Moscow 1939. In the recesses of the infamous Lubyanka prison a youngarchivist is sent to authenticate an unsigned story confiscated from one of themany politica... » 

Moscow 1939. In the recesses of the infamous Lubyanka prison a youngarchivist is sent to authenticate an unsigned story confiscated from one of themany political prisoners there. The writer is Isaac Babel. The great author ofRed Cavalry is spending his last days forbidden to write his final manuscriptsconsigned to the archivist Pavel Dubrov who will ultimately be charged withdestroying them. The emotional jolt of meeting Babel facetoface leads to areckless decision he will save the last stories of the author he revereswhatever the cost. From the margins of history Travis Holland has woven atale of the greatest power. Pavels private act of courage in the face of avast bureaucracy of evil invigorates a life that had lost its meaning even asit guarantees his almost certain undoing. A story of suspense courage andunexpected avenues of grace The Archivists Story is ultimately an enduringtribute to the written word. From the Hardcover edition. «