Uranotype

The thirties of the 19th century. Palestine. Russian military cartographers embark on a secret mission to the Holy Land, but for the heroes, this is more than just a diplomatic assignment — Fate itself has led them to Jerusalem, and each is destined for their own trial. Maxim Nikiforovich Bykov is obsessed with the desire to create a uranotype of Jerusalem — a prototype of the yet-to-be-invented photograph. Pole Witold Witkowski is engulfed by memories of a young gypsy girl, whose freedom he once purchased on the slave market for a high price. A fleeing monk moves from the darkness of the cave into the light and meets his death. French and English spies try to uncover the mysterious object that the Russian travelers carry with them everywhere. The long-awaited new book by Vladimir Berezin is written in the best traditions of postmodern historical novels, in the spirit of Umberto Eco and Vladimir Sharov. It is a disturbing and captivating multi-layered prose, which includes both an adventurous plot and a symbolic interpretation of Russian history, along with numerous references to Russian literature. Inside 'Uranotype,' whimsical mirrored labyrinths are formed: the heroes see each other in dreams, while eras and spaces double, inviting the reader to step into the looking glass.