Goodbye, Gulsary!

Somewhere a war is going on, while in a small settlement located deep in the rear, a poetic and dramatic story unfolds about a teenage boy who gave his heart to the first local beauty — the proud and independent Jamila… An older woman remembers her childhood in a small steppe aul and the person who changed her life forever — her first teacher and her first, unrequited love… On the Day of Remembrance — the first day of autumn — the old woman Tolgonay converses either with the field or with the spirits of nature, telling them the story of her difficult life, which included both happiness and many sorrows and losses… For many years, the faithful friendship between the horse herder Tanabay and the beautiful trotter Gulsary lasts, symbolizing the freedom and independence of the steppe itself. However, evil people find a way to separate the friends… The stories included in this collection were written by Chingiz Aitmatov over the years, but they are united by a passionate love for his native land — with its ancient culture, traditions passed down from generation to generation for millennia, beautiful and harsh nature, and equally beautiful, determined, and strong women.