Luba Brezhneva

An intelligently written memoir by the niece of Leonid Brezhnev, one of the last Soviet leaders; a true account of life in Russia and then Soviet Union. She describes it all: the initial unwavering belief in possibility of communism on the part of one section of the population - I see my own late parents in that group - and resistance of others, and then the gradual ugly corruption of politicians, empty slogans, propaganda, all of this for almost a century. Even though I left the country a little earlier than the author (I in 1978 and she in 1990)I could relate to everything she describes in the years before I left, plus she enlightened me on the later years as socialism was falling apart. And this is just the background on which she gives us a very intimate and objective look at the generations of Brezhnevs, starting with Leonid Brezhnev's grandfather. I must admit that just like any Soviet citizen at the time I felt nothing more than disdain for Brezhnev and politicians like him. The author, though, managed to put a human face on him in this book - being his niece she knew his fears, doubts, unhappiness.
...One thing comes to mind - I share this opinion with the author - how boring it was for us in the 60s through 80s to actually have a compulsory class in every college, to have to study the History of the Communist Party of the U.S.S.R. and other similar subjects. Everybody hated it but we had no choice....
I recommend this book as a true look into Soviet life. The translation from Russian by Geoffrey Polk is masterful.… (mehr)