I couldn't believe my luck when on Discoverbooks.com site I spotted this "used" book by Boris Akunin (in original Russian, into the bargain!) of which I've never heard before. And yet the publication date is quite recent, 2015...

"Boch and Schelma" is in the realm of historical fiction - it's a book of two novellas that I (sort of) expected to have a common thread or link at the end, but, unlike in "Bellona", another of Akunin's steps into historical fiction (which he wrote under the pen name of Anatoliy Brusnikin and which also had two novellas), it didn't happen here. (Well, actually it did, but in such a subtle way, with just a hint - which leaves the reader guessing and speculating about a certain connection - it really took me on a lot of different roads in thinking about it while reading the second novella, which is also the name of the book; but maybe Akunin wanted it that way!). But that was the only regret, so minor compared to the beauty of masterful storytelling!

Both novellas center around the era of Golden Horde in Russia, a horrible time. Both plots are very compelling, different as they are in the story line. In the first novella, Akunin goes as far as creating an unique protagonist - a member of the invaders, and with an amazing result. What is equally compelling is the language that Akunin uses: his ability to easily switch to the most authentic language of the period, the most authentic way of thinking and behaving is simply uncanny. It just boggles one's mind. For that reason, I would think it would be hard to translate it into English (I am not sure if there were attempts to do that). But reading it in the original - pure pleasure. Even when there is obviously unpalatable war description and hideous, bloody behavior in the book - which would usually turn me away. But not when the author is Akunin...

I was itching to quote quite a few things from the book - real gems, but didn't want to translate it using my "ordinary" English which would not do Akunin's language justice. ( )