In 'Travels in Siberia', Ian Frazier embarks on a captivating journey through the vast, mysterious landscapes of Siberia, blending humor, history, and personal anecdotes. As he encounters the region's unique culture and resilient inhabitants, Frazier uncovers the poignant stories hidden beneath the surface. The book paints a vivid picture of Siberia’s striking beauty, from its sprawling taigas to its remote villages. With each page, readers are invited into the heart of a land where the past and present intertwine in unexpected ways. Will Frazier's expedition reveal the secrets of this enigmatic wilderness?
By Ian Frazier
Published: 2010
""Life in Siberia teaches you to be resourceful and to find beauty in desolation.""
A Dazzling Russian travelogue from the bestselling author of Great Plains In his astonishing new work, Ian Frazier, one of our greatest and most entertaining storytellers, trains his perceptive, generous eye on Siberia, the storied expanse of Asiatic Russia whose grim renown is but one explanation among hundreds for the region’s fascinating, enduring appeal. In Travels in Siberia, Frazier reveals Siberia’s role in history—its science, economics, and politics—with great passion and enthusiasm, ensuring that we’ll never think about it in the same way again. With great empathy and epic sweep, Frazier tells the stories of Siberia’s most famous exiles, from the well-known—Dostoyevsky, Lenin (twice), Stalin (numerous times)—to the lesser known (like Natalie Lopukhin, banished by the empress for copying her dresses) to those who experienced unimaginable suffering in Siberian camps under the Soviet regime, forever immortalized by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn in The Gulag Archipelago. Travels in Siberia is also a unique chronicle of Russia since the end of the Soviet Union, a personal account of adventures among Russian friends and acquaintances, and, above all, a unique, captivating, totally Frazierian take on what he calls the “amazingness” of Russia—a country that, for all its tragic history, somehow still manages to be funny. Travels in Siberia will undoubtedly take its place as one of the twenty-first century’s indispensable contributions to the travel-writing genre.
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“"Life in Siberia teaches you to be resourceful and to find beauty in desolation."”
Travels in Siberia
By Ian Frazier
Discover a world of knowledge through our extensive collection of book summaries.
Ian Frazier is an acclaimed American author and essayist known for his keen observations and humor. He is the author of notable works such as 'Great Plains,' 'On the Rez,' and 'Coyote v. Acme,' which highlight his skill in blending personal narrative with broader cultural commentary. Frazier's writing style is characterized by its wit, thoughtful reflection, and an ability to capture the essence of American life, particularly in the Midwest. His contributions to The New Yorker have solidified his reputation as a leading voice in contemporary literature.
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