A Train to Moscow: A Novel

As a little girl, Sasha dreams of being an actress. Growing up in Ivanovo, a quiet town in post-Revolutionary Russia, such aspirations are thought to be nonsensical. So, she holds it in her heart and passes the time by reenacting plays and being with her best friends, Andrei and Marik. One day, she finds a journal in her grandmother’s attic. It steals her attention and helps her cope with unimaginable loss. It’s the journal of her Uncle Kolya, who has been MIA for years, believed to be a casualty of war. Over a decade later, after achieving her childhood ambitions, Sasha discovers an unforgivable secret of her grandfather’s that leads her all the way to America.

A Train to Moscow is Elena Gorokhova’s first novel. It’s poignant and masterful, beautifully and intricately laced with imagery, intrigue, and emotion. Sasha’s passion for theatre and a better life, one free of the lies her family has held onto, is palpable. The storyline is riveting, corkscrewing into an array of twists and turns. Despite being fictional, the contents are reflective of the cultural and political environment of post-Revolutionary Russia. Stalin’s uncompromising grip on power and its effect on everyday citizens is mindfully depicted. It’s unquestionably a notable and splendid piece of literature.