In this collection, centred on the theme of Childhood, we offer two early stories by Andrei Bitov which reflect the growing awareness in children of life\'s mystery and beauty; a story by Andrei Platonov, bearing the stamp of his inimitable style; Ludmilla Ulitskaya\'s perspicacious insight into the complex relationship between twin sisters; an imp...

\"Requiem for the Living\" is the life story of an orphan boy, nicknamed Alone, who grows up alone in a mountain village in North Ossetia....