ABOUT
THE BOOK

The Industry of Souls is the story of Alexander Bayliss, a British citizen arrested for spying in the Soviet Union in the early 1950’s. Presumed dead by the British Government, he survives 20 years in a soviet labour camp. Eventually freed from the gulag in the 1970’s, he finds he has no reason to return to the west – he has become Russian in everything but birth. He finds his way to the home of his best friend at the camp – Kirill. Taken in by Kirill’s childless daughter and her husband he eventually becomes a local schoolmaster – much loved by all the village. Now on the day of his 80th birthday Russia is much changed. Communism has evaporated. In the aftermath, information has come to light that he is still alive. The story moves from this day to his past in the camp and his life in the village. And it ends with him having to make a choice, perhaps for the first time in his life. This is Martin Booth’s twelfth adult novel.