David Bezmozgis
Author of Natasha: And Other Stories
About the Author
Image credit: Photo credit: David Franco
Works by David Bezmozgis
Associated Works
Object Lessons: The Paris Review Presents the Art of the Short Story (2012) — Introduction — 221 copies
The New Diaspora: The Changing Landscape of American Jewish Fiction (2015) — Contributor — 13 copies
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Birthdate
- 1973-06-02
- Gender
- male
- Nationality
- Canada
- Birthplace
- Riga, Latvia
- Places of residence
- Canada
- Education
- McGill University
University of Southern California (Cinema) - Occupations
- writer
filmmaker - Awards and honors
- Guggenheim Fellowship (2005)
Members
Reviews
Lists
Awards
You May Also Like
Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 6
- Also by
- 11
- Members
- 1,179
- Popularity
- #21,803
- Rating
- 3.7
- Reviews
- 41
- ISBNs
- 62
- Languages
- 7
Baruch Kotler is a former Soviet dissident who spent years in jail after being betrayed to the KGB by a "friend." Once released, he fled to Israel, where he became a notable politician. The book opens with Baruch in Yalta with his young mistress; their affair has just been exposed in the Israeli press, pay-back for his refusal to agree to the government's plan to withdraw from some settlements. While in Yalta, Baruch meets the man who betrayed him so many years ago.
In fewer than 250 pages, Bezmozgis paints a compelling portrait of a man at once undone by, and celebrated for, his imprisonment and subsequent re-emergence. I found the discussion of Jewish identity and the complex realities of Soviet, post-Soviet, Ukrainian, and Israeli society fascinating, especially given the current situation. The serious themes and dark history are alleviated by some dry humor and the real humanity of Baruch, the good and the bad, shines through.… (more)