The fate of Vasily Makarovich Shukshin (1929-1974) encompassed all the ups and downs of 20th century Russia. The son of an Altai peasant executed on false charges, he managed, thanks to his immense natural talent and extraordinary will, to break through to the very top of Soviet public life, without losing his rooted national feeling. A peasant, worker, intellectual, actor, director, writer, Russian warrior, Shukshin enchanted Russia, becoming its demanding protector, a tough intermediary before the authorities, while remaining incredibly secretive, a "coded" person. How did Shukshin become Shukshin? What kind of childhood did he have and how did his mysterious youth unfold? How did his relationships with the authorities, the Church, and the literary and cinematic environment develop? How did his personal life influence his creativity? How did he see the past, present, and future of Russia? Finally, what did Shukshin manage to achieve and what did he not?
Alexey Varlamov, a known prose writer and literary historian, based on letters, working notes, archival documents, and memoirs, attempted to "decode" his hero, providing the reader with an opportunity to get acquainted with Vasily Shukshin anew.
