Kindle
$5.99
Available instantly
Audible Logo Audiobook
$0.00
with membership trial
Hardcover
$69.34
Paperback
$13.49
Buy new:
$13.49
List Price: $17.95

The List Price is the suggested retail price of a new product as provided by a manufacturer, supplier, or seller. Except for books, Amazon will display a List Price if the product was purchased by customers on Amazon or offered by other retailers at or above the List Price in at least the past 90 days. List prices may not necessarily reflect the product's prevailing market price.
Learn more
Save: $4.46 (25%)
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Thursday, May 2 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35. Order within 8 hrs 10 mins
In Stock
$$13.49 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$13.49
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon.com
Ships from
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Payment
Secure transaction
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the authors

Eugene Vodolazkin
Follow
Lisa Hayden
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Laurus: The International Bestseller Paperback – September 13, 2016

by Eugene Vodolazkin (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,068 ratings
See all formats and editions
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$13.49","priceAmount":13.49,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"13","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"49","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"a5HzNb3FbTcP5urU%2BupEcgn2%2BYHklwPCbfVoyaTpXXIvq%2BdETbKZAUOGX46OUwuzD1%2FFfwRRk4KYD2%2BEXt9V01oHn8CS5crGtZx8MT5higFNfw5vnYThlVV46lESMQnVijxKKyVs0J5kGae0rwxNbw%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

WINNER OF THE BIG BOOK AWARD, THE LEO TOLSTOY YASNAYA POLYANA AWARD & THE READ RUSSIA AWARD

'THE MOST IMPORTANT LIVING RUSSIAN WRITER' New Yorker

*A NEW STATESMAN BOOK OF THE YEAR 2016*

Fifteenth-century Russia

It is a time of plague and pestilence, and a young healer, skilled in the art of herbs and remedies, finds himself overcome with grief and guilt when he fails to save the one he holds closest to his heart. Leaving behind his village, his possessions and his name, he sets out on a quest for redemption, penniless and alone. But this is no ordinary journey: wandering across plague-ridden Europe, offering his healing powers to all in need, he travels through ages and countries, encountering a rich tapestry of wayfarers along the way. Accosted by highwaymen, lynched in Yugoslavia and washed overboard at sea, he eventually reaches Jerusalem, only to find his greatest challenge is yet to come.

Winner of two of the biggest literary prizes in Russia, Laurus is a remarkably rich novel about the eternal themes of love, loss, self-sacrifice and faith, from one of the country’s most experimental and critically acclaimed novelists.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    384 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Oneworld Publications
  4. Publication date
    September 13, 2016
  5. Dimensions
    5.1 x 1.2 x 7.8 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    178074871X
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1780748719
  8. See all details
Next page
The Amazon Book Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Frequently bought together

Laurus: The International Bestseller
$13.49
Get it as soon as Thursday, May 2
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
A History of the Island
$18.97
Get it as soon as Thursday, May 2
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
The Aviator: From the award-winning author of Laurus
$14.05
Get it as soon as Thursday, May 2
Only 15 left in stock (more on the way).
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
Some of these items ship sooner than the others.
Show details Hide details
Choose items to buy together.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'At once stylistically ornate and compulsively readable...delivered with great aplomb and narrative charm... Many readers are likely to find the book enchanting.' ― TLS

‘A remarkable novel… Russia’s answer to The Name of the Rose.’ ― Atticus Lish, author of Preparation for the Next Life

'Interweaving an impressive array of images, stories, parables and superstitions, Vodolazkin builds a convincing portrait of 15th-century Europe... Laurus cannot be faulted for its ambition or for its poignant humanity. It is a profound, sometimes challenging, meditation on faith, love and life's mysteries.' ― Financial Times

‘In Laurus, Vodolazkin aims directly at the heart of the Russian religious experience and perhaps even at that maddeningly elusive concept that is cherished to the point of cliché: the Russian soul.’ ― The New Yorker

'A treasure house of Russian medieval lore and customs…a very clever, self-aware contemporary novel…a quirky, ambitious book.' ― Los Angeles Review of Books

