible was the constant and sudden losses. It is difficult to imagine a situation when a soldier and a platoon commander were hiding from bullets behind the corpses and the wounded. One can only guess how a person feels in such a situation. Will he ever forget this picture? Hardly.
Lavr, Evgeny Vodolazkin
I would like to complete the selection with a short story about Evgeny Vodolazkin’s life novel Lavr, which received the first Big Book Prize in 2013. The author is called the “Slavic Umberto Eco” and sincerely admires that world of Ancient Russia (the action of the novel is dated to 7000 from the creation of the world, the end of the 15th century from the birth of Christ), masterfully presented to readers.
