Gadfly in Russia

In an attempt to take a break from his writing career, in 1967 Alan Sillitoe set off in a boxy blue Peugeot from Germany towards the then USSR. In Leningrad, despite his desire to travel alone, he was provided with an official escort in the form of George Andjaparidze, who was to become a fellow journeyman and friend. On their long drive into the heart of the country, George and Alan encountered numerous police checks, spent late nights filled with vodka, and inadvertently took part in a motor rally. This is a story of traveling, history, people, and places; of the Nazis and perestroika; Pushkin and Tolstoy; the fight for freedom and the strong-armed nature of the Soviet government. In the deceptively simple manner for which he is so well known, Alan Sillitoe offers a fascinating account of his relationship with Russia, its people, and their changing fortunes over the past 40 years.