‘Vodolazkin’s spiritual odyssey transcends history, fusing archaism and slang to convey the idea that "time is a sort of misunderstanding"… Vodolazkin explores multifaceted questions of ‘Russianness’ and concludes, like the 19th-century poet Fyodor Tyutchev that Russia cannot be rationally understood. This is what leads him, with a gradual, but unstoppable momentum, to place faith and the transcendent human spirit at the center of his powerful worldview.’ ― Washington Post

‘Laurus is not at all a typical historical novel. It uses conscious and outrageous anachronisms; it is funny, subversive and vivid in its evocation of medieval life in Russia and the Middle East; and it plants questions about faith, irony, self-deception and integrity in the style of the greatest Russian fictions.’ ― Rowan Williams, New Statesman, Books of the Year 2016

‘Love, faith and a quest for atonement are the driving themes of [this] epic, prize-winning Russian novel… With flavours of Umberto Eco and The Canterbury Tales, this affecting, idiosyncratic novel…is an impressive achievement.’ ― Kirkus

‘Laurus is in one breath, a timeless epic, trekking the well-trodden fields of faith, love and the infinite depth of loss and search for meaning. In another, it is pointed, touching, and at times humorous, unpredictably straying from the path and leading readers along a wild chase through time, language and medieval Europe…Vodolazkin has found a subtle balance and uses it to impressive effect.’ ― Asymptote

'Vodolazkin’s expertise in the medieval world rounds out this tale that defies the restrictions of this long-ago time and place in its treatment of universal human pains and regrets.’ ― World Literature Today

'A masterpiece by any standards...the novel flows in the spirit of the invincible Russian literary tradition of pathos and Dostoevskian depth; and at yet other times, it is a pure philological triumph... Vodolazkin's archaic seasoning is complemented by his sublime sense of humour... As Zachar Prileptin said before me, I am simply filled with an unending sense of happiness that such a novel exists. You open it and close it, something has happened to your soul.' ― The Huffington Post UK

‘Vodolazkin, an expert in medieval folklore, transforms the dreadful past into a familiar stage on which to explore love, loss, and fervent perseverance… In a stroke of brilliant storytelling, Vodolazkin forgoes historical accuracy and instead conjures a cyclical, eternal time by combining biblical quotes, Soviet bureaucratese, and linguistic conventions of the Middle Ages (in this translation, rendered into Old English). The result is a uniquely lavish, multilayered work that blends an invented hagiography with the rapturous energy of Dostoevsky’s spiritual obsessions.’ ― Booklist

‘Winner of Russia's National Big Book Prize, this saga of 15th-century Russia captures both its harshness and its radiant faith in a narrative touched by the miraculous.’ ― Library Journal

‘A fine balance between the ancient and archaic...the ironic and the tragic.' ― Time Out

'There are books that are necessary. Start with this one.' ― Orthodox Life Magazine

'Simply magic' ― Aleteia

'Always rich in ideas. Vodolazkin explores multifaceted questions of "Russianness" and concludes...that Russia cannot be rationally understood. This is what leads him, with a gradual, but unstoppable momentum, to place faith and the transcendent human spirit at the centre of his powerful world view.' ― Russia Beyond the Headlines

’Vodolazkin is a beautiful storyteller...an epic journey novel in all the best traditions. There are countless colourful characters, exciting twists of fate and profound truths in the protagonist’s words and deeds… The Idiot meets The Canterbury Tales meets The Odyssey.’ ― Russian Life

'Bold, rich and complex, Laurus deals with large issues: the concept of time, love and death, love and guilt.’ ― Historical Novel Society Review

‘A gripping, weirdly fascinating read.’ ― Complete Review

'Not at all a typical historical novel. It uses conscious and outrageous anachronisms; it is funny, subversive and vivid in its evocation of medieval life in Russia and the Middle East; and it plants questions about faith, irony, self-deception and integrity in the style of the greatest Russian fictions.' -- Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury

About the Author

Eugene Vodolazkin was born in Kiev and has worked in the department of Old Russian Literature at Pushkin House since 1990. He is an expert in medieval Russian history and folklore. His debut novel Solovyov and Larionov (Oneworld, 2018) was shortlisted for the Andrei Bely Prize and Russia’s National Big Book Award. Laurus, his second novel but the first to be translated into English, won the National Big Book Award and the Yasnaya Polyana Award and was shortlisted for the National Bestseller Prize, the Russian Booker Prize and the New Literature Award, and has been translated into eighteen languages. He lives in St Petersburg.

