Book Review: A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian

Reviewed By: Shirley - RAM

A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Marina Lewycka
Class/Genre:   Fiction

Nikolia Mayevska brought his wife to England from the Ukraine. It was 1946 and times had been difficult for them. Daughter Vera came with them, daughter Nadezhda was born after their arrival in an English village, with 10 years between the girls ages.

Now, at 84 and two years widowed, Nikolai has met a 36 year old buxom blond Ukrainian. She wants to marry an Englishman to obtain a visa, and targets Nikolai, believing he has money. The daughters, who haven¹t spoken since their mother¹s death, are appalled.

Woven into the family story there actually is a short history of tractors, and a bit of history of the Ukraine from the revolution through WWII and Stalin days to the present time. The story of Nikolai¹s unfortunate romance is told with a great deal of humor and a bit of compassion. It is a small gem of a story, not to be missed.

Shirley - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Shirley - RAM