The Archivist's Story

A journey back in time to Stalin's Russia. Reading is the great escape and Russia had her fare share of literary greats. But those authors who did not tow the party line were rounded up never to be seen again. And their books would disappear with them. This is a story that inspires courage, and a sincere appreciation for the freedom to read and write. Don't pass this one up. I'm looking forward to the authors next offering.

Reading The Archivist's Story left me feeling very tender towards books--the treasures that they are. Holland's story of an archivist torn between his love of literature and his desire to survive (requiring that he destroy unapproved manuscripts) made me very thankful for all the books I have access to, and Holland's exquisite writing made me very glad I had found his book. I'll be recommending this book to my reading friends.

I was lucky enough to get an advance copy of this book, and immediately started reading it that day. Others have commented about the plot here. I will just say that the story totally drew me in. Like the best of books, it was as if I was right there living the moment with Pavel. I could feel it as the world around him closed in. I was very sad when I came to the last page. The story stayed with me for a long time after, and very much look forward to Mr. Holland's next novel. Highly recommended.

Given its context of Stalinist Russia, I knew that it was unlikely that The Archivist's Story would be a happy or humorous novel, and I was right. Travis Holland has captured the deadening effect of collectivization on the Russia people and the inhumanity of a society where trust and friendship are rare and fear of authority a daily concern. And yet, it's a story of the power of one man to act courageously in the face of such fear and reprisal, treating decently and humanely even one who hates him. Pavel Dubrov is a former teacher now assigned to the archives of the infamous Lubyanka Prison, the hellhole into which countless political dissidents, intellectuals, and writers are cast. Pavel works under the insufferable Lieutenant Kutyrev, a true believer in the Revolution. Every day he organizes files containing the manuscripts of writers imprisoned in the Lubyanka, and then, one by one, carries files to the incinerator. It's a particularly distressing task for a teacher, for one who loves books, and it comes to a head over his encounter with an unknown manuscript written by Issac Babel, the well-known writer of Red Calvary. Holland chronicles Pavel's lonely and anguished existence well, contrasting it with the continued humanity he exhibits. Travis Holland has done well. His prose is accessible and persuasive in rendering 1939 Moscow and lives caught in that place and time. It's a profound first novel and one I recommend.

Rich, engaging, expertly crafted, and ultimately heartbreaking, "The Archivist's Story" is told with the clinical precision and underlying compassion for the human condition found in the works of Chekhov, Babel, and some of the other Russian masters Holland honors with this masterpiece of a novel. A writer of great skill and integrity, and a must read for anyone who cares about the true value of the written word.

I saw this book reviewed in _The New York Times_ Book Review and bought it immediately. As a former Russian language scholar and devoted Russophile, I knew I could not wait for the paperback. The hardback price is worth every penny. This is historical fiction at its finest. Holland admirably recreates the repressive, paranoid atmosphere of 1930's Stalinist Moscow. He gives us insight -- speculative, of course, but no less perspicacious -- into how individuals caught in that surreal world may have struggled: to survive, to be faithful to friends and family, and to be faithful to themselves. The cameo appearances of famous historical figures (most notably Isaac Babel) adds to the realism. By sheer coincidence, I read Holland's book just as I was re-reading Solzhenitsyn's _Gulag Archipelago_. Holland's ability to create such a realistic atmosphere is chilling. He clearly did his homework. Some readers could be disappointed if they expect the focus of the book to be on historical figures, but I believe this was not the author's intent. Plenty of first-person accounts and impeccable historians have documented the travails and the bravery of the many great thinkers and artists who suffered under the Stalinist regime. Instead, Holland is clearly focused on "the common man," his reactions, and his attempts to cope. The suffering of these silent millions is often no less noble but certainly less widely documented. As for the writing itself, Holland's prose is subtle, clear, and understated, all of which matches the quiet tension of the setting. The plot moves along at a sustained, crisp clip but never feels rushed. I found the book a compelling page turner, and I literally stayed up too late reading several nights. In my opinion, this is a fantastic novel. Mr. Holland has set the bar high, and I eagerly anticipate his next book.