Lisa C. Hayden’s translations from the Russian include Eugene Vodolazkin’s Laurus, which won the Read Russia Award in 2016 and was also shortlisted for the Oxford-Weidenfeld Prize along with her translation of Vadim Levental’s Masha Regina. Her blog, Lizok’s Bookshelf, examines contemporary Russian fiction. She lives in Maine, USA.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Oneworld Publications; Reprint edition (September 13, 2016)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 384 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 178074871X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1780748719
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.1 x 1.2 x 7.8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,068 ratings

About the authors

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Previous page
  1. Eugene Vodolazkin

    Eugene Vodolazkin

    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Eugene Vodolazkin’s second novel, Laurus, won both of Russia’s major literary awards, the National Big Book Award and the Yasnaya Polyana Book Award, and was shortlisted for the National Bestseller Prize and the Russian Booker Prize. His debut novel, Solovyov and Larionov, was shortlisted for the Andrei Bely Prize and the Big Book Award. A third critically acclaimed novel, The Aviator, has also been translated into English. Vodolazkin was the 2019 winner of the Solzhenitsyn Prize. He was born in Kiev in 1964 and has worked in the department of Old Russian Literature at Pushkin House since 1990. He is an expert in medieval history and folklore and has numerous academic books and articles to his name. He lives with his family in St. Petersburg, Russia.

    See more on the author's page
  2. Lisa Hayden

    Lisa Hayden

    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

    See more on the author's page
Next page

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
1,068 global ratings
This book would be good without all the spelling errors
5 Stars
This book would be good without all the spelling errors
My book has a bunch of spelling errors in it. I know the translator Lisa Hayden has a Masters Degree in Russian translation from the University of Pennsylvania. I highly doubt the author and translator would make this many errors in their best selling International book. I'm giving them a five-star rating because I believe the Mandela Effect has made the spelling errors, not the author or the translator. I hope the author sees my review. I believe this book was affected by the Mandela Effect because the book speaks about God. I believe this book was proof-read by the author and the translator before going on the shelves.
Hide
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

Thom H
5.0 out of 5 stars Russophobes Need Not Partake
Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2024
Verified Purchase
A significant number of the negative reviews (of which there are mercifully few) seem to center around the fact that this is, first and foremost, a very Russian story. From the get-go, the reader is immersed in a folk tale that reads like Dostoevsky eating a handful of mushrooms and crafting a medieval fable, and if that sounds amazing, that’s because it is. Unfortunately there is a vocal, hand-wringing subset of the population that seems to suppose that anyone who engages with unapologetically Russian content must surely be a vatnik. Ignore them and take this ride.

The “typos” in the book are intentional, they are a callback to the spelling one might see on an illuminated manuscript “fyre” instead of “fire,” etc. The way that the dialogue is peppered with modern phrases serves to further cement a sense of “otherness” or dreamlike quality to the story, as if we’re reading a prophetic narrative that moves in and out of time. Once you fall into the rhythm of the prose it becomes not only tolerable, but a downright pleasure to read.

Orthodox Christianity pervades the entire book, so if you are already acquainted with that faith system you’ll find it welcoming and familiar. Appreciators of St. Seraphim of Sarov and St. Xenia of Petersburg will recognize some parallels here. And if Orthodoxy is foreign to you, then this is as good a primer as you’re bound to find. It avoids being pedantic completely, and highlights the beauty (and sometimes absurdity) of Russian folk belief.

