Two Souls by Maksim Haretski, Translated by Olya Ianovskaia

A haunting exploration of class dynamics and the internal struggles of poverty, grief, family, and courtship, Two Souls by Maksim Haretski, translated by Olya Ianovskaia, is a powerful portrait of Belarus and its existential upheaval more than a century ago. As much a philosophical treatise as a stark interpersonal drama, Haretski’s words still ring with clarity and wisdom, especially given the changing political and economic dynamics today. Ignat is the semi-orphaned son of a Belarusian military officer, grappling with controversial new ideas of societal hierarchy and nationalism, while fumbling his way through romance and mental liberation, as his tumultuous family life mirrors the turbulence in the country writ large. Masterfully translated, the confident and lyrical prose captures the uncertain moods and divisive cultural tensions of a nation amid revolutionary transformation, making it a poignant and timely story for contemporary readers the world over.