Shishkin
2015 Nominated

The Light and the Dark

Translated from the original Russian by Andrew Bromfield
artwork-image

ABOUT
THE BOOK

Fate sends two star-crossed lovers, Sasha and Volodenka, on two separate journeys across space and time.
Sasha finds herself as a young woman in a time not far from the present day. Volodenka finds himself as a young soldier in a horrific conflict at the turn of the twentieth century. Yet, despite their cosmic schism, their letters still reach one another; as he helps her to come to terms with life, and she helps him to come to terms with death.

Half male, half female; half exploration of the physical and the immediate, half meditation on the intangible and the infinite, The Light and the Dark is a literary feat as balanced and beautiful as it is prodigious and profound.

ABOUT
THE AUTHOR Mikhail
Shishkin

Born in 1961 in Moscow, Mikhail Shishkin is one of the most prominent names in contemporary Russian literature, and is the only author to have won all three major Russian Literary Prizes: the Russian Booker Prize, the National Bestseller Prize and the Bolshaya Kniga (Big Book) prize. He divides his time between Moscow, Switzerland and Germany.

Born in 1961 in Moscow, Mikhail Shishkin is one of the most prominent names in contemporary Russian literature, and is the only author to have won all three major Russian Literary Prizes: the Russian Booker Prize, the National Bestseller Prize and the Bolshaya Kniga (Big Book) prize. He divides his time between Moscow, Switzerland and Germany.

ABOUT
THE TRANSLATOR Andrew
Bromfield

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Date published
02/01/2014
Country
Russia, Switzerland
Original Language
Russian
Publisher
Quercus
Translator
Andrew Bromfield
Translation
Translated from the original Russian by Andrew Bromfield

RELATED FEATURES

News February 17 2026

2026 Dublin Literary Award Longlist is Revealed

Delve into the 20 novels longlisted this year.
Video December 31 2025

Bidding farewell on our 30 Years Anniversary Year

Let's take a look back at some highlights from past years.
News November 19 2025

2026 Nominations Revealed

69 titles have been nominated by 80 libraries from 36 countries for the 2026 Award
News November 19 2025

2026 Dublin Literary Award Judges Announced

Meet our judging panel for 2026 Dublin Literary Award

STAY CONNECTED

Stay in touch and sign up to our newsletter to receive all the latest news and updates on the Dublin Literary Award.