The Last Russians Were Seen in Belgrade

Elena Zelinskaya’s new novel is a profound narrative about the lives of Russian émigrés caught in the turbulent currents of history. The story opens with the discovery of a diary that revives the legacy of composer Alexey Butakov and unlocks the world of the first wave of Russian emigration. The novel’s characters — musicians, writers, journalists — are cast by fate into the Balkans, where they experience a fleeting era of peace between two global catastrophes. Enduring relentless trials, they are forced to make agonizing choices to preserve their humanity. A century later, a new wave of emigrants brings fresh Russian arrivals to Belgrade who, like their predecessors, confront the struggles of finding their place in the world. What mark will they leave on the history of this city? Will they rise above their tribulations and uncover answers to timeless questions of guilt versus responsibility, loss versus discovery?