Skunk: A Life

By Peter Aleshkovsky

A master novel set in the Russian north with a wealth of authentic details on forest life. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 5717200331
• ISBN13: 9785717200332
• Release Date: January 1997
• Publisher: Glas
• Weight: 0.58 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.3" x 0.8" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

Gritty portrayal of life in contemporary Russia

This novel offers an excellent portrait of life in provincial, post-perestroika Russia. The lead character, nicknamed Skunk, is born to a neglectful, alcoholic prostitute. Skunk is raised by his grandmother until she dies, and then returns to live with his mother. Since his mother neglects him and he is not adept at making friends, he develops into somewhat of an anti-social outcast who roams the city's streets all day unsupervised. While I don't want to give away too much of the plot, one of the main themes that the author touches upon is a certain tension within Skunk. On the one hand, try as he might, he is unable to find any sort of niche within society. Neglected by his mother and never having a father, he tries to develop a relationship with a local girl, and affair that ends rather badly because of the selfishness of both characters. He also tries to find solace in the church, but that ultimately proves futile as well, mainly because Skunk is repulsed at the arrogance displayed by the local priest who seems more interested in propounding his own revolutionary theological vision than he is in providing moral comfort to the local parishioners. In a society rampant with alcoholism, Skunk's sobriety somewhat hinders his ability to make male friends. On a couple of occasions Skunk tries to escape society altogether by going off into the woods and eeking out a living by hunting and fishing. Each time, though, the solitary existence becomes too unbearable and he is forced to rejoin society. Overall, I think that the author does an outstanding job of conveying the conditions of life in provincial Russia. Violence, alcoholism, parental neglect, cruelty, and early death are all part of the scenery, making Skunk's desire to flee society altogether perfectly understandable. The author clearly wants to argue, however, that this isolated existence is impossible, and that no matter how corrupt and amoral society seems to have become, we are all ultimately social creatures. I would recommend this book to anybody interested in these themes, as well as to anybody with a more general interest in contemporary Russia.