The Move of the White Queen

A sports tale about mentorship and character: how a coach and student learn responsibility, discipline, and fair competition. A book about the price of victory, overcoming, and growing up in sports.

A novel inspired by the victory of Soviet skier Lyubov Kozyreva at the 1956 Olympics, which was intended to serve as the basis for a musical comedy. The idea did not materialize, but the story was adapted into a film, highly appreciated by both domestic and foreign audiences around the world.

When coach Stepan Chudinov, disillusioned with his student, leaves the profession and moves to Zimogorsk, fate — or someone else? — brings him together with young skier Natasha Skuratova, who has also lost faith in herself. Both are determined to break away from sports… But is it possible when the whole town is literally obsessed with skiing?