Grey Bees -- Andrey Kurkov, Paperback

With a warm yet political humor, Ukraine's most famous novelist presents a balanced and illuminating portrait of modern conflict.

Little Starhorodivka, a village of three streets, lies in Ukraine's Grey Zone, the no-man's-land between loyalist and separatist forces. Thanks to the lukewarm war of sporadic violence and constant propaganda that has been dragging on for years, only two residents remain: retired safety inspector turned beekeeper Sergey Sergeyich and Pashka, a rival from his schooldays. With little food and no electricity, under constant threat of bombardment, Sergeyich's one remaining pleasure is his bees. As spring approaches, he knows he must take them far from the Grey Zone so they can collect their pollen in peace. This simple mission on their behalf introduces him to combatants and civilians on both sides of the battle lines: loyalists, separatists, Russian occupiers and Crimean Tatars. Wherever he goes, Sergeyich's childlike simplicity and strong moral compass disarm everyone he meets. But could these qualities be manipulated to serve an unworthy cause, spelling disaster for him, his bees and his country?

Author: Andrey Kurkov
Publisher: Deep Vellum Publishing
Published: 03/29/2022
Pages: 360
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.90lbs
Size: 8.40h x 5.50w x 0.90d
ISBN: 9781646051663

Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 02/07/2022
Kirkus Reviews 04/01/2022
Library Journal 06/03/2022 pg. 1