This rich novel includes some unsparing and astonishing fragments of autobiography; the classic Russian humour of the underdog and the absurd; the high drama of post-communist plots in Russia; and a passion for soccer. Recently he obtained access to his bulging KGB file of some thirty years, and there are some fascinating revelations from it in 'Don't Die Before Your Death'. Underlying all is the pervasive atmosphere of fear, the legacy of the years of tyranny.
When Yevtushenko writes a novel, what you don't get is "poetic prose". You get lean, muscular language, a brilliant sense of character and a terrific story. His poet's intuition also goes right behind public and private facades.