As a lifelong fan of Dostoevsky I’d been looking for something to scratch that itch after exhausting his oeuvre, and this novel succeeded in all fronts. A weird, lovely, rewarding journey indeed.
3 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
anonymous
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful work
Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2016
Verified Purchase
Though an avid reader, I've never taken the time to write a review for a book. After reading Laurus I think this one deserves a review just to let whoever may be looking into reading this story that it is definitely worth your while. Just be warned, reading it may change the way you see life and will likely stay with you for a long time after reading it, it certainly has stuck with me.

To start, Laurus is the most Russian piece of literature I have ever read, and as someone who was not raised Russian Orthodox but is interested in understanding it, this story brought the Russian Orthodox liturgy, atmosphere and mindset to life and clarity like nothing I have ever encountered. There is one scene in particular, when Arseny is taken to a Russian Orthodox service by his grandfather, that sticks out as deeply affecting and ended up being one of my favorite scenes in the book. The writing is at times violent, uplifting, graphic, delicate, gut-wrenching, holy, profane, all seamlessly blended by Vodolazkin, who is a master of language like no writer I've read besides perhaps Dante Alighieri in The Divine Comedy. Kudos also to the translator, as she made this story come to startling life in the English language and yet preserved the intrinsic Russian quality of the original.

The story follows the life of Arseny from birth to death, following him through his physical as well as spiritual journeys. When the woman he loves dies without his being able to save her, Arseny resolves to live his life in her place in an attempt to ultimately save her and himself. Through plague, death and hardship, journeys that take him to far-away places and force him to confront himself, Arseny heals and brings hope to the lives of those around him. At the end of his life, Arseny (having taken the name Laurus) feels unworthy of regard and even burial in the earth, but in the end he has saved countless lives (and maybe even a few souls) with his healing hands and presence throughout his life.

Is this the biography of a saint or a sinner? Perhaps both. Arseny is a composite of the sinful man who has fallen, but also the image of man as he could become, something better and called to a higher place from where he started. Maybe even a saint.
4 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
John Spritz
4.0 out of 5 stars A curious, cryptic--and yes, Russian--novel.
Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2024
Verified Purchase
This book drags us back to a Russia of many centuries ago, when the Orthodox Chuch held sway over the land, and saints were living next door. It's a fascinating eye-opener.
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
PortDal
5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful work by an incredible author
Reviewed in Canada on July 6, 2023
Verified Purchase
I can’t remember the last time a book moved me so much. I think about it long after I finished. It gives one much to think about. I look forward to more of the author’s works.
Report
Gabriel
5.0 out of 5 stars Best book I've read this year!!
Reviewed in Brazil on December 10, 2021
Verified Purchase
The book arrived in perfect conditions, and the story is great! Got me thinking a lot about love and faith. Highly reccomend this book.
Report
Naresh
5.0 out of 5 stars Very well written and this could be life changing for some people.
Reviewed in India on June 9, 2021
Verified Purchase
I have never written reviews for any books, I like reading a lot, read a lot of books in my life related to fiction and non-fiction, I should say this book has impressed me a lot, maybe it's because of the main character in the book goes through different stages in life, this book tells you how you can still live a purposeful life even after going through a difficult phase in life, enjoy reading, Russian authors are really great at understanding human life, and this book will take you on an adventure. Just read with an open mind. You will love it if you are into spirituality. Thanks.
Report
Ljubisa Tanaskovic
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent reading
Reviewed in Australia on January 31, 2023
Verified Purchase
Deeply touching, narrative leads trough surprising discoveries of human nature, past and a message for today.
Report
Isabella Sanroman
5.0 out of 5 stars Laurus tiene una riqueza indescriptible
Reviewed in Mexico on November 5, 2016
Verified Purchase
Excelente novela. La manera en que el autor mezcla los mundos, el de los muertos y el de los vivos, es esepcional. Laurus te transporta a una época donde el tiempo se detiene y la culpa, la humildad, los Ángeles, la muerte y el cementerio viven dentro y fuera de los personajes. Laurus está escrito con economía de palabras pero lleno de significado.
